Bold Initiative in Christchurch to Compost Waste from Events

Bold Initiative in Christchurch to Compost Waste from major Events

Over the next two weeks, Hagley Park will be filled with colour, culture and delightful cuisine when the Night Noodle Markets, Sparks and the Christchurch Lantern Festival take place from Wednesday, 8th February to Saturday, 19th February. While the anticipated 90,000 attendees at the Night Noodle Markets will focus on food offerings from the likes of Hoy Pinoy and the Pot Sticker Dumping Bar, behind the scenes a major environmental initiative will be underway, with the goal of diverting over 80% of the waste from these major events from the landfill to a local composting facility.

The environmental initiative has been developed by Christchurch City Council, in partnership with New Zealand owned sustainable packaging business – Ecoware. The Council has looked at their event production practices and identified ways to minimize the negative, and maximise the positive environmental, social and economic legacies from the events they deliver.

They have selected three major events in Hagley Park from the 8th – 19th February and are implementing a trial which they believe will divert the vast majority of event waste from landfill to a local compost facility.

This initiative is happening at this year’s Night Noodle Markets, Sparks and the Christchurch Lantern Festival in Hagley Park. The food vendors at these events are required to use compostable packaging which has been pre-approved by a local composting facility and the Council.

The aim of the initiative is to vastly increase the diversion rate of event waste from landfill to composting. If the trial is successful, the opportunity will be available to extend it to other internal and external events produced by Christchurch City Council.

The Council has partnered with New Zealand packaging business, Ecoware to supply all the packaging for these events, as their products are all made from naturally renewable raw materials. Ecoware’s products passed the tests from the Christchurch composting facility that they could be turned into high grade compost once the eating and reveling at the festivals is over.

Ecoware was established six years ago with the vision of producing “packaging with principles” so being selected to supply all the packaging for this Christchurch initiative is very special for their business.

Ecoware Directors, James Calver & Alex Magaraggia said “we believe that with the right packaging and vision that we can divert the vast majority of waste that currently ends up in landfill, so are incredibly excited to be working with Christchurch City Council on this project at three of the city’s iconic summer events.”

“We share Council’s goal of reducing the waste that goes to landfill, so applaud their leadership in putting this trial in place. With this partnership with Christchurch City Council, we hope to showcase to the country that waste from events should no longer be sent to landfill.”

Another environmental campaigner who is excited at the upcoming trial in Christchurch is the Director of waste education social enterprise Beyond the Bin, Kim Renshaw. She has long been advocating for reducing the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill, saying – “it’s great to see major cities such as Christchurch getting behind compostable packaging. I feel like the days of landfill-only food packaging are numbered. Our ultimate dream of zero waste is becoming more of a reality when we have environmental initiatives such as this one from Christchurch City Council, and the compostable packaging that Ecoware are producing”.

The environmental trial starts next Wednesday when the Night Noodle Markets open in Hagley Park. It could be the start of a new approach to the large volumes of waste produced by events throughout the country.

Zero Waste Event Trial:
Events: Night Noodle Markets (90,000+ attendees expected)
8 - 12 February 4pm – 10pm Weekdays
1pm – 10pm Weekends

Sparks (50,000 – 70,000 attendees expected)
Saturday, 11 February 5:30pm – 10pm

Christchurch Lantern Festival (60,000 attendees expected)
Saturday, 18 February 5pm – 10:30pm
Sunday, 19 February 5pm – 10:30pm
Location: Hagley Park, Christchurch

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