What a mess! Glastonbury clean up starts after 200,000 people go home

For the past five days, it has been home to a population of 200,000 but now the clean-up operation after Glastonbury Festival 2017 begins.
Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.
Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.

Highlights of the musical extravaganza in Pilton, Somerset, have included Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Katy Perry and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The event has been the most political in its history, with Mr Corbyn addressing tens of thousands of revellers from the iconic main Pyramid Stage and giving a talk at the Left Field tent.

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Artists, revellers and festival organisers have spoken in support of the Islington North MP – with the chant "Oh, Jeremy Corbyn" to the tune of the White Stripes' Seven Nation Army becoming the unofficial anthem of the festival.

Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.
Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.

With the party officially over, campers now have until 6pm to leave the 900-acre site, while crew and stall holders are given a week to clear the property.

Organisers have asked attendees to take their tents with them, with posters around the venue reading: "Love the farm, leave no trace" and a heavy emphasis on recycling throughout.

The 514 food vendors on site had only been allowed to provide compostable plates, cups and cutlery, while glass was banned across the festival.

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A litter picking crew of up to 800 will begin to clear the huge area of rubbish on Monday morning, with tractors carrying magnetic strips travelling across the fields.

Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.
Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.

Workers will also carry out a fingertip search to make sure no inch of the land goes unchecked.

The mission to convert the site back into a functioning dairy farm could take up to six weeks.

Last year, the operation was made harder thanks to heavy rain that caused a huge amount of mud – with revellers abandoning their belongings as they struggled out.

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There will be no Glastonbury Festival in 2018 as it is a fallow year, but festival organiser Michael Eavis said it would be back in 2019.

Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.
Rubbish is collected following the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.

"The farm needs a rest. So does the village and the wildlife," he said.

In 2020, Glastonbury Festival will celebrate its 50th year.

"We're already booking acts for that one," Mr Eavis said. "Half a century. It's an incredible feat, actually. We've been through so many struggles to get here."