Football fans at GIO Stadium and Manuka Oval this season can expect to farewell single-use plastic plates, bowls, takeaway containers and straws as the policy to move towards a more sustainable future speeds up.
Announcing the move, the Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel said this was another big step in accelerating Canberra’s shift.
“Food vendors who operate at NRL and Super Rugby matches at GIO Stadium, AFL and cricket matches at Manuka Oval will now move away from single-use plastic items such as plastic bowls, plates, single-use plastic straws and takeaway containers, swapping them with items made from materials like hard cardboard or sugar-cane mulch,” Mr Steel said.
“This means fans attending football games at GIO, cricket at Manuka or these music festivals at Exhibition Park will easily be able to take action to reduce their use of plastic,” he said.
Welcoming the news, City Services said the decision by food vendors was “over and above” the Canberra-wide ban on single-use plastic cutlery plastic stirrers and expanded polystyrene food and drink containers.
“The football seasons join a number of other public events including Groovin the Moo, the National Folk Festival, Canberra Day and more which are banning certain single-use plastic items,” City Services said.
“These events are helping to make sure there is less plastic waste in our landfill and less plastic litter in our beautiful ACT parks, lakes and waterways.”
It said work was underway for more items to be added to the Canberra-wide ban from 1 July, with another round of single-use plastic bans anticipated for 2023.
For those fans who are eager to play their part for the environment, Transport Canberra is offering free transport to the first game of the season this Friday (11 March), Raiders vs Sharks at GIO stadium.
