Alternatives to single-use drinking cups are now being trialled at stadium venues in Brisbane as part of a government effort to protect Queensland’s environment and lifestyle.
Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the first innings of Stadium Queensland’s reusable drink container trial was this weekend’s Brisbane Heat Big Bash games at The Gabba.
The Queensland government is currently evaluating three options— polypropylene plastic and aluminium cups, and canned beverages— in an effort to determine a scalable and cost-effective recycling system that works for spectators, Queensland’s stadium venues, and the environment.
Hinchliffe said over 10,000 reusable cups will be distributed at The Gabba and Queensland Country Bank Stadium, with spectators encouraged to return the used containers at designated collection points inside the venue.
“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,” Minister Hinchliffe said.
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the stadium trials will inform future opportunities to roll out reusable drink containers, as well as highlight options for future local manufacturing.
Stadium venues in the state use over 1.5 million disposable drinking cups annually, each cup taking an estimated 450 years to break down in landfills.
“We are committed to addressing the impact of harmful plastic pollution on our environment. The stadium trials will build on our single-use plastic bag and straw bans, the successful ‘Containers for Change’ program and our $1.1 billion Recycling and Jobs Fund,” Scanlon added.
In May 2022, Stadiums Queenslands called for tenders to try out alternatives to single-use drinking containers at venues.
Wise and WOSUP emerged as the most suitable and experienced options for the supply and cleaning of multi-use cups.
Reusable polypropylene plastic cups will be trailed at The Gabba for Sunday’s Big Bash match and aluminium cups at the Cowboys’ home games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on 27 March and 7 April.
