Become a Friend of the Festival

The Zero Waste Festival is powered by an incredible team of volunteers, but there are still significant costs involved in bringing this free public event to life. By becoming a financial Friend of the Festival, you’ll be helping to ensure the festival can continue to inspire, educate and connect people who want to make a positive difference.

Your contribution will help cover the essential costs of delivering the festival, including:

  • program development and curation
  • workshops and speaker panels
  • interactive activities
  • event coordination
  • insurance and venue costs.

 

Every Friends of the Festival ticket is an investment in keeping this important community event alive and accessible to everyone.

Friends of the Festival benefits

As a Friend of the Festival, you’ll receive:

  • reserved seating in the front rows of your selected panel discussion
  • an exclusive photo opportunity with panel speakers, festival team members or special guests
  • access to a recycling or Food Organic and Garden Organics (FOGO) facility tour after the festival (subject to availability)
  • a Certificate of Appreciation, recognising your support
  • a personalised social media tile so you can proudly share your support
  • bragging rights that you’re a Friends of the Festival supporter. 

Ticket Price

1 ticket: $100 

For 2 or more group tickets, receive a 20% discount

For 3 or more group tickets, enjoy all-day Friends of the Festival reserved seating

Panel discussions:

  • 12:45 pm – Rethinking Plastic: The Good, the Bad and the Biodegradable
  • 2:00 pm – Everyday Sustainability: Progress Over Perfection
  • 3:15 pm – The Rise of Data Centres and the Hidden Footprint of AI
  • 4:30 pm – Frugal Foodies: Zero Waste Mystery Box Cook Off

ReWear Runway, Friends of the Festival experience:

  • 5:30 pm – Pre-event drinks and nibbles
  • 6:00 pm – ReWear Runway begins

FAQs

For many years, the Zero Waste Festival has been made possible through a combination of local council grants, sponsorship and the dedication of our volunteers. This support has allowed us to keep the festival free and accessible for everyone.

Unfortunately, the festival was not successful in securing grant funding this year. The overall funding pool was significantly reduced and, to the best of our knowledge, no sustainability events received support in this funding round.

The Board of Zero Waste Victoria also recognises the broader challenges facing the sustainability sector. We are disappointed by the closure of Sustainability Victoria on 30 June 2026. For many years, Sustainability Victoria played a vital role in education, funding and industry development to support waste reduction and sustainability initiatives, and it was a valued supporter of the Zero Waste Festival.

Sustainability issues haven’t become any less urgent; however, they are being overshadowed by other competing funding priorities. The need for and importance of community education, practical solutions and meaningful conversations about waste reduction continues.

The festival is in its 9th year – its 5th year at Fed Square – and we’re determined to attract our highest attendance ever, to highlight the community’s desire for more sustainable solutions. We’ve chosen to go ahead with the festival this year despite the funding uncertainty, which is why we need your support, through the Friends of the Festival initiative.

Absolutely. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and can be made through Humanitix or our website.

Yes, and we’d be incredibly grateful for your additional support. Donations can be made through Humanitix or our website.

Yes. Please contact Fiona accounts@zerowastevictoria.org.au and we’ll be happy to arrange an alternative payment method.

Yes. We’d love to hear from organisations interested in supporting the festival. Please contact events@zerowastevictoria.org.au for more information.

  • APR plastics – soft plastic recycling
  • RePurpose It – FOGO
  • Upparel – textile recycling
  • Close the Loop – toner cartridge recycling
  • Queen Vic Market – behind the scenes sustainability tour

The Zero Waste Festival 2026 is presented in partnership with Fed Square.