Glastonbury’s ban on the sale of single-use plastic drinks bottles began in 2019.
Organisers announced that plastic drinks bottles would no longer be available across the festival site at the 2019 event. The policy covered bars, traders and backstage areas, and was designed to reduce waste at Worthy Farm. Festival-goers were encouraged to bring reusable bottles and use the many free water-refill points instead.
The policy built on earlier preparations. Water kiosks had been introduced in 2014, giving visitors a practical alternative to buying disposable bottles. In 2019, WaterAid expanded refill provision, while canned water and reusable bottles supplied other options.
This was a ban on selling single-use drinks bottles, not a prohibition on every plastic object or on visitors bringing any plastic container. That distinction explains why descriptions of Glastonbury as “plastic-free” can be misleading. The festival returned in 2019 after its fallow year in 2018.