ASB MAGAZINE: Surfing Victoria, the Surf Coast Shire and the World Surf League (WSL) are pleased to announce that the 2018 Rip Curl Pro achieved the highest level of waste diversion on record with over 65% of waste being diverted away from Land Fill. Over the past 5 years the average diversion percentage has been 49.92% with the highest being 56.54% of diversion away from landfill to recycling that was achieved in 2016.

Surfing Victoria Operations Manager Peter Murphy believes that new practices that have been put in place will help keep that percentage at an all time high.

“Over the past 12 months we have instituted a plastic free policy on all event vendors and partners. This has allowed us to reduce the amount of waste from the event that goes to landfill but more importantly it has forced food vendors and event partners to change their practices to become more environmentally friendly.”

“Not only has this made a difference at the Rip Curl Pro, it has flow on effects to our domestic events as well as other events vendors may attend. We now encourage all staff to bring re-usable water bottles, coffee cups and reduce the amount waste brought down to the beach.”

“We have made a concerted effort to reduce the amount of waste on site at the Rip Curl Pro and we look forward to making further changes in years to come.”

“The WSL is continually looking at ways to reduce the footprint our events leave on the areas in which they are held and on the environment as a whole,” said WSL CEO Sophie Goldschmidt.

“We are so thrilled to hear that this year, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach has seen its best waste diversion rate to date and is such a testament to the great work done by the Surf Coast Shire, and Surfing Victoria along with their event partners and the WSL.”

One of the success stories of this policy is Gary Neil from City to Surf Mobile Café who has overhauled his operation to become more environmentally friendly.

“The Rip Curl Pro have introduced some fantastic initiatives over the past 12 months which has forced us to change our practices. We have moved to only stocking cups that are fully biodegradable and compostable along with completely replacing single use plastic bottles with biodegradable cardboard carton water.”

“As we work closely with Surfing Victoria and other bodies throughout the Surf Coast we are proud to be environmentally sustainable whilst still being cost efficient.”

Lachlan Close, Waste Management Supervisor at the Surf Coast Shire believes the strong partnership between the Surf Coast Shire and Surfing Victoria is the key to the strong reduction in waste to landfill.

“The continued commitment to reduce waste to landfill and ensure the RCP is an environmental leader is due to the excellent relationship between Surfing Victoria and the Shire.”

“For over 10 years the partnership has sought continual improvement in waste management, which has seen this year’s event divert 65% of total waste generated from landfill. Often unseen and unheard, waste management ticks along in the background and the Rip Curl Pro has had some amazing achievements over the years. Since its inception in 2012 commercial food organic recycling has diverted 4.78 tonnes from landfill. “

“Whist public events on this scale are challenging, the dedicated partnership will endeavor to develop new and exciting methods to decrease waste to landfill and maximise recycling.”

The Rip Curl Pro is the worlds longest running professional surfing event, held at Bells Beach on Victoria’s Surf Coast. The event is the 2nd stop on the World Surf League Championship Tour and sees the likes of Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, John John Florence, Nikki Van Dijk and Sally Fitzgibbons compete each year.

For more information on the Rip Curl Pro head to www.surfingvic.com

VIA PRESS RELEASE

 

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