Friend of the Festival

Join us on Saturday 12th September at Fed Square, Melbourne for our annual Zero Waste Festival.

Festival TICKETS
ReWear TICKET
SPEAKERS
EXHIBITORS
ACTIVITIES
VOLUNTEER
FRIENDS OF FEST

Become a Friend of the Festival

Become a Friend of the Festival

The Zero Waste Festival is powered by an incredible team of volunteers and supporting partners. But there are still significant costs involved in bringing this free public event to life.

This year, we made the ambitious decision to go ahead with the Zero Waste Festival despite not securing funding through the City of Melbourne Event Partnership Program. It was a big risk, but we believe the festival is too important.

With the support of our community, we’re making it happen for the 9th year.

 

Why are we offering Friends of the Festival tickets?

Rather than just ask for donations, we’ve created Friends of the Festival tickets. They give supporters some special benefits and experiences while contributing directly to the future of the Zero Waste Festival.

By becoming a Friend, you’ll help us continue to inspire, advocate, educate and connect people who want to make a positive difference — while enjoying a few extras along the way.

Why your support matters

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
  • promotion and marketing


Most importantly, your support will help give the Zero Waste Victoria board the confidence to hold the festival again in 2027 — our 10th year.

Friends of the Festival benefits

Your Friend of the Festival ticket includes:

  • reserved seating in the front rows of your choice of up to 4 panel discussions

  • an exclusive photo opportunity with panel speakers, festival team members or special guests (including Costa Georgiadis)  

  • access to recycling and sustainability tours, including textiles, Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO), printer cartridges, Queen Vic Market and behind-the-scenes sustainability experiences (subject to availability in the months after the festival)

  • a Certificate of Appreciation recognising your support

  • a personalised social media tile, so you can proudly share your support

  • bragging rights as a Friends of the Festival supporter!


Cost $100

FESTIVAL TICKETS

Your Friend of the ReWear Runway ticket includes:

  • pre-event drinks and nibbles from 5.30 pm

  • reserved seating in the front rows of the ReWear Runway

  • an exclusive photo opportunity with either ReWear Runway designers, models, festival team members or special guests

  • a Certificate of Appreciation recognising your support

  • a personalised social media tile so you can proudly share your contribution

  • bragging rights as a Friend of the ReWear Runway!

Cost $100

ReWear TICKETS

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

5:30 pm — Pre-event drinks and nibbles, with a DJ

6:00 pm — ReWear Runway begins

 

Support the future of the Zero Waste Festival

We’d love you to become a Friend of the Festival.

Your support helps us deliver this year’s free festival and gives us greater confidence to bring it back for our 10th year in 2027.

FESTIVAL TICKETS
ReWear TICKETS

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.