Recycling at surf championships

Surf Life Saving NSW will ask patrons of the Surf Life Saving Championships at Umina Beach to use recycling bins at the event.

The State Championships will be held at Ocean Beach and Umina from March 1 to 10.

Visitors, club members and the local community will be encouraged to think about what they can recycle, what they can reuse and how much general waste can be reduced at the event.

Surf Life Saving NSW will be using recycling bin lid toppers which clearly distinguish recycling bins from those used for general waste.

Flags clearly labelled with "Recycle" will be located next to these bins.

Recycling bins will be located across the five busiest traffic areas on and off the beach.

A display stall set up at the event promoting the initiative will feature super-sized (1.4 metre) can and bottle recycling bins.

"These novelty size bins will hopefully be a fun way to encourage people to separate their waste from recyclable products," said Surf Life Saving NSW surf sports manager Mr Dan Pearce.

The Council Waste Management team have assisted the clubs in the development of their waste management program for the event.

All club teams will be supplied with different coloured garbage bags each day, one for recycling and the other for general waste.

These will be made available at the tent and will be given to club managers at the pre-event meetings.

Garbage bags will be collected by volunteers throughout the day.

Mr Pearce said these were just some of the initiatives being implemented to make the championships environmentally friendly.

"With an event of this size attracting so many visitors to the area, we need to have plans in place to reduce our effect on the environment.

"Together with Council, we're working on a variety of ways to minimise the impact on the competition venue and surrounding areas.

"Surf Life Saving NSW aims to create a more sustainable surf sports event, reduce the carbon footprint and keep the beautiful Central Coast beaches clean," said Mr Pearce.

Media Release, 14 Feb 2013

Donna Wishart, Surf Life Saving NSW