This recycled cardboard box was manufactured by the Australian company, Visy, for the collection of paper and cardboard at Olympic venues. Similar boxes were stationed throughout Olympic Park and the Olympic Village for the collection of cooking oil, clinical waste, food scraps and recyclable materials. However, in contrast to other Sydney 2000 recycling boxes, which are colour coded, this example simply features the Visy logo and recycling instructions.

From 1995, SOCOG developed an ambitious environmental agenda to recycle and compost up to 80 per cent of all waste arising from the Sydney 2000 Games. (The remaining 20 per cent would be destined for landfill.) This agenda, called The Sydney 2000 Integrated Waste Management Solution, was part of Sydney's promise to deliver the first eco-friendly Olympic Games.

The Sydney 2000 Integrated Waste Management Solution was an holistic approach to waste management. Disposable products, ranging from food packaging to building materials, would be recyclable or bio-degradable, and waste management stations (three large, colour- coded bins for the collection of biodegradable and recyclable material) would be installed for public use at all Olympic venues. From here, refuse would be taken to extensive bio-waste facilities or to recycling centres built especially for the Games.

Around 5000 tonnes of waste passed through the Sydney's Auburn Waste Transfer Station during each week of the Sydney 2000 Games. Recyclable material was then transferred to a waste management centre at Narellan, and compostable material was sent to a second centre at Eastern Creek. The Eastern Creek Waste Management Centre processed an up to 60 tonnes of compost material during each day of the Games. This material was combined with shredded green waste, turned and watered regularly, and left until May 2001 to ferment. It was then screened for non-degradable material, and prepared for sale at horticultural markets in Sydney.

To supplement this waste management system, SOCOG sought out new ranges of recyclable and biodegradable cutlery and food packaging. Cardboard cups and food containers, paper food wrap, cornstarch cutlery, and sugar-cane fibre plates became standard items at Olympic food outlets. After use, they were deposited in maroon bins at waste stations, and transferred to Eastern Creek for composting. Cardboard boxes were also stationed around administrative areas to collect general waste and recyclable materials.

Designed by Visy for use at the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Made by Visy for use at the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Unused

Made for and owned by the Olympic Coordination Authority/Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, and donated to the Powerhouse Museum after use in the Games.

Box, paper recycling, recycled paper, Green Games, Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, made by Visy c.2000

Recycle Box, rectangular, cardboard, collapsed, no lid, serrated edge. White outside, plain inside, Text on front and back, in blue 'VISY', in black 'Makes paper recycling', in blue 'easy'. In black text: 'Every tonne of recycled paper/ saves the equivalent of 13 trees from/ being chopped down./ And recycling reduces the volume of material going to landfill. You can do your bit to help save/ the environment by donating all of/ your waste office paper right here./ And when the box is full, toss the/ contents (not the box) into the wheelie/ bin. When all the wheelie bins are full, just call us & we'll collect them./ Easy. In blue text: 'Made from Visy white liner. A 100% recycled paper made from various fibres including de-inked office paper. On each side, Visy recycling logo below black text: 'No/ foil wrapper/ carbon/ food scraps/ food wrappers/ glass/ plastics/ typewriter ribbons/ polystyrene cups/ sticky tape/ adhesive labels/ facial tissues/ paper towels/ thermal fax paper/ cellophane/ rubber bands/ dead flower/ metal binder fasteners'.

Made: 2000

2001/84/519

2000

365 mm

155 mm