Tonnes of rubbish saved from landfill at Byron Writers Festival

Published on 27 August 2024

The stats are in - Council’s ‘Move to Reuse’ initiative at this year’s Byron Writers Festival resulted in washing and reuse of a whopping 18,000 items, saving 26 wheelie bins of rubbish from going to landfill.

Council partnered with Green My Plate to replace single-use packaging over the three-day festival with reusable plates, cups and bowls.

“We were excited to have the Byron Writers Festival work with us to make this happen and we’ve received so much positive feedback about it,” Council’s Resource Recovery Strategy and Engagement Officer, Sarah Child said.

“People don’t want to be given takeaway cups or plates anymore. They told us they felt relieved and happy to be offered reusable cups and plates at the festival and it was easy to return them to have them washed,” she said.

“Single-use food packaging is only used for a short amount of time and requires a lot of resources to make it, only to end up in landfill,” Ms Child said.

Council’s new Single-use Packaging and Materials Policy came into effect in June 2024 for internal Council operations.  All events held on Council-owned land will need to comply with the new policy from December 2024.

"Through this Policy, Byron Shire Council will be the leading the way in the transition to circular systems,” Ms Child said. 

“Events like the Byron Writers Festival show what’s possible on a large scale, and when you can stop 18,000 throwaway items from being used and going to landfill, it’s pretty exciting,” she said.

“Council will also be working with local Farmers Markets and Sample Festival to implement reusables and we encourage everyone to make the move to reuse with us.”

For more information on Council’s Single-use Packaging and Materials Policy see Council’s website.