(25/3/2019) Freo events going single-use plastic free

Event organisers in Fremantle are embracing the City of Fremantle’s sustainable events policy, with the Fish and Sips festival at Coast Port Beach this weekend going single-use plastic free.

Fremantle Council adopted the sustainable events policy in November last year.

The policy excludes the provision, use, distribution or sale of single-use plastics including straws, cutlery, bottles, cups, plates, containers, bags and cling-wrap at all events produced by the City – such as the Fremantle International Street Arts Festival and One Day in Fremantle.

Although single-use plastics are not banned from third party events in Fremantle, the policy does encourage event organisers not to use them.

Coast Port Beach General Manager Ian Hutchinson said they’ve purchased 15,000 reusable polycarbonate and melamine cups specifically for the Fish and Sips festival.

“Coast began this process long before it became trendy, so to speak, because we are so intricately linked to our environment with the beach,” Mr Hutchinson said.

“We personally feel obliged to make a difference and we're also in the privileged position of being able to do it.

“Recently for Cuban club we did 35,000 drinks in a day with no single-use plastic, and in this Fish and Sips event we’ll be doing similar numbers over the weekend - all of this in reusable cups.

“It’s essential to the survival of Coast Port Beach that we’re able to use the beach and the beautiful ocean backdrop, so we’re doing our part to preserve this and also blazing a trail by being the first event to do this on a large scale.”

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said it was encouraging that event organisers were taking up the challenge of being more environmentally friendly.

“The impact of plastic in our environment is well documented, with some studies suggesting that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“The fact that you can put on a large event like Fish and Sips and not use single-use plastic demonstrates there are cost effective alternatives available.

“I congratulate Ian and his staff at Coast Port Beach for going single-use plastic free, and encourage the organisers of other events to follow their example.”

The Fish and Sips festival is on from Friday 29 March until Sunday 31 March.

For more information visit the Coast Port Beach website.