Festival season is upon us, but before we all slather on the sunscreen and plan our stage-hopping schedules, I’d like to take a moment to mention something that’s thankfully become a priority for many big music events: sustainability. The fact of the matter is, festivals often boast hugely impressive creative feats, but they can also leave equally vast carbon footprints in their wake. Coachella, one of the country’s most popular and cutting-edge music and arts events, is one of these and is kicking off later this month in Indio, CA. Luckily, Coachella has prioritized eco-consciousness for several seasons through programs implemented by an LA-based nonprofit organization, Global Inheritance. Over the years, Global Inheritance has encouraged green-thinking at Coachella in some pretty diverse ways, from doling out prizes to carpooling concert-goers to displaying art exhibits of beautifully decorated recycling bins.  This year, they’ve come up with something that, frankly, takes it up a notch.

Recyclosaurus Rex is 20-foot-tall robotic dinosaur that will reportedly wander the Coachella grounds in search of delicious bottle-and-can “treats,” which participants can feed to its gaping mouth. Further info about the functioning and specs of the T-Rex have yet to be released, though the Global Inheritance blog claims it will feature a “digestive system that will allow him to take giant square T-Rex droppings.”

I couldn’t help but notice that in 1992, the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, FL commissioned and built its own “Recyclosaurus Rex” out of reclaimed steel beams and plastic fencing. (It also featured a belly full of recycled aluminum and plastic.) The museum’s site asserts the sculpture is in need of repair and that once funds are raised, renovations, including solar panels and glowing eyes made from LED lights, will be made. I’m not sure if the idea for Global Inheritance’s interactive dino-bot spawned from its Floridian cousin, but either way, I’m excited to see it has gained some legs (literally!) once again.

We’ll all have to wait and see if color-changing LED lights and an RGB controller make Recyclosaurus Rex come to life at Coachella 2012—here’s hoping! But no matter what, you can bet the festival will collect more recyclables than ever before. Who’s going to say no to a dinosaur?

Thanks to Global Inheritance for the image.