Recycling up to 600 litres of bottles and cans each month, saving around 30% in waste costs and generating at least $100 per month for community causes – MARC Stadium’s recycling program is delivering real environmental and social impact, all sparked by one team member speaking up.
Sporting and recreation venues generate significant waste every week, but at MARC Stadium, meaningful change started with a simple idea shared in a team meeting. For Grant, a futsal referee at the venue, it was about seeing potential where others saw waste.
“I’d seen how other sporting clubs were recycling bottles and cans and putting that money back into their clubs and thought, why can’t we do that here too?” Grant said.
Working alongside Cleanaway, the MARC Stadium team reviewed their waste processes and introduced a comprehensive recycling program for bottles and cans across the venue.
“To learn that the venue is now recycling between 400 and 600 litres of bottles and cans each month, saving around 30% in waste costs and generating at least $100 a month for the Belgravia Foundation, which helps reduce barriers to participation in sport, aquatic, fitness and recreation programs, has been really rewarding,” Grant said.
Venue Manager Stephane Tabardin said the results show the power of listening to people on the ground.
“What began as a simple conversation in a team meeting has grown into something we’re proud of. It’s a great example of how practical ideas from our people can turn into initiatives that support our environmental goals and give back to the community.
“The savings raised for the Belgravia Foundation will be reinvested locally. We’re also already looking ahead, with plans to explore recycling Coles milk bottles and finding sustainable uses for used coffee grounds. Grant has really got the ball rolling in more ways than one at our venue,” Stephane said.
Initiatives like this align with the broader sustainability focus across Belgravia Leisure, where local, people led action plays a key role in delivering organisation wide environmental targets.
General Manager Environment and Sustainability Alexia Morgan said actions like this highlight how sustainability happens in practice.
“People often think sustainability must be all or nothing, but it’s the small, practical changes, driven by passionate people like Grant, that really add up.
“From container and wristband recycling to coffee grounds initiatives across our venues, these local actions are bringing our sustainability plan to life and showing that reducing waste can also deliver real savings, around 30% in cases like this, so sustainability makes great business sense as well,” Alexia said.
Find out more about Belgravia Leisure’s approach to sustainability here.
- Explore Belgravia Leisure’s career opportunities.
- Learn more about Belgravia Leisure’s people.
