NEWPORT — Nearly 3 tons of waste generated at this year’s Newport folk and jazz festivals will be composted or recycled, thanks to the efforts of Clean Water Action-Rhode Island.

It was the first year the environmental organization collected compostable materials. The total collected represented 30 percent of the waste generated at the weekend festivals and a 10 percent increase from 2009, when only recycling was offered, according to Nicole Poepping, campaign organizer for Clean Water Action.

All the compostable material collected was brought to Earth Care Farm in Charlestown, where it will be turned into compost used by organic farmers and gardeners throughout the region, she said.

The composting program builds on Clean Water Action’s 19-year stint as the recycling coordinator for both festivals. It was established in response to the festival’s interest in “greening” its operations, a major trend for large music festivals around the country, Poepping said.

She served as compost volunteer manager for both festivals and said she sought assistance from the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp., the Southside Community Land Trust, Farm Fresh Rhode Island and the Master Composter Program at the University of Rhode Island.

“It only made sense to bring down composting experts to help with this effort,” Poepping said. “Composting food waste is a new concept for many people, so I wanted to make sure we provided as much guidance as possible to make the pilot worthwhile.”

Two tents near the main stage at Fort Adams State Park served as the base for composting volunteers, who acted as educational resources and compost watchdogs, responsible for keeping the compost bins clean.

Bins were scattered throughout the festival grounds. They were placed near vendors using compostable products and near composting tents where volunteers helped those unfamiliar with composting put their waste in the correct bins.

Clean Water Action plans to expand the composting and recycling programs at next year’s festivals and make it easier for concertgoers to sort their waste by improving signage for both composting and recycling.

“We plan to work with the festivals to require vendors to use compostable products, in addition to cutting out bottled water and non-compostable and non-recyclable goods,” Poepping said. “The more streamlined we are about incorporating compostable and recyclable goods at the festivals, the easier it will be for people to properly dispose of their waste.”