The Garrison Night Market is moving away from single-use plastic items this summer in an effort to achieve zero plastic waste.
This year, visitors can expect to see a full-list of items that are encouraged at the Night Market and what items are prohibited.
The Garrison Night Market will include liquid waste bins, water trucks, and more bins for recycling. The City is also encouraging vendors and customers to bring their own water bottles, bags, containers and cutlery to the Night Market.
“Reducing these single-use items is one simple but significant way to take climate action,” said Coun. Kevin Darrah, Chair of the City’s Environmental Stewardship Committee. “The City’s move to ban single-use plastics at the Garrison Night Market is good for our community. It’s good for our environment. And it’s good for our planet.”
The City of Fredericton is one of 190 projects who received funding from the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, which announced the City would receive $15,000 in funding for the initiative at the beginning of May. The Environmental Trust Fund, which started in 1990, supports community-based initiatives that protect the environment, increase environmental awareness, managing waste, address climate change and build sustainable communities.
“This initiative is a way for residents and visitors alike to protect the environment, while creating positive change in our city at one of the most popular summer events in Fredericton,” said Jillian Hudgins, Environmental Strategist with the City of Fredericton.
The elimination of single-use plastics at the Garrison Night Market was inspired by the City’s Community Energy and Emissions Plan, which was created in 2020. The Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
The Garrison Night Market is kicking off its fifth summer and officially gets underway on June 6 until Sept. 5.