Sustainable Events Guide

Where are the nearest bus stops, and what bus routes service them?

It’s a good idea to make this information readily available on your public communications.

There is a handy online Journey Planner available. (https://www.transport.act.gov.au/getting-around/journey-planner)

Is there an incentive you can put in place to encourage patrons to travel by bike or bus? Ask your friendly ECC Sustainable Event Program officer for some prize ideas.

For booking public land and for maps of the facilities visit the City Services website. https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/public-land/use/event-bookings

To avoid selling bottled water you could:

• invite patrons to bring their own water bottles
• supply reusable bottles or cups.

The Sustainable Event Program has mobile water refill stations or bubblers [PDF 2.2 MB] that you can borrow. Register with the Sustainable Events Program https://forms.act.gov.au/smartforms/servlet/SmartForm.html?formCode=1085 for access to advice, equipment and signage.

• Make sure that everyone involved can access and dispose of water responsibly. For example, inform patrons, vendors and other stakeholders where to dispose of dirty water. Let them know how to access and use potable water.
• Canberra’s electricity comes from renewable sources and has zero carbon emissions. Use electricity instead of gas wherever possible and encourage vendors to do the same.
• If you have to use generators, investigate using Biodiesel or solar to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from your event.

• Ensure all generators are running at the recommended capacity to ensure efficiency. Over or under burdened generators are very inefficient.
• You could charge vendors separately for power. Either limit or charge for each appliance they wish to use. This will make them think carefully about their power use.
• Design your power systems so that essential (e.g. refrigeration) and non-essential power services can be run separately. This means that non-essential services such as sound or lighting can be turned off overnight or during the day to save energy and money.

Dirty water is also known as grey water. At events it is generally from hand and equipment washing water. This is harmful for the environment and must not be dumped into the environment. Guidelines from ACT Health state that “untreated greywater, which has not been used within 24 hours, should be discharged to the sewer. If the untreated greywater is stored for more than 24 hours, you will need to obtain written approval from ActewAGL to discharge the greywater.”

“Some greywater contaminants cannot be treated or do not degrade in the soil. Principal among these is salt, which comprises up to 30 per cent of some laundry detergents and can cause salinity and degradation of the soil structure.”

It is important to discuss disposal of dirty water/grey water with your waste contractor. If you are reported, action can be brought against you under the Public Health Act 1997 or the Environment Protection Act 1997.

Reusable items are always the best option if possible.

If reusable items are not practical, request recyclable containers.

Avoid single-use items as much as possible. There is a single-use plastic ban on many items in the ACT.

Encourage vendors to consider electric options instead of gas.

Electric options are generally the best choice because the ACT electricity network provides 100% of electricity from renewable sources.

Avoid unnecessary energy consumption as much as possible.

Is it possible to borrow or hire items rather than buying them? Consider asking around your local contacts to see if there are options for borrowing (eg. schools, community groups) or research what local hire companies might provide.

If you need to purchase items, consider buying reusable items for future events instead of single-use items.

Consider purchasing items that have high recycled content and are recyclable. Planet Ark has a recycled product directory with links to many different products. (recyclingnearyou.com.au/education/recycledproducts)

If you are generating branded merchandise for an event, ensure that it can be used in future events. Avoid including dates/years or create the item to be updatable (with stickers for example). Consider sourcing recyclable items with high recycled content.

• Nominate a waste and recycling coordinator and/or team of volunteers.
• Think about what waste your event will generate. Most events generate recycling, landfill and organics. Group the bins together so that patrons can sort their waste in one go. It is very important to ensure the bins are clearly labelled to minimise contamination. Register with the Sustainable Business Program to get free signage [PDF 2.2 MB] to assist with this.
• The Sustainable Business Program has Container Deposit Scheme baskets available (actcds.org.au/return-points/). This is a great way to keep useful materials from going into landfill and you can collect some money!
• Determine the number of bins your event needs. A general rule is two 240L bins per 500 patrons per meal. Decide where you will source the bins. Please note, the Sustainable Event Program does not provide bins or collect waste.
• Plan where your bins will go. Document this on your site map for communication with vendors and the public.
• Plan how you will deal with the recycling, landfill and organics after your event finishes.
• For big events, you will probably need to engage waste service providers to supply bins and collect them afterwards for correct disposal. Try an internet search for canberra waste management businesses or check out our Business and Office Recycling Directory (climatechoices.act.gov.au/policy-programs/business-recycling-program/bord). You can use our checklist of questions to ask when seeking quotes.
• For big and complex events, you might also find this Sustainable Event Planning Checklist handy

• Ensure there is easy access to the site for distributing and collecting bins and hoppers. Ideally, bins will be on wheels for ease of movement.
• Allocate the task of placing bins and signage to event team members.
• Ensure bins for public use are placed near vendors, the eating area, or wherever waste will be generated.
• Consider whether any vendors will need ‘back of shop’ bins. These could be landfill, recycling, organic and/or other types of waste.
• Identify a service area (not accessible to the public) on your site plan where full bins can be exchanged with empty bins or emptied into larger hoppers. Ensure there is vehicle access to this area for easy collection of waste.
• Ensure there are enough spare bins in the service area to swap to avoid overflowing bins.
• Nominate event team members to regularly monitor bins and exchange as needed.
• For multi-day events, consider having your waste contractor collect waste each day.

• Small volumes of waste can go in household collections.
• Larger volumes of landfill and recycling will need to be taken to the Mugga Lane or Mitchell Resource Management Centre (cityservices.act.gov.au/recycling-and-waste/drop-off/RM). Note that these centres close at 5pm and are also closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Recyclables are free, but waste to landfill attracts a fee (cityservices.act.gov.au/about-us/fees_and_charges).
• Recyclable materials can also be dropped off at various recycling centres around Canberra, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (cityservices.act.gov.au/recycling-and-waste/drop-off/centres).
• Small quantities of organic waste can be taken home by event team members for composting, worm farms or chickens.
• Larger quantities of organic waste may be commercially collected (cityservices.act.gov.au/recyclopaedia/items/f/food-waste).
• The Container Deposit Scheme has various collection points.

Identify the waste types generated at your event. Check how these would be managed by the prospective contractor, including disposal. Eg:

• Mixed recycling
• Container deposit scheme
• Organic waste
• Landfill
• Grey water
• Used oil
• Hazardous materials

How many bins of each waste type are recommended? Consider bins for event patrons and for ‘back of house’ including stallholders and event organisers. A suggested estimate is 2 x 240L bins per 500 patrons per meal.

• Where will the bins be placed for event patrons and for ‘back of house’?
• Where will the service area be?
• How will the bins be labelled?

• Will you need bin and waste monitors?
• Will you need waste collection and/or sorting during the event?
• Will you need clean-up teams?
• Will you need stallholder induction/information sessions?

Include this information in the contract if you are using a waste contractor. Ensure relevant contact information is included too.