Running sustainable events
As a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Cairns is a popular ecotourism and events destination. You can align your event with the region's green, tropical identity by taking simple steps for a more sustainable event.
We've made a checklist on this page to help you create a more sustainable event.
You can also take advantage of Council's free-to-hire tools to reduce waste at your next event.
- Water stations
- Clean up kits
- Bin signage for recycling
Waste wise tools for hire
Water stations
- Why? portable water fountains that provide access to free drinking water and reduce the need for plastic water bottles.
- Description: Drink Fountain + Bottle Refill + hoses and tap connectors + carry bags + instructions
- Dimensions: Drink Fountain - 18 kg, 83 x 58 x 50cm + Bottle Refill - 21kg, 120 x 50 x 60cm
- What you need: a flat, easily accessible area within 3m of a standard outdoor tap (i.e. garden tap) and a car with adequate space (hatchbacks may be suitable).
Bin station signage
- Why? borrow additional clip-in bin signs to help attendees separate waste and recycling correctly.
- Description: clear signage that clips into your event bins.
- What you need: equal numbers of waste and recycling (co-mingled or for Containers for Change recycling) bins, kept in pairs and in high-use areas (e.g. eating areas)
- Conditions of use: signs must be removed prior to bin servicing and collection.
Clean up kits
- Why? support your roving clean-up team to pick up litter around the event site.
- Description: large waste and recycling bags (not bin bags) + reaching tongs + high-visibility vests + gloves (if necessary)
- What you need: a volunteer or staff-lead clean-up team.
- Conditions of use: all gloves must be washed before return and only fairly clean bags should be returned. If your reach is extending beyond the event area, please register your clean up at Clean Up Australia Day
Checklist and tips for running sustainable events
- Is it powered by renewable energy, is there energy efficient lighting and equipment? If not, consider powering your event with GreenPower.
- Is public transport easily accessible? Are there adequate bike parking racks?
- Are waste and recycling systems in place?
- Does the venue actively avoid waste and provide seasonal catering options?
- Choose local providers, entertainment and materials where possible.
- Consider aligning your event with a local community cause by providing a donation component to your tickets, at the gate or providing a free stall - you could even negotiate extra volunteer support from the benefiting group.
- Consider how local capacity and skills could be developed by partnering with training providers.
- Develop stallholder guidelines to reduce the amount of waste brought onsite and exclude single-use plastics where possible. Mobile food and drink vendors can be conditioned to use compostable packaging. We have a sample application form at the top o0f this page.
- Choose quality, practical merchandise to promote your waste wise ethos and design with branding that has longevity for future events.
- Carefully consider catering needs for your amount of attendees, any excess quality food can be donated to local charities through organisations like OzHarvest Cairns.
- Order equal amounts of waste and recycling bins for patrons, if not provided by your venue.
- Set up bin stations, placing waste and recycling bins in pairs to support correct disposal - refer to the Waste Wise Event Fact Sheet at the top of this page.
- Consider your 'back of house' needs and whether there will be significant volumes of eligible beverage containers to warrant a designated Containers for Change collection.
- Don't forget to plan for the clean up with the support of a cleaning company, event staff or volunteers.
- Encourage car pooling, point out the nearest bus routes and clearly mark secure bike parking racks. This information can be provided on tickets and in the week leading up to the event.
Last Updated: 30 March 2023
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