72 % of event resource diverted from landfill

Home Of The Arts (Gold Coast), Concert for the Planet event 24/03/2018

Climate Wave Enterprises was contracted to handle ZERO WASTE management at Home Of The Arts (Gold Coast) Concert for the Planet, Earth Hour event 24/03/2018. The aim of a ZERO WASTE event is to minimise the waste going to landfill to an absolute zero volume, where all created waste of the event can be reused or recycled. Achieving a ZERO WASTE event requires an effort from all stakeholders involved that include the event management, staff, food vendors, volunteers as well as the attendees themselves.

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Our Zero Waste management components consisted of:

Composting & Reuse

Food stall engagement

Waste education

Waste sorting

Site clean up

Volunteer engagement

Local non-profits

OUTCOMES:

FACT: 72 % diversion from landfill from event with 1500 visitors.

The system we put in place is only as good as the volunteer Eco Angels, who achieved a stellar result with a very low percentage of contamination and a high level of attendee education which drastically reduced the need for sorting onsite. Achieving a 72 % diversion rate from landfill for the first event is an excellent result. See below a detailed breakdown of the number of bins, volume and percentage of waste.

Result table:

Type	Bins ordered	Bins full	Litres	%
Recycling	15	2	480
Compost		3	720
Landfill	15	2	480
Organics	5 buckets	3	30
Landfill diversion				71.92982456
Total	30.8	10	1710	72

 

As you can see from the table there was an overabundance of bins. When ordering bins for a similar style event, costs from bin hire can be diverted to furthering sustainability practices.

Composting

The events compostables were taken by Joan Park Community Gardens which were shredded on 26/03/2018 and layered into a compost bed for scientific research. Our Griffith University Intern Emily Looke will be monitoring the breakdown of the compostables over the next few months. The outcome of this research will determine the viability of composting with community gardens compared to an industrial composting company. Should this system work satisfactorily the social & community benefits of this relationship from a sustainable event management perspective far out way the easy alternative. Also this system will reduce the waste cartage & processing costs which can be diverted to the community.

Biological Tea

And as an added treat by having the 4 bin system we were able to divert the food scraps (17 kilos) towards the Biochar Project Australia. The organic material was incorporated into a large scale worm farm and the worms performed their magic creating castings, it was then made into a biological tea which fed the licensed Department of Primary Industry cannabis crop.

Food stall engagement

Our high diversion rate from landfill could not have been achieved without full cooperation from the food & beverage vendors. They were asked to only provide compostable catering materials.

During the evening one vendor ran out of compostable utensils and introduced a plastic fork which was difficult to tell apart from the compostables given the lighting. The Zero Waste policy was not adhered to therefore their waste contaminated our system. Contamination rate was kept at a minimal level thanks to the vigilance of our Eco Angels.

Waste education

Ideally every waste station at a ZERO WASTE event should have a volunteer or as we achieved 2 volunteers that can guide people with proper waste disposal and local waste station sorting, so contamination of bins won’t occur and saves time sorting. The level of waste education was high with attendees very open to learn & appreciate what we were trying to achieve.

Event attendees are a captured audience who can be educated on waste, reuse and recycling which is extremely beneficial in the war on waste and they will share this directly into networks in other communities which will bring greater awareness of sustainable events and waste reduction.

During the evening 30 attendees were surveyed, we would have preferred to have at least 3 times that but some volunteers cancelled at last minute which added to the impact on our Eco Angels. Survey results are being compiled.

Waste sorting

The sorting of refuse was done at the waste station by Eco Angels if an attendee was too quick disposing of their waste/resource in the wrong receptacle.

Site clean up

Our Eco Angels patrolled the site as did HOTA staff equipped with a pick up stick and a bucket. Extremely low levels of refuse retrieved.

Volunteer engagement

For our ZERO WASTE management program CWE attracted 14 volunteer Eco Angels but the ideal number we had in mind to run an efficient system was 22 across both shifts. Our Eco Angels excelled in their duties and made up the shortage.

We received great feedback from our volunteers as they found purpose and challenges to waste education and proper sorting. Most of our volunteers learned about waste issues during this event which is another great benefit.

Local non-profits

Surfrider Foundation & Joan Park Community Gardens were well received by attendees with their local information on protection of the coast, waves and beaches and gardening tips. In addition, they assisted waste reduction of landfill through their education of Rise Above Plastics & Ocean Friendly programs.

Fundraising achieved:

Surfrider Foundation

• Spoke to many event attendees about coastal projects
• Fundraising $290

Joan Park Community Gardens

• Distributed approx. 90-100 plants and also gave away bunches of herbs and flowers.
• Talked to lots of people and they now know about Joan Park CG.
• Fundraising $268

FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS

The impressive result of 72 % waste diversion from landfill could have only happened with the full support of every individual that was part of this event. Nevertheless, there was a remainder of 28 % that obstructed our aim towards a ZERO WASTE event. When event attendees are allowed to bring in their own food & drinks we will always have a higher landfill percentage but when ticketed events take place we will be able to reduce that.

Food vendors

Food vendors were approached at the event prior to attendees arriving and several were asked to remove single use plastic items from being available including, straws, utensils and water bottles. For an efficient Zero Waste system all vendors need to be alerted & monitored. It is an opportunity for the event to educate vendors on waste reduction.

Thanks to:

All our wonderful Eco Angels

Len Goldsmith for donating money for Eco Angel apparel

OCC Apparel for donating t-shirts

Panamuna Project for printing t-shirts

HOTA for equipment

Surfrider Foundation providing education

Joan Park Community Gardens for composting service & allowing scientific research

Biochar Project Australia

 

By Greg Howell

Climate Wave Enterprises…working with the planet

Partnering with Griffith University Community Internship Program

CWE acknowledge the Bundjalung people as traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work and live.