Zero Waste Dishwashing Trailer Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
We bring our Zero Waste Dishwashing Trailer to events big and small across Marlborough.
During the event set up we supply the awesome food vendors at the event with the reusable dishes and cutlery they need to serve their food.
The event attendees order their food as usual and it is served on reusable dishes.
Once the attendees are finished eating the dishes can be returned to our Zero Waste Dishwashing Trailer or they will be collected by our hard-working volunteers.
We then scrape, wash, rinse, sanitize and dry the dishes in the Zero Waste Dishwashing Trailer.
The dishes are then ready to go back to the vendors to be used again.
There are a lot of reasons why reusables are a better option than composable single use packaging. First, Marlborough does not have a commercial composting facility so compostable packaging from events ends in the landfill. When it goes in the landfill it produces methane in the anaerobic conditions of the landfill.
Second, resources and energy are used to create compostable packaging so even if it is able to be composted it is better to use a reusable dish or utensil than can be used again and again than to have to make new compostable packaging for every meal at every event.
If you are interested in learning more about the issues with compostable packaging check out:
We follow the global best practice guidelines for hygiene for reusables at events (check out https://sustainable-event-alliance.org/global-reusables-at-events-hygiene-standard/ for more information) . Our dishwashing procedure is:
1. All food scraps are scraped off the dishes
2. Dishes are washed in hot soapy water
3. Dishes are rinsed in hot soapy water
4. Dishes are sanitized by soaking them in extra hot water for 30 seconds or more.
5. Dishes are air dried
The dishes are then returned to the vendors to be used again.
Awesome! We can't do it without our amazing volunteers. We have events throughout the year, often on the weekends. You can volunteer at as many events as you like, but it is also ok if you are only available occasionally.
You don't need any special skills, just a willingness to get stuck in and work as a member of a team. We will provide you with all the training and gear you need to be a dishwashing superstar. We also sometimes have volunteers managing recycling stations, making sure that that everything goes in the right bin and letting event attendees know how we are helping to reduce rubbish heading to the landfill.
If you are interested please email our Zero Waste Coodinator, Heather Barnes at zerowaste@envirohub.co.nz
Want to know more about hygiene for reusable at events? Check out https://sustainable-event-alliance.org/global-reusables-at-events-hygiene-standard/
Check out these cool short videos for Event Organizers wanting to learn more about Zero Waste Events - https://beyondthebin.org.nz/videos-for-event-organisers/
Send Heather Barnes, our Zero Waste Coordinator an email at zerowaste@envirohub.co.nz as we would love to set up a time to discuss Zero Waste Events.