Waste Wise Events grants aim for zero-waste
MEDIA RELEASE 2022 - Five community event organisers have been given a share of more than $22,000 to help in the transition towards zero-waste events in the Bega Valley Shire.
Bin signage at a Waste Wise event in the Bega Valley Shire
20 January 2022
Five community event organisers have been given a share of more than $22,000 to help in the transition towards zero-waste events in the Bega Valley Shire.
The not-for-profit organisations each received a Council-funded Waste Wise Events Grant along with expert assistance from Council’s waste reduction team.
Council’s Acting Waste Strategy Coordinator, Rechelle Fisher said the grants will be used in different ways to encourage the running of local festivals while minimising waste going to landfill.
“Thanks to its abundance of natural open spaces and popularity with tourists, the Bega Valley Shire is the perfect location for hosting memorable events,” Ms Fisher said.
“However, its picture-perfect setting is at risk if the running of events leads to large volumes of waste needlessly ending up in landfill.
“The Waste Wise Events Grants means we can have the best of both worlds; the shire can be the home of amazing events without impacting the places that draw people here in the first place.
“We were thrilled at the amount of interest in the grants, which points to waste management being high on the list of priorities for community event organisers to reduce their environmental footprint.
“This year we were able to assist the Cobargo Folk Festival, the Cobargo Annual Show, the Merimbula EAT Festival, the Bega Show and Sapphire Coast Boardriders with their waste reduction plans.
“The Cobargo Folk Festival showed some innovative ways to run a zero-waste event, including the hire of staffed wash stations to make it easier for people to reuse their cups and plates throughout the event.
“There are so many ways to reduce event waste, such as providing extra yellow and green bins; making reusable, recyclable and compostable items available to food vendors; donating unsold food to local pantries; hiring bin attendants; and increasing signage at bin stations and other prominent areas to help people to choose the right bin.
“Nobody likes an event spoiled by excessive littering, so we’re really happy to be helping these organisations in their planning of events that help to promote the shire’s clean and pristine reputation.”
For more information, visit the Waste Community Assistance Grants webpage.
Making an enquiry
All media enquiries and interview requests are coordinated by Council's Communication and Events team under the adopted Communications Policy. To view this policy, visit Public Policies and search 'communications'.
To submit a media enquiry or to request an interview:
- email media@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
- call 02 6499 2222
Councillors
Councillors can be contacted directly for enquiries regarding decisions of the elected Council and non-operational matters. Interviews with the Mayor should be arranged through the Communication and Events team contact details above.
Receiving information
If you’re a journalist or media organisation that would like to receive media releases and notifications about media opportunities, please email your name, title and contact details to media@begavalley.nsw.gov.au and we will add you to our distribution list.
You can also subscribe to Bega Valley Together and Business News, Council's fortnightly e-newsletters, or follow @begavalleyshirecouncil on Facebook and Instagram.
© Bega Valley Shire Council 2024
Our council websites
Contact Us
- 02 6499 2222
- council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
-
Zingel Place
PO Box 492
Bega NSW 2550 -
Monday to Friday 9.00AM to 4.30PM
Administration building Zingel Place Bega
Australia -
ABN: 26 987 935 332
Was this helpful?