Regional stadia kick goals for the environment

The Packaging Stewardship Forum (PSF) of the Australian Food and Grocery Council is backing new recycling initiatives at stadia in Gosford and Mackay.

In Gosford, the Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium will launch new public place recycling systems at the Central Coast Mariners' first home A-League game against Gold Coast United on 15th October 2011.

The launch will encourage patrons at the match, and at all future matches, to 'Do The right Thing, Use The Right Bin'.

Funded by the PSF in partnership with Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium and Coca-Cola Amatil, 132 waste and recycling bins have been installed around the Stadium. The initiative will provide away from home recycling opportunities for 250,000 people at over 27 events each year and recycle up to 27 tonnes of aluminium cans, PET and glass bottles from landfill.

Bluetongue Stadium Managing Director Monique Marks explains "we are proud to be a part of the PSF's away from home program and to encourage recycling at the stadium. Taking part and leading the way in recycling for other businesses will assist with decreasing waste through our recycling efforts."

Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium is one of six well known New South Wales entertainment and sporting venues participating in the PSF's away from home recycling program, with recycling bins already installed at Sydney Opera House, Sydney Theatre Company, Centennial Parklands, Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Acer Arena.

In Queensland, the initiative has seen 90 new waste and recycling bins installed at the recently opened Virgin Australia Stadium Mackay, each carrying the 'Do The Right Thing, Use The Right Bin' branding.

The new recycling systems will provide away from home recycling opportunities for up to 150,000 visitors to the stadium annually and divert up to 12 tonnes of aluminium cans, PET and glass bottles from landfill each year.

Virgin Australia Stadium Mackay Operations Manager Clinton Begg says that "Virgin Australia Stadium Mackay is fully aware of its social responsibilities to promote a clean and healthy environment as well the need to educate patrons of their responsibilities when it comes to recycling."

Virgin Australia Stadium Mackay is one of 20 well known Queensland stadia and entertainment venues participating in the PSF's away from home recycling program, with installations already completed at other Queensland venues (some in partnership with the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management). The other 19 venues are Dairy Farmers Stadium, Skilled Park, The Gabba, Suncorp Stadium, Ballymore Stadium, Metricon Stadium, Brisbane Racing Club, WetNWild Waterworld, Movie World, Dreamworld, Seaworld, Currumbin Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary, Cairns Convention Centre, Gold Coast Convention Centre, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre, Blue Lagoon Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Powerhouse and Mackay Exhibition and Convention Centre.

PSF General Manager Jenny Pickles explains "through well-placed bin infrastructure and promotion of the Do the Right Thing, Use the Right Bin message, the new systems will make it just as easy to recycle away from home as it is at home."

Australia's major beverage companies have supported the installation of new away from home recycling systems in 52 of Australia's major sporting stadium and entertainment venues which service nearly 40 million patron visits annually.

For more information, contact Sally Haysom on 02 6270 9018, E: sally.haysom@afgc.org.au

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