Recycling at Stockland Park is set to increase by 50 percent thanks to the installation of 46 new “away from home” recycling bins around the complex.
This combined with existing onsite recycling efforts is enough to fill around 2,800 household wheelie bins each year.
The new recycling systems will be placed throughout the precinct’s multiple venues including the sports fields, the Kawana Aquatic Centre, the Western Fields, Lake Kawana rowing facility and the new constructed Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Environment portfolio holder Councillor Keryn Jones said the improvements were made possible thanks to funding from the Packaging Stewardship Forum of the Australian Food and Grocery Council and the Sunshine Coast Council.
“The Stockland Park Sporting Complex has recently undergone an ecoBiz audit, and the waste assessment revealed that more than 40 percent of the rubbish disposed in the waste bin could be recycled,” Cr Jones said.
“The behaviour observed also showed that if the right bins were available, people are willing to recycle.
“Thanks to the new “away from home” recycling bins up to 20 tonnes of aluminium cans, PET and glass bottles can now be recycled and diverted from landfill each year—that’s enough to fill almost 2,800 household wheelie bins.”
General Manager of the PSF, Jenny Pickles congratulated Stockland Park Precinct on its enthusiasm and commitment to help patrons boost their “away from home” recycling efforts.
“Stockland Park Precinct was eager to encourage recycling at its venues and we came on board with funding and expertise on how to do it,” Ms Pickles said.
“Through well-placed bin infrastructure and promotion of the Do the Right Thing, Use the Right Bin message, the new systems will make it just as easy to recycle away from home as it is at home.”
Cr Jones said Stockland Park will be working with the Sea Eagles Rugby League Club to promote the recycling messages to its players and patrons.
“Stockland Park will also be working with the other users of the precinct to continue to spread this message,” Cr Jones said.
Sea Eagles CEO, Justin Veivers said it’s a great opportunity for the Sea Eagles to lead by example.
“When people come to our new home we have expectations of the sort of environment we want to provide and a large part of that is recycling which makes our community a better place to live in,” Mr Veivers said.
Cr Jones said recycling bins will be placed with waste bins in areas where previously only the waste bin was available.
“In some areas, like the Lake Kawana rowing facility, we expect recycling efforts to go up 100 percent because these were areas where previously only waste bins were available.
“Last year, with more than 645,000 visitors, Stockland Park created 720m3 of waste so these changes will mean a real win for the environment.”
All of the new 46 waste and recycling bins carry the national call to action to recycle—Do The Right Thing, Use The Right Bin.
Increase signage, an automated bin lifter and bin security posts were installed as part of the project.
Permanent bin enclosures are also being placed at the Kawana Aquatic Centre—these combine both environmental and social responsibility. The bins are made from recycled printer cartridges (ewood) and built by people with disabilities through Help Enterprises.
Australia’s major beverage companies have supported the installation of new away from home recycling systems in 58 of Australia’s major sporting stadia and entertainment venues which service nearly 42.7 million patron visits annually.
Stockland Park Precinct is one of 24 well known Queensland stadia and entertainment venues participating in the PSF’s away from home recycling program, with installations already completed at other Queensland venues (some in partnership with the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management).
The other 23 venues are Dairy Farmers Stadium, Skilled Park, The Gabba, Suncorp Stadium, Ballymore Stadium, Metricon Stadium, Virgin Australian Stadium Mackay, Cazalys Stadium, Queensland Sports & Athletic Centre, Brisbane Racing Club, WetNWild Waterworld, Movie World, Dreamworld, Seaworld, Currumbin Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary, Surf Life Saving Sunshine Coast, Cairns Convention Centre, Gold Coast Convention Centre, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre, Blue Lagoon Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Powerhouse and Mackay Exhibition and Convention Centre.
