Guidelines for Stall Holders

Stall holders have the obligation to minimise their packaging waste in accordance with event guidelines. Increasingly, the public is demanding responsible packaging and recycling practices and many event organisers specify which materials can be used by stall holders.

Research has shown that the public is willing to pay a surcharge to support more environmentally friendly materials - consider making this a selling point. Without compromising health regulations and safe work practices, the golden rules for waste reduction in order of preference, are Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Reduce

Assess your current packaging, and aim to eliminate or reduce materials that are not essential to the safe transportation and presentation of your products:

• Straws;
• Pre-wrapped straws (e.g. fruit boxes);
• Promotional literature;
• Coffee cup lids;
• Disposable food trays;
• Plastic wrapping film; and
• Salt, pepper, sugar, sauce etc in disposable packaging.
• Can you reduce the thickness of plastic, paper, cardboard and foam packaging?
• Where practical, give your customers the option of refusing a container, serviette etc.

Reuse

• Reuse materials such as pallets, durable boxes, re-usable crockery, etc.

Recycle

• Can your packaging be recycled?
• Are better packaging alternatives available?
• Can you ask your suppliers whether they can use materials that are supported by existing recycling programs in Tasmania?

The following materials are generally recyclable at major events in southern Tasmania:

• Glass bottles and containers
• Aluminium cans
• PET [1] plastic containers

Depending upon transport economics, a separate cardboard collection area may be established for stall holders by the Event Organiser.

A list of Suppliers of Environmentally Friendly Packaging Material has been provided. If you know of a company that is not included, please contact SWSA, and we will add their details.