MCG to ban plastic plates and cutlery in bid to go green
Sports fans are being urged to bring their own coffee cups to the MCG this summer as the iconic stadium aims for an environmental reboot. See what items will be banned from the grounds.
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Plastic straws, cutlery and plates have been banned from the MCG and fans urged to bring their own reusable coffee cups as the iconic stadium gets an environmental reboot.
The MCC is investigating phasing out single use plastic at bars, cafes and restaurants, despite the challenge of eliminating packaging such as pie wrappers in a 100,000 seat venue.
MCG fans will be able to recycle any coffee vessels they buy at the ground with stations set up where entire cups — not just lids — can be recycled.
Plastic plates have been replaced with paper and wooden cutlery will be used at the home of Australian sport from now on.
Soft plastic packaging has also been banned from giveaways on the external concourse of the stadium.
MCC facilities general manager Peter Wearne said the MCG was already a sports industry leader in environment and sustainability but wanted to up the ante.
“In conjunction with a number of our key partners and suppliers we are exploring opportunities to limit and where possible eliminate single use plastics from entering the MCG,’’ he said.
“While things like pie wrappers might take a while to phase out, we are committed to operating the venue in the most sustainable way.”
One option for phasing out plastic pie wrappers may be eventually replacing them with paper bags.
Mr Wearne said dedicated coffee cup recycling stations around the ground would make a big difference as big crowds flocked to the summer of cricket at the MCG.
It is estimated Australians use one billion disposable coffee cups each year and the MCG goes through 50,000 in a busy month.
The MCG already turns coffee grinds into soil food for heritage-listed Yarra Park and wants to transform soft plastic items into repurposed new products such as outdoor furniture.
“Wherever we can, we strive to buy products made from recycled plastics, from the bollards in Yarra Park to speed humps for the roadways beneath the stadium,” Mr Wearne said.
The stadium has formed a working party with neighbouring Richmond Football Club and Tennis Australia to workshop ways to reduce their impact on the environment.
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The MCC this week won an award for Sustainability and Environmental Impact at the Facility Management Industry Awards for Excellence.
And it has signed on to the United Nations Sports for Climate Change Action Framework, joining the likes of New York Yankees, FIFA, NBA and International Olympic Committee.
“On average we recycle more than 75 per cent of all waste generated at MCG events but we are always aiming to improve,’’ Mr Wearne said. “We are increasingly holding our partners, contractors and even our patrons to the high standards we set ourselves.”