EVENTS - Eliminate single-use plastic water bottles

ACTION 2 - Water Bottles

1. Put a ban on single-use plastic water bottles

As water bottles can represent a revenue source for vendors, relying on voluntary action can cause problems with those that choose not to comply gaining a financial advantage over those that do. Creating a level playing field from the start and providing vendors with the opportunity to sell reusable water bottles (see step 3) will help to avoid these issues.

2. Provide a water van or station

For larger events or markets

Tourism Noosa signature events can now book a FREE stand-alone water van (that does not require staff), through Unitywater's Back to Tap project. Unitywater will deliver, set up and remove the van for you. It simply connects to a tap and supplies free chilled water (from solar power).

BOOK VAN HERE

For smaller events or markets, other water sources could include:

Providing pitchers of water and reusable cups through your food vendors or at the bar
Glass bottles where appropriate
Water stations set up with water containers
Use of bubblers or permanent Noosa Council water refill station - Fill up for free at the touch of a button.

To help keep the Noosa community healthy, happy and single-use plastic free, Unitywater and Noosa Council have installed 16 water refill stations across the Shire, and we have 2 more coming soon...

Find a Unitywater refill station HERE

3. provide reusable water bottles or cups to patrons

It is important that reusable options are available for your patrons to borrow or buy, especially for larger, outdoor events.

Sell reusable water bottles, ask your vendors to sell them, or invite an organisation like Surfrider Foundation along to to have a stall and sell their reusable bottles - this will not only help their cause, but also make it easy for you to achieve your goal.

Offer reusable cups or water bottles with a refundable deposit, which they can choose to then keep as a momentum or return to get their deposit back (there are organisations like Globelet who can provide this service and take back returned cups, they can even brand the cups).

SIMPLY A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTIC BOTTLES

We have been tirelessly working with suppliers and manufacturers to source an affordable water bottle alternative for members, that maintains similar profit margins to that of plastic bottles, without costing the earth.

Introducing the NOOSA collection of infinitely recyclable aluminium bottles of Cooroy Mountain Spring Water thanks to Bluesky Beverages. If you must provide a bottle for sale at your event/market, these aluminium bottles are a smarter choice for the environment.

These bottles are already significantly reducing the number of single-use plastic water bottles that are sold within our region each year. Get in touch with us to find out how you can order for your event or market.

4. organise your signage

If patrons are not aware of how your water system works, they will look for plastic options. Pre-event communication should include this messaging, and event signage should inform people that no plastic bottles are available and advise on what reusable system you have in place. See Action 5 - Communications for this (including signage to download)

5. check your other single use beverage containers

We also recommend that you include a requirement that other single-use drink containers are captured close to 100% and sent for recycling, preferably through the Container Refund Scheme.

Get involved

Ready to go plastic free? Plastic Free Noosa helps to protect the environment by empowering the Noosa community in eliminating single-use plastics through direct engagement, recognition and facilitating circular economies.

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