Community News

Image: Jessica Robertson

Yamba’s Festival to be Waste Wise

Image: Jessica Robertson
Image: Jessica Robertson
  This year’s Surfing The Coldstream Festival will be a waste wise event by using alternatives to plastic, reducing waste to landfill and providing water stations for attendees. Volunteer stewards will be on hand to help ensure the right stuff goes in the right bin, offering guidance on how to correctly identify and separate different types of waste. All packaging provided by food vendors will be compostable, meaning the vast majority of waste generated will be headed for the green bins. Festival Coordinator Phil Nicholas said that in past years, it has been a little disheartening during the Sunday morning clean up, to realise how the rubbish in each colour bin is completely contaminated. “I’ve been to many festivals and I know it’s not easy to sort your rubbish at the point of disposal, as there can be many distractions!” he said. “That’s why we’ve drafted in some help this year, in the form of volunteers and great ideas from a number of supportive organisations.” Among these partners, are North East Waste, the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, who turn research-based waste management solutions into engaging community education programs under the banner of Love Food, Hate Waste. Local advocate for sustainability, Gina Lopez, has been coordinating the effort. “If we are all considerate of our environmental impact, it becomes easier to reduce your use”, she said. “It has been encouraging how little we have needed to do to make big differences”. Stall holders and resource recovery groups are jumping at the chance to be part of a sustainable festival”. Clarence Valley Council will provide kitchen caddies to assist volunteers in demonstrating which products are compostable and which are not. One of the main ways to avoid plastic is to provide an alternative to bottled water. Water stations will be installed across the festival site and free paper cups made available. Aluminium water bottles will also be available for purchase on site. The most convenient option is to bring your own reusable water bottle.