Ms Jones officially launched the Public Place Recycling Program with the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba to mark the AFL’s Green Round this weekend.
“Public Place Recycling at the Gabba has so far been a tremendous success after only one game,” Ms Jones said.
“The Gabba is the first major venue where recycling levels are exceeding waste levels.
“Queensland Aussie Rules fans are being asked to kick a green goal at home and away for this week’s blockbuster against the Bulldogs.
“As well as looking at their own household behaviour, they can use one of the 170 recycling bins at the Gabba when the Lions take on the Bulldogs this Saturday night (August 15) to reduce the AFL’s and their and carbon footprint.
“The State Government is proud to support the AFL, Brisbane Lions and the Gabba ahead of this weekend’s inaugural Green Round, which shows us all that you don’t need to be a footy player to kick a green goal.
“If you’re going to the game at the Gabba, be ‘green’ and reduce energy use by switching off electricity at home before coming to game; use public transport, car pool or walk to and from the game; and at the game, you can ‘do the right thing, use the right bin’ to recycle and reduce your waste.
“In fact, don’t stop at the game - I encourage all Queenslanders to make these behaviours part of their everyday lives to save energy, money and the environment.”
Ms Jones said the Green Round was the perfect opportunity to launch the recycling program at the Queensland home of AFL.
“The Gabba’s Public Place Recycling Program began when the Lions took on the Kangaroos on 25 July and it diverted more than four tonnes of waste,” she said.
“We’re hoping footy fans can better that effort on Saturday.
“Under the program, the Department of Environment and Resource Management has been working with Gabba stakeholders and the Packaging Stewardship Forum to improve recycling levels by refreshing the existing recycling system at the stadium.
“The Gabba was the last of Queensland’s four major footy stadiums to introduce the program but is the first major venue where recycling levels now exceed waste levels.
“When it began last month, each fan recycled 162 grams of recycling and 124 grams of waste – an outstanding effort.
“There’ll be 170 recycling bins around the Gabba grounds – and those bins will always be paired up with a waste bin.
“Remember - anything with food contamination, such as hamburger wrappers, serviettes, plastic wrapping and bags needs to go in the waste bin with the red bin caps.
“Other items such as drink bottles, cans, newspapers and clean cardboard, can go into the recycling bins with the yellow bin caps.
“If everyone at the Green Round Gabba game (based on 42,000 stadium capacity) recycled 200 grams, 8.4 tonnes would be recycled, this is equivalent to 555 full recycling wheelie bins being diverted from landfill.”
“Since the roll out of the Public Place Recycling program at Queensland’s four major football stadiums in 2009 – the Gabba, Suncorp, Dairyfarmers and Skilled Park, and the involvement of sports players promoting recycling facilities, over 60 tonnes of recycling have been diverted from landfill.
“This is equivalent of diverting 4,000 full kerbside recycling bins from going to landfill.”
It is planned that by 2012, recycling systems will be in place at the majority of public venues and areas across the State so people can practice recycling away from home.
The Department of Environment and Resource Management will also be working with AFL Auskick clubs across the State to get behind public place recycling.
Each AFL club and team in Queensland will receive a reusable recycling bag to use at local matches, and each club will be asked to put forward a green champion to follow in the recycling footsteps of Brisbane Lions player Daniel Rich.
The two-year $1 million Public Place Recycling program is supported by funding from the National Packaging Covenant of $500,000.
For more information on public place recycling go to www.derm.qld.gov.au and information about living climate smart or the Green Round, go to www.climatesmart.qld.gov.au
