The Australian Turf Club has partnered with WISE to help eliminate single-use beverage plastics from its venues and events whilst enhancing the customer experience with better beverage vessels.

Most single-use plastic cups end up in landfill and do permanent harm to the environment. WISE has developed a cup re-use plan that provides a solution to the single-use plastic cup waste problem.

Already proven across stadia and major sporting events throughout Europe, WISE cups can be washed up to 500 times, and in doing so will eliminate single-use plastic cups from all events.

Beverage customers will pay a $2.00 deposit on their first WISE cup, which is the only extra amount they will pay all day. Customers will then return their empty cup to the bar and will be given a fresh WISE cup free of charge when purchasing another drink. There is no limit on free exchanges.

At the end of the raceday, customers can return their cup to the bar for a refund of $1.00, or donate that $1.00 to the Australian Turf Club Foundation.

The ATC Foundation makes grants nationally to support charitable organisations working to benefit the community across a wide range of sectors and endeavours. The ATC Foundation supports projects that address local priorities and make a positive contribution to the community.

“Due to our liquor licence and restrictions, we have to use plastics for service in our public bars, and that means tens-of-thousands of single-use plastic cups during carnival,” Greg Isnard, ATC Hospitality Services Manager, said.

“With WISE, the ATC is moving forward in the fight against plastic pollution and we are proud to join the long list of stadiums and entertainment venues all around the world that want to put a stop to single-use plastics.

“It will be a learning curve for our patrons and for our staff, but we believe in what we do, and we know this is a positive initiative to help protect the environment.”

The WISE re-use cups will be rolled out at Royal Randwick public bars from this Saturday’s Winx Stakes Raceday and will be in place throughout the upcoming Everest Carnival.