The DISHrupt Working Group
by Lucy Deuble
Initially launched in 2018, DISHrupt was an idea born out of Sustainable Queenstown’s passion to create Zero Waste Events. Events where peoples’ habits can be broken, smarter decisions can be made, and more importantly spaces where food and beverages can be enjoyed and shared without rubbish bins being full of single use waste.
By offering reusable plates, cups and cutlery for hire with the added bonus of a team of DISHrupters to wash the dishes and ensure they are kept in circulation for the event, DISHrupt means less waste at events here in the Queenstown Lakes.
DISHrupt has played a pivotal role in the LUMA Light Festival since 2018 and has been championed at many smaller events including the Lake Hayes and Wanaka A&P show. The success of these partnerships has demonstrated that DISHrupt can make an incredible impact by reducing event waste from ending up in landfill.
Since 2020, DISHrupt has diverted over 18,000 single use serveware items from landfill. This is no small feat, considering the crippling effect covid had on the event industry from 2020-2022.
However, in order to create lasting change in our community; the idea, process and administration of the initiative requires nurturing so it can grow seamlessly and impactfully.
Hence, the idea to create a DISHrupt working group was born.
Now we are calling passionate changemakers:
Sustainable Queenstown is putting together a working group of enthusiastic waste minimisation superheroes to take DISHrupt to the next level!
DISHrupt can be bigger than we’re capable of managing and delivering as a volunteer charity, so we are looking for people with big ideas that can see the potential in DISHrupt and are willing to put those ideas into action.
Within this working group, you will be responsible for leading DISHrupt into the future with your ideas for its use, and also its actionable outcomes. The group will be responsible for managing DISHrupt’s hire operation as it currently stands, including replying to emails, managing inventory and maintaining the brand new operational partnership with Chunky.
Sustainable Queenstown will have a trustee from the board to mentor the group through the process and will act as your sounding board for ideas, as well as being able to provide a wealth of knowledge and information on what has already been tried and tested.
We encourage people from all walks of life to apply - ideally you have experience in project management, strategic innovation and planning. To express your interest and find out more info about a position within the group, please email Lucy at hellodishrupt@gmail.com with a bit about yourself and why you’d be a great addition to the team.
This is an amazing opportunity for someone looking to start their journey in sustainability led community action, with the added benefit of already having a presence and success.
