My first Trash Talker experience at AO2023
This year, our SEA volunteer Monica Chen, worked as a Trash Talker at SEA Member, the Australian Open. Here, she shares her experience and thoughts about this new event. The below opinions are those of Monica and not SEA.
25 May 2023 | by Monica Chen
Did you know that Trash Talkers were roaming the Australian Open (AO) 2023 to educate patrons about how to recycle? The Trash Talker Team were stationed at a Recycling Hub and helped people sort what goes where - food scraps, mixed recycling, landfill and plastic bottles or reusables. I quickly learnt that although recycling sounds easy, there is so much more to it. I was still asking questions on my second last day.
In my opinion, the Trash Talker initiative is new, exciting, and original. I hope that Australia will have tons of Trash Talkers in no time, and at the same time that less tons of waste will go to landfill. It’s the start of many things and I hope it will advance to other sporting events, even globally. In fact, this new idea has already sailed across the sea. From America such as Ohio State Buckeyes football stadium to achieve Zero Waste by 2025 and the Super Bowl LII successfully diverted 91% of waste all the way here, to Australia.
The role of a Trash Talker
As a trash talker, you are responsible for educating patrons on how to recycle and keep an eye on the contents of bins on the premises – sometimes we even sorted through them to make sure only the correct things went in. There are certain challenges of working in the scorching sun and the next minute, you’re freezing cold and wet. But, despite the weather changes, I would do it again in 2024. It was fulfilling to know that we made a difference as we diverted approximately 40%+ away from landfill. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my teammates, and let’s not forget those behind the scenes that was a large contributor to our achievement.
Interesting findings
Ice cream and coffee cups were found in every single bin. These single-use cups sometimes posed a bit of a challenge. If someone placed them in the wrong bin (recycling) with liquid inside it, it contaminated the whole bin and the things inside would, unfortunately no longer be able to be diverted from landfill. The ice-cream would drip down, and everything would become sticky from that point on. With this, perhaps it would have been better if patrons bought their own water bottles and coffee keep-cups to the AO for next year to hold their beverages.
Also, did you know that pizza boxes can’t be recycled if they are contaminated with oil? Well, there were a lot of pizza lovers and half the boxes, unfortunately, had to go to landfill. We ripped the cover from the box and recycled the cover. Without Trash Talkers, the patrons likely would not have ripped cardboard apart or separated something as small as cutlery, food scraps or napkins. So, it was like we were security guards protecting the bins.
Despite this, I totally understand why people can find it confusing how to recycle. The Food Scraps bins are not quite the same at home, where for example tissues are not accepted and the wax paper and AO maps being confused as recyclable material, when really, they all go to landfill.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, it can be tiring just standing there, but we made an impact. Knowing that we improved diversion rates from landfill for such a large event is something I am very proud of. Team effort is what counts. I can’t wait for other sporting events to catch on for a better planet to play on.
I’m a Trash Talker and I love it.
