In a bid to reduce waste and contribute to a greener environment, Optus Stadium, Western Australia’s premier entertainment venue, has taken a significant step forward by installing 460 Containers for Change recycling bins throughout the stadium. This initiative aims to save thousands of recyclable containers from ending up in landfills and promote a culture of responsible recycling among patrons.
Annually, an estimated 2.2 million recyclable drinks containers are sold at Optus Stadium. While approximately 70 per cent of eligible containers have been recovered through existing co-mingled recycling efforts, the stadium’s management is determined to raise this rate to at least 90 per cent with the help of the new recycling bins.
The bright green 240L bins have been strategically placed across the stadium’s public concourses and premium public terraces, as well as various back-of-house locations.
With the addition of the Containers for Change recycling bins, Optus Stadium will now feature dedicated containers for drinks, recyclables, organics, and general waste.
This eco-friendly initiative is expected to divert more than 600,000 recyclable containers from landfills every year, thus contributing significantly to the reduction of waste and promoting a circular economy.
Tim Cusack, CEO of WA Return Recycle Renew (WARRRL), expressed his appreciation for VenuesLive and its resource recovery partner Veolia on their commitment to updating the Stadium’s waste and recycling program. WARRRL is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for overseeing Western Australia’s container deposit scheme known as Containers for Change.
“We warmly welcomed the engagement from VenuesLive as they sought solutions that would enable a 90 to 100 per cent container recycling rate at Optus Stadium and congratulate them and Veolia on their commitment to resource recovery” commented Tim Cusack.
In Western Australia, more than 530 million recyclable drinks containers, valued at around $53 million, are sent to landfills annually, wasting valuable resources such as glass, recyclable plastics, and aluminium. Surprisingly, over 400 million of these containers, approximately three-quarters of the total, are discarded outside of homes.
Environment Minister Reece Whitby said “Almost three quarters of drinks containers lost to landfill are discarded by those out and about. Optus Stadium is to be commended for making these bins available to improve our recycling habits.”
Since the introduction of Containers for Change in October 2020, WA’s Container Deposit Scheme has been a resounding success. Over two billion containers have been recycled, creating more than 800 jobs in the process. The recycling rate for beverage containers has skyrocketed from 34 per cent to an impressive 63 per cent during this period.
Optus Stadium, with its capacity to host more than two million fans for major events over the next 12 months, including Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Ham United, Coldplay, and Pink, is an ideal platform to promote responsible recycling and encourage visitors to embrace sustainable practices.
Joining other iconic Western Australian tourism destinations like Perth Airport, AQWA, Kings Park, and Rottnest Island, Optus Stadium’s adoption of Containers for Change highlights the state’s commitment to creating a greener and cleaner future.
Lead image supplied.
