The Australian Society of Travel Writers has declared its own ‘War on Waste’ with the announcement that this year’s ASTW Convention and Awards Night, held on the Sunshine Coast from 18-20 August, will be plastic bottle-free.

The ‘clean and green’ convention, inspired by the ABC’s recent hit show War on Waste, will call on ASTW members to BYO reusable water bottles (#BYOH2O) for use during the two-day convention, and on eight pre- and post- famil itineraries throughout the Sunshine Coast.

Ubiquitous convention lanyards will be ‘BYO + spares’ encouraging guests to re-use lanyards from previous conventions and events.

Convention hosts Novotel Twin Waters Resort, Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast, have welcomed the initiative with the resort supplying filtered water stations so guests can refill their bottles. In addition to being plastic-bottle free, biodegradable bamboo plates will be used at the Welcome Event and leftover food will go to OzHarvest (which distributes surplus food to people in need, reducing landfill in the process).

Award-winning photographer and author, and ASTW President, Danielle Lancaster, said the 2017 ‘clean and green’ convention is a positive step in line with the ASTW’s constitution, which “encourages conservation and preservation of historic sites and natural wonders”.

“We are especially proud to be having our first plastic bottle-free convention on the Sunshine Coast, one of Australia’s most scenic and spectacularly natural environments,” she added.