The Department of Environment and Science has announced that trials of alternatives to single-use drinking cups are being evaluated at stadiums in Brisbane, Townsville and on the Gold Coast.
Minister for the Environment, Meaghan Scanlon said the Stadiums Queensland trials were a positive next step on the war on waste.
“Every year, Queensland stadium venues use more than 1.5 million disposable drinking cups, each taking an estimated 450 years to breakdown in landfill,” Ms Scanlon said.
“This trial will help inform future opportunities to roll out reusable drink containers, as well as highlight options for future local manufacturing.”
Minister for Sport, Stirling Hinchliffe said the first reusable drink container trials took place at Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash cricket game at the Gabba.
“We know enjoying a cold beer is a big part of the world-class event experience at a Queensland stadium, but we want it to also be sustainable,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“We’re evaluating three options, including polypropylene plastic and aluminium cups, and canned beverages which can be used over and over again or recycled.”
He said the trial would investigate a scalable and cost-effective system to deliver a reusable drink container solution that worked for spectators, Queensland’s stadium venues, and the environment.
“With less than a decade to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this is an opportunity see how Queensland could lead the nation for sustainable stadium sporting experiences,” the Minister said.
