As we previously wrote, public events generate a large amount of litter due to the use of single-use options for drinks and food. Most of the waste consists of single-use plastic, and certain types of single-use plastic are banned according to the SUP Directive.
The Republic of Croatia is one of 17 EU member states that received a warning from the European Commission for failing to implement the Directive. Given the warning and the seriousness of the global challenge of plastic pollution, stricter surveillance and enforcement of the law can be expected.
Due to the widespread use of single-use plastic and the significant amount of waste it generates, public events are among the biggest obstacles to effective waste management. While all public gatherings pose challenges, Advent, as one of the longest open-air events, presents the greatest difficulty in waste management.
Reusable cups at Advent in Split
However, things are starting to change for the better. After several years of persistent advocacy, we have succeeded in making Split proud to introduce reusable solutions at Advent in Split.
This year, reusable themed plastic cups can be found for the first time at Advent in Split. This was announced by the Deputy Mayor of Split, Bojan Ivošević, during the panel discussion “The Business Sector for a Sustainable Split: How Local Action Can Lead to Systemic Change?” organized by Sunce as part of the project Green Phone – Lend Your Voice to the Environment II!
– For the next tender, the City of Split will consider including financial penalties for those who do not comply with the contract clause banning the use of single-use plastic, – announced Ivošević.
In other words, the City of Split includes a ban on the use of single-use plastic for caterers during public events in contracts with tenants. Unfortunately, there is no control over the compliance with the contract, nor any consequences for those who do not adhere to it.
Split Advent through the eyes of visitors
Through the Together Without Plastic campaign, Sunce advocates for reducing the use of single-use plastic and transitioning to reusable solutions wherever possible, with numerous examples of good practice across Croatia proving that this is achievable.
During Advent, Sunce conducted an online survey among visitors.
This year, only 20% of visitors used single-use plastic packaging, which is a significant improvement compared to the previous year, 2023, when that percentage was as high as 86%.
It is noteworthy that 70% of respondents used reusable plastic cups with a deposit, no one used single-use plastic packaging for food, and none of the respondents used single-use plastic cutlery. As many as 60% of visitors rated the sustainability of this year’s Split Advent with a score of four out of five.
The analysis of the responses revealed that most visitors noticed only the bins for mixed municipal waste, but not the bins for proper waste separation. Most visitors also claim that the bins are not easily accessible and that waste generation at Advent is a problem.
Despite the mentioned bans, 20% of respondents still used single-use plastic packaging.
Caterers on single-use and reusable solutions
Sunce volunteers, by visiting the Advent stalls on locations Riva, Prokurative, and Obrov, conducted a survey with the aim of examining the views of drink and food providers and mapping the actual situation regarding the distribution of reusable and single-use cups.
Through the analysis of the survey, Sunce found that all the surveyed Advent stalls, except for one, offer reusable plastic cups to Advent visitors. All the surveyed Advent stalls use single-use paper packaging for food, two out of six stalls have plastic straws, and one stall uses single-use plastic cutlery. The good news is that four out of six stalls offer wooden cutlery, and five out of six stalls provide reusable drink containers.
Caterers mention that reusable cups are washed by agreement in restaurants. As for bringing their own containers, they say this option is possible if the customer comes to the counter for their order, while serving at tables in customers’ own containers during busy times is logistically challenging.
Reusable containers work on a deposit system, meaning that Advent visitors pay a deposit for the cup when ordering a drink, which they can later get back when returning the used cup. The deposit amount is visible on the receipts, but visitors can always take the cup home as a souvenir if they wish.
Paper cups
Although it is commonly believed that all paper cups are made of paper and that they are compostable, this is not true. Paper cups observed at Split’s Advent have a layer of plastic and harmful PFAS chemicals, and due to this composition, they are classified as single-use packaging according to the EU directive. Because these cups contain plastics, paper, aluminum, and other additives, they are disposed of in mixed municipal waste and cannot be recycled.
As many as 80% of the surveyed Advent visitors used single-use paper packaging. All the surveyed stalls use single-use paper packaging for food, and four out of six stalls use single-use paper cups, mostly for serving mulled wine, coffee, and other hot drinks. It is alarming how people are unaware of the harmfulness and non-recyclability of “paper” cups.
Waste as a social and legal problem
This year, Split’s Advent made a significant step toward sustainability by introducing reusable cups and reducing the use of single-use plastic. This positive shift demonstrates that it is possible to organize public events with less generated waste, despite the challenges.
Although progress is visible, there is still plenty of room for improvement and sustainability. In the future, a reusable alternative should be found for the so-called “eco-friendly” paper cups with a plastic coating. These cups end up in mixed waste and cannot be reused or recycled. A solution should also be identified for events where the organizer is not the City of Split, such as the Ultra Europe festival, Split Park festival, concerts at Gripe, Sustipan, Žnjan and sports events that have not yet introduced reusable solutions.
The results of the surveys among visitors and caterers indicate growing support for reusable solutions. However, there is still room for improvement, especially through educating citizens and stricter enforcement of the rules.
You can also help in this process! By using reusable products, raising awareness about the harm of single-use plastic, and reporting issues through the Green Phone – a free tool for all citizens who want to report environmental and nature protection issues – you can contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable Split.
Through the Green Phone, Sunce receives over 200 reports annually, a significant number of which relate to waste management. This indicates that citizens are becoming more aware of the waste pollution problem and are choosing to take action by reporting issues they notice.
