Blue Mountains Council is launching a new project to reduce waste at Blue Mountains events.
Towards Zero Waste Events, funded by the NSW EPA, offers organisers an alternative to single-use, disposable serving ware at local events.
“Markets, community events and festivals are a huge part of life in the Blue Mountains,” Mayor Mark Greenhill said.
“But they generate a great deal of waste, with single-use cups, plates and cutlery ending up in landfill, even those marked compostable.
“To combat this, we’re introducing a trailer stocked with reusable washable serving ware, so we can all play our part in keeping our World Heritage area free of avoidable waste.”
The project centres on the grant-funded rollout of a mobile wash trailer fitted with commercial dishwashers and a dryer, and stocked with reusable cups, plates and cutlery.
Event organisers will be able to hire the trailer from July to use at markets, festivals and other events across the Blue Mountains, via the event application providing an easy and practical alternative to single use items.
Instead of buying single use plates and cups for every event, stall holders can use the supplied reusables, which are washed and sterilised onsite within the trailer. A simple drop off system makes it easy for customers to return items, and food scraps can be scraped and separated, ready for future food organics processing.
“Based on current data, replacing single use cups at just five regular monthly markets could avoid up to 96,000 disposable cups each year, saving tonnes of resources,” Greenhill said.
“That impact grows even further when plates, cutlery and food waste are included.”
The initial promotion and creation of the trailer is funded by EPA grant. After that, a loans system will be created for event organisers to use the trailer system.
Event organisers can see how a wash trailer works by attending a free half-hour session between 10.30am and 12pm at one of these locations:
• Sunday 8 March – Blackheath Growers Markets
• Saturday 21 March – Glenbrook Rotary Markets
• Sunday 22 March – Springwood Growers Markets
To find out more and book a session go to: http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/towards-zero-waste-events.
