Sustainability

How to help make our events greener

BYO Keep Cups and Water Bottles

Help us reduce our waste at the Festival by:

Taking a reusable cup for your morning cuppa
Using the recycling bins in the container return bins
Bring a reusable water bottle, and fill up at the free water stations where possible

Some venues have regulations with bringing reusable water bottles:

Enmore Theatre and Ivy Rooftop – no reusable water bottles permitted
All events at The Entertainment Quarter – water bottes must be clear plastic, no glass or metal
All other events – reusable water bottles are welcome, plastic or metal (no glass)
Water bottle are to be empty on arrival at a venue

A photograph of a manicured hand holding a clear reusable water bottle

From left to right, a cut-out photo of a yellow wheelie bin says "RECYCLING"; a cut-out photo of a blue wheelie bin says "BOTTLES & CANS"; a cut-out photo of a red wheelie bin says "GENERAL", a cut-out photo of a green wheelie bin says "COMPOST". These are all on a brightly coloured teal and yellow gradient background

Use the Correct Waste Bins

Check your waste before you bin it.

Recycling (Yellow): Cans and bottles, paper, cardboard, plastic cups, pizza boxes.

Cans & Bottles (Blue): Cans and bottles (10c per container will be donated).

General Waste (Red): Cigarettes, soft plastics (plastic wrap, chip packets), wristbands, non-compostable serve ware.

Organics (Green) – Food, compostable serve ware (plates, bowls, cutlery, napkins. straws), teabags.

Bin your butts – Smokers please make sure they don’t end up on the ground.

See any litter on the ground? You’re doing the planet a favour by picking it up and putting it in a bin.

Recycle and Raise Money for LGBTQIA+ Initiatives

Look out for the can and bottle collection points across the events. Every can and bottle that you pop in one of these bins will raise 10c for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG).

SGLMG is a LGBTQIA+ not-for-profit member-based organisation that produces the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade and Festival and several other events and supportive initiatives throughout each year. SGLMG was built on the foundations laid by early community activists who fought for LGBTQIA+ rights in a time of wide-spread, institutionalised oppression and discrimination.

Year-round, they develop initiatives that celebrate our LGBTQIA+ identity, champion creative expression, challenge injustice and elevate diverse voices. These raised funds will further support and aid the longevity of the organisation.

Walk, Ride, or Catch Public Transport

We encourage you to walk, dance, catch public transport or ride to our events. If you do drive, try and get your friends together and carpool. Public Transport information can be found here https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip

A photograph of people having fun on a Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade float with confetti falling all around and some colourful strips fanning out in a light ray pattern up the left side of the image

Dress Fabulously Greener

Say no to fast fashion and find ways to make your costumes greener by:

Hiring or thrifting instead of buying new
Using sustainable materials such as organic cotton, bamboo or recycled material
Ensuring decorations (sequins, buttons etc) are firmly secure so they don’t fall onto the ground
Designing an outfit that you can wear over and over again

We Banned Glitter

Did you know we banned glitter, metallic and plastic confetti from the Parade? Glitter and confetti are microplastics and flow from the streets into our waterways. Instead, use biodegradable glitter and confetti. It helps to do your research because there are some “biodegradable” products that do not biodegrade in nature. Only the freshwater test certifies that a glitter biodegrades in the natural environment. Some companies selling compostable glitter claim they are biodegradable, but they do not in nature. Check the label.