Queen Victoria Market has been proudly plastic bag and straw free since May 2019From Wednesday 1 February 2023, Victoria’s statewide ban on single-use plastics also comes into effect, with our traders no longer supplying:
- Single-use cutlery
- Single-use plates
- Expanded polystyrene food and drink containers
- Cotton bud sticks
To learn more about the statewide ban on single-use plastics, click here.
The Market is on track to achieve its ambitious sustainability target of producing zero carbon and sending zero waste to landfill by 2027. Most recently available results from the 2020/2021 financial year show Queen Victoria Market has:
- met the target to recycle 80% of the Market’s waste (up from 65% in 2019/2020).
- decreased the volume of waste going to landfill by 848 tonnes compared to the previous financial year.
- collected 685 tonnes of organic waste (fruit, vegetables and coffee grounds) which was processed by Yarra Valley Water’s waste to energy facility. This returned 165,770kWh of energy back to the grid – enough to power 19,796 houses for one day.
Implementing sustainable practices at the Queen Victoria Market is a complex operation: the Market spans seven hectares, includes almost 600 traders and is the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere.
In addition to ensuring the iconic city destination continues to be an inspiring place to visit, the Market has made a long-term commitment to reduce its impact on the environment with a number of initiatives:
- The Market recycles more than 700 tonnes of cardboard and polystyrene every year.
- Offcuts from butchers and fishmongers are turned into pet food at an offsite facility with approximately 560 tonnes of meat and fish waste recycled in a year.
- More than 530kg of coffee grounds a month from Market cafés and restaurants are sent off site with the fruit and vegetable waste and converted from waste to energy.
- On-site worm farms convert smaller volumes of food scraps into nutrient-filled fertiliser which is then used on potted trees and plants throughout the Market.
- Customers can refill water bottles at six fountains located around the Market.
- Single-use plastic bags and straws are banned.
- Food vendors at Night Markets are required to use biodegradable plates, cutlery and straws.
- Balloons are banned at Queen Victoria Market events.
- Sustainable shopping tours are available for market customers.
Queen Victoria Market is also proud to have participated in Earth Hour 2023 by switching off all lights in the iconic Meat & Fish Hall for an hour from 8.30pm on Saturday 25 March.
