North Sydney Oval Enters 12-Month Sustainability Partnership with WOSUP to Eliminate Single-Use Plastics

North Sydney Oval has secured a 12-month commercial and environmental partnership with WOSUP (War On Single Use Plastic) to implement a reusable cup system across approximately 30 annual fixture events.

Owned and operated by North Sydney Council, the historic venue traditionally consumes roughly 800 single-use plastic cups per game for draught beer, wine, and spirits service. The new agreement is projected to divert more than 24,000 single-use plastic cups from landfill annually, testing the commercial viability and operational efficiency of large-scale venue reuse systems.

The initiative aligns directly with the North Sydney Council Community Strategic Plan objective to reduce waste and conserve natural resources, while supporting the New South Wales Government’s broader regulatory focus on expanding reusable packaging systems through the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0.

Under the operational framework, patrons purchasing draught beverages will receive their drinks in durable WOSUP cups. Following consumption, users can deposit their cups at designated collection points around the stadium, where they will be systematically recovered, professionally cleaned, and re-circulated into the venue’s match-day inventory.

Commenting on the rollout, WOSUP CEO, Martin Salter, said: “WOSUP is proud to be leading the transition to reusable packaging across Australia’s sporting venues and we’re delighted to partner with North Sydney Council on this important initiative.”

“Together, we’re demonstrating that practical reuse systems can significantly reduce waste while maintaining a great experience for patrons.

“We hope this agreement encourages more councils, stadiums and event organisers to embrace reuse as the new standard.

“Small changes at venues like North Sydney Oval can have a lasting impact on reducing single-use plastic waste across Australia,” Salter said. 

Highlighting the project’s importance for community-owned sports assets and local environmental stewardship, North Sydney Mayor, Hon. Zoë Baker , added: “We know that large events can generate significant amounts of waste and initiatives like this help us explore practical solutions that reduce our environmental impact.”

“North Sydney Oval is an important community venue, and this initiative gives patrons an opportunity to be part of a simple change that could make a meaningful difference over time,” Mayor Baker noted. 

Council and venue operators will actively monitor patron participation, return rates, and logistical efficiency across the trial period, sharing progress reports throughout the year. 

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