ACT Government’s single-use plastics ban expanded to include Manuka Oval and GIO Stadium

The ACT Government’s move to expand its ban on the use of single-use plastics is to be widened to include sporting fixtures at Manuka Oval and GIO Stadium along with major events.

The Groovin the Moo music festival at Exhibition Park on 24th April, and the National Folk Festival at Easter, will also be plastic free under the ACT Government’s latest declaration.

With the ACT Government doing away with a wide range of single-use plastics such as cutlery and takeaway containers since 2021 - banning them at events including Australia Day in the Capital, the Royal Canberra Show and the Enlighten Festival - it is widening its ban on single-use plastics to include major sporting and music events at Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval.

Explaining the move, ACT Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel stated “Canberrans have shown great support for phasing out single-use plastics, and we’re now working towards identifying more items to add to the list.

“Food vendors who operate at NRL and Super Rugby matches at GIO Stadium, AFL and cricket matches at Manuka Oval, will now move away from single-use plastic items such as plastic bowls, plates, single-use plastic straws and takeaway containers, swapping them with items made from materials like hard cardboard or sugar-cane mulch.

“This means fans attending football games at GIO, cricket at Manuka or these music festivals at Exhibition Park will easily be able to take action to reduce their use of plastic.”

Canberra Raiders Chief Executive, Don Furner both welcomed the change, noting “as event organisers we have a responsibility to protect the environment we occupy, and I'm confident that our membership and fanbase will support us in this approach on game days

Advising that eliminating single-use plastics was a priority for the music festival, Groovin the Moo co-Promoter, Stephen Halpin added “our aim is to improve year on year and in 2022, in addition to our existing initiatives, we're proud to be working alongside the ACT Government to ensure that single-use plastic straws and plastic takeaway containers will no longer be part of Groovin the Moo.”

The first stage of the ACT Government’s single-use plastics ban came into effect on 1st July last year.

Image: GIO Stadium.