FAQs

B-Alternative is predominantly located and servicing Victoria within the Kulin Nations across Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Wadawurrung, Taungarong and Djajawurung countries. However, we have an amazing and dedicated crew across the entire East Coast of Australia and are available to deliver services in VIC, NSW, QLD, SA and Tasmania.

Ultimately B-Alternative is a catalyst for behavioural and cultural change. We believe that through education and implementing regenerative systems we can contribute to a society where valuing the earth and protecting natural resources becomes the norm. We hope that our models progressively become obsolete, where harmony with the environment becomes business as usual.

B-Alternative offers environmental solutions including reusable crockery, waste audits, educational workshops and eco-packaging & products. We can work with any organisation that produces waste… so everyone! See 'Our Services' page to learn more!

B-Alternative supplies a high quality catalogue of reusable crockery, made from plant based materials alongside an energetic team of dishwashers who work on site to circulate, wash and sanitise dishes using our commercial grade dishwashers. B-Alternative liaise with food and beverage vendors prior to an event to understand their crockery requirements. On site patrons order food as per usual and can drop used dishes directly to our Dishwashing HQ or to designated drop zones. We then wash, dry, drop and repeat!

Our reusable crockery is made from Rice Husks and bound by Synthetic Resin being Rice Husks, Cellulose, Starch, Natural Resin, Lignin, Nano-Silica and water. Huskware products can stand heat up to 130 degrees. However oven, microwave and steamer are not advisable because the natural protection will affected and the products surface will turn rough.

No, our reusable crockery is designed to be a sustainable alternative to disposable plates and cutlery. It's circulated and reused hundreds if not thousands of times throughout its life cycle. Even at the end of its life, the crockery can still be composted or processed through a biocharring process, creating a closed-loop system. This means patrons enjoy the use of real plates, but with significantly less waste generated and a cleaner event environment.

Unfortunately, some patrons will take crockery home (it is pretty cool stuff). The replacement cost of any lost crockery will be invoiced to event organisers post event. We generally see a loss rate between 5-10%, depending on the style of event. To minimise missing crockery, we’ll have these measures in place: Clear Signage: Friendly reminders are placed around the event, politely asking patrons to return their reusable crockery. Monitoring of exit points: we’ll place dirty dish drop off points at exit points and brief security that our plates, bowls and cups need to be left at the event. We’ll also place our staff there during peak exit times. Accountability System: At larger events, you may utilise a wristband system. Patrons exchange a wristband for a food item and get it back upon returning their crockery. Deposit Systems: We also offer an RFID wristband system whereby a small fee is associated with purchasing food, which is refunded when crockery is returned.

You might be surprised to learn that sustainable practices can actually save your event money in several ways: Reduced Waste Disposal Costs: Our Reusable Crockery System eliminates the need for disposable plates, bowls and cups, significantly reducing the amount of waste you need to dispose of at the end of the event. This translates to lower bin and skip hiring costs, as well as reduced staffing hours used to rotate full and empty bins during the event. Reduced Grounds Cleaning Costs: By eliminating single use food packaging, there is a greatly reduced need for cleaning staff to litter pick throughout the event. Resource Recovery Cost Benefit: Separating compostable and recyclable materials from your general waste stream can almost halve your waste management costs compared to using only landfill bins as the cost for landfill disposal is greater than that of recycling and organics. Minimised Cleanup: Encouraging responsible waste disposal through campground education services can lead to cleaner grounds and less post-event cleanup needed, saving time and money. Partying with the planet through our services can be a cost-effective way to make your event more sustainable.

B-Alternative will communicate with each of your food vendors prior to the event to understand their individual needs. We provide a wide variety of reusable crockery in various sizes to suit most vendor needs. In a few cases, we cannot meet the serving requirements of vendors. We handle this on a case by case basis to find the most sustainable and suitable solution that works for the vendor and does not compromise your goals as the event organiser. We understand that switching to a new system might require adjustments. That's why we work closely with vendors both before and during the event to ensure a smooth and positive experience using our reusable crockery. You can visit our Reusable Crockery Page to learn more about our crockery items.

Plates: 22cm diameter. Bowls: 20cm diameter x 6cm deep. Great for salads, soups, pasta, rice and noodles. Cups: Suitable for hot and cold beverages of 10oz (300ml), 13.5oz (400ml) and 20oz (600ml) sizes. (not for alcohol) Pizzcyle Reusable Pizza boxes: 13 inch pizza trays. Say goodbye to mountains of cardboard!

Yes, we do offer our crockery for hire for small events. Please complete our inquiry form so we can provide you with a quote.

B-Alternative has an incredibly passionate crew of staff and volunteers that help us out with managing smooth and efficient environmental solutions at any event. However, we also love working with volunteers from your organisation, especially when they already have a passion for sustainability. The amount of staff and volunteers required depends on your event and will be included in our quote. Organising your own volunteers to work with us can also reduce our staffing cost, so this option is great to keep in mind for budget constraints.

While compostable packaging seems like a sustainable choice, there are many limitations to consider: Confusing Landscape: The influx of various compostable packaging materials is not nationally standardised, meaning that it's difficult to guarantee what a "compostable" label truly means. This inconsistency can lead to plastic contamination in compositing streams or will likely result in your packaging ending up landfill. Plastic Inclusion: Some compostable packaging might still contain trace amounts of plastic (PFAS), further complicating the composting process. Temperature Matters: Even truly compostable materials often require specific high temperatures to break down effectively, which may not be available in all composting facilities.

Each commercial dishwasher requires 1 x 15amp connection. The patron size of your event will determine the number of dishwashers we require. Each dishwasher will need access to a clean water source for the duration of the event. We’ll also need access to water to fill up our rinsing tubs. Our ideal is having access to an empty IBC we can pump the dishwasher waste water into, so we can recycle and use it to fill up our rinsing tubs. Finally, we’ll need grey water access through a drain or into a second empty IBC.

Yes! Our Manufacturer and there supply chains have undertaken agency audits, which complies with SEDEX Certification, verifying that a company is meeting extensive environmental and ethical standards.

At B-Alternative, we're passionate about helping businesses, councils and organisations to reduce waste, embrace eco-friendly alternatives, save money, and inspire their employees to care for our planet! We offer a range of solutions, including: Waste Audits:We can analyse your organisation's waste stream within an interactive session where we work with employees to gather data and determine your most significant waste streams as well as involve the students with an action plan moving forward. We have worked with hundreds of organisations to deliver practical solutions such as consistent waste signage, installation of organics composting systems or educational resources to promote waste sorting habits. Sustainable Food Service Options: We can equip your business with reusable or compostable plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery, eliminating waste from disposable options. Eco-Friendly Supplies: Upgrade your supplies with sustainable alternatives like recycled paper, pens made from recycled materials, and refillable ink cartridges. By implementing these solutions, organisations can achieve a win-win situation: reducing their environmental footprint and saving money on waste disposal costs. Ready to get started? Contact us today for more information!

We have a range of supplies to assist your organisation to reduce your impact on the Earth. Currently we offer unwrapped carbon-neural copy paper, A3 and A4 printing paper, recycled tissues, paper towel and toilet paper in standard and jumbo rolls, stationary, compostable food packaging and more. If there is a particular item you are after, simply ask and we will do our best to source an Earth-friendly option for you at our best price!

Sure! Our team members are experienced in education across a wide age range, and lack no passion or enthusiasm for environmental change! Sharing the why and how of Earth care with others, especially the next generations, is another essential action towards regenerating the planet. Simply contact us for more information. You can reach out here for more information.

Certainly! B-Alternative is always on the look out for staff and volunteers that are passionate about sustainability, environmental education, protecting natural environments or helping eliminate unnecessary waste from events. If this sounds like you please fill out our enquiry form here!

There are so many benefits about being a B-A volunteer! Our crew is a one of a kind supportive place of passionate earth lovers. Volunteering at our events is an incredible opportunity to help the planet in a fun and engaging way! Your role includes free entry to an event, a meal, working alongside a passionate and like minded team and flexible volunteer times. Sometimes you get to dress up as a ‘bin fairy’ too which is pretty exciting! Volunteers are an essential role in our business so we're here to support you - so you can support our Earth. You get to be the change you want to see in the world and make your time count.

Volunteer hours and perks differ from event to event, depending on their duration and ticket price. A typical volunteer shift is 5 hours per event day, depending on event program times. We have flexibility in scheduling your shifts to ensure you don’t miss out on seeing a favourite act! Or you may prefer to work extra time, but only during bump in/out hours.

Although experience in event work, environmental education or hospitality may be helpful, it is not essential! At B-Alternative we want to work with environmentally conscious humans and are open to people of any background, culture, gender, ability and age (18+ for some events). At B-Alternative we value the individual and uphold the rights and responsibilities of team members at all times. We have a zero tolerance policy for harassment, discrimination, illegal behaviour, negligence or bullying. You can fill out a staff/volunteer form here. If you have relevant experience, ideas and passions you can include them in this form:)

You can fill out our staff and volunteer application form here.

We offer a variety of eco products for schools and businesses - from our classic huskware reusable crockery, to eco bins, compostable packaging, toilet paper and cleaning products. You can visit our Eco Packaging and Products Page to learn more/ view our product catalogues.

We are meticulous when it comes to sourcing our packaging, ensuring our products are certified compostable, free from PFA’s or other harmful chemicals, as well as a strict vetting process, ensuring all products meet rigorous sustainability criteria.

At B-Alternative, we're passionate about helping schools reduce waste, embrace eco-friendly alternatives, save money, and inspire future generations to care for our planet! We offer a range of solutions, including: Waste Audits:We can analyse your school's waste stream within an interactive session where we work with students to gather data and determine your most significant waste streams as well as involve the students with an action plan moving forward. We have worked with hundreds of schools to deliver practical solutions such as consistent school wide waste signage, year level sustainability initiatives and installation of organics composting stations. We can also provide educational resources to promote proper waste sorting habits. Sustainable Food Service Options: We can equip your school cafeteria with reusable or compostable plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery, eliminating waste from disposable options. Eco-Friendly Supplies: Upgrade your school's office supplies with sustainable alternatives like recycled paper, pens made from recycled materials, and refillable ink cartridges. By implementing these solutions, schools can achieve a win-win situation: reducing their environmental footprint and saving money on waste disposal costs. Ready to get started? Contact us today for more information!

We have a range of supplies to assist your school or institution to reduce your impact on the Earth. Currently we offer unwrapped carbon-neural copy paper, A3 and A4 printing paper, recycled tissues, paper towel and toilet paper in standard and jumbo rolls, stationary, compostable food packaging and more. If there is a particular item you are after, simply ask and we will do our best to source an Earth-friendly option for you at our best price!

Sure! Our team members are experienced in education across a wide age range, and lack no passion or enthusiasm for environmental change! Sharing the why and how of Earth care with others, especially the next generations, is another essential action towards regenerating the planet. Simply contact us for more information. You can reach out here for more information.

Our Schools Eco Bank is a unique offering to help schools create an otherwise typically non-existent budget for environmental projects. As education is one of our core business pillars, B-Alternative puts aside 5% of every purchase you make - whether supplies or packaging - into a ‘bank’ managed by us. When this amount reaches $1000, your school can use this money in one of two ways: either put it towards your next order, or use it to fund an environmental project!

Our staff work methodically through each campsite for the duration of a festival encouraging patrons to PARTY WITH THE PLANET. We educate patrons on their responsibility to care for the land and leave no trace, as well as the importance of recycling and composting onsite. We have fun, encourage and support festival goers to make decisions for the planet rather than policing their behaviour. Our education efforts lead to an overall reduction in waste left behind by patrons in campsites, which reduces cleaning staff costs. They also lead to reductions in recyclable and compostable items ending up in landfill, which reduces back of house sorting staff costs as well as overall landfill volume and associated skip hire and disposal costs.

The impacts of campground education are cumulative and ripple into the general culture and etiquette around festival partying, and how we can work together to make this process more sustainable. Through this process we are lucky enough to have incredible conversations with curious punters - who not only end up being campground waste experts on the event site, by sorting their waste, but by taking their knowledge back to sorting and recycling within their own community. Our campground education has amazing results, with post event clean up times reduced by an average of 20% and campground landfill reduced by an average of 60% in visited areas (Depending on event weather).

Our bin fairies are friendly and informative volunteer team members positioned on waste stations at busy times throughout your event. Bin Fairies act as waste disposal superheroes! They: Cut the Confusion: They answer questions and explain what goes in which bin, making sorting waste easy for everyone. Spark Conversation: They engage with punters, encouraging them to think about responsible waste disposal. Boost Recycling: By helping people sort correctly, Bin Fairies increase the amount of recyclables and compostables collected. Reduce Landfill Waste Costs: This, in turn, reduces the amount of trash going to landfills and lowers overall waste management costs for your event.

We can offer resource recovery to small to medium festivals and events. Our service includes streamed recycling and composting, bin fairy education, back of house sorting and post event environmental reporting. A core part of this service involves consultation on ways to eliminate potential on-site waste too (such as using aluminium cans or kegs in place of glass bottles).