Tasting Australia 2026

Tasting Australia, presented by Journey Beyond, is a festival of eating and drinking that brings together the people, produce and places that define Australian food culture. Centred on Town Square in Adelaide's Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, the festival extends across all 12 South Australian regions, supporting hundreds of local businesses and producers along the way.

Clean Vibes was back for a second year at Tasting Australia, delivering full cleaning and waste management services across the 10-day festival for the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC). Our comprehensive scope included full-site waste management, detailed scheduling, and coordination with event staff and third-party vendors.

The Results

• 28.953 tonnes of waste collected
• 20.782 tonnes diverted from landfill
• 71.68% diversion rate - up 16.34 percentage points on last year
• ~590L of oyster shell recovered (around 9,000 shells) in partnership with OzFish
• 110kg of soft plastics processed locally into LDPE pellets
• 800L of cooking oil (four 200L drums) diverted for biodiesel
• ~1,950kg of containers collected through the Container Deposit Scheme, with Scouts

Coming back for a second year meant we could build on what we learned in year one - sharper scheduling and stronger systems on the ground translated directly into a big jump in diversion rate.

Cleaning for a Premium, Food-First Event

Food and drink festivals bring a different level of hygiene pressure than most events. With guests eating and drinking throughout the day, tables, seating areas and shared spaces needed constant attention.

• Tables were cleared and sanitised on rotation throughout service, keeping pace with high guest turnover across dining and tasting areas
• Hospitality and back-of-house zones were held to a consistently high standard, given the close proximity of food preparation, service, and patron seating
• Daily site resets each morning meant every space was spotless and sanitised before the first guests arrived, setting the tone for the day ahead
• Waste and recycling stations were kept clear and functional throughout service, preventing overflow or mess building up around high-traffic dining areas

Sweeping, Mopping, Vacuuming at Tasting Australia

Partnering with OzFish

The standout innovation this year was separating oyster shells out of the organic waste stream for the first time, in partnership with OzFish.

This initiative recovered approximately 590L of shell material, around 9,000 shells, or 250–300kg with very low contamination. OzFish Project Manager, Dr Brad Martin said the team was "very happy with the shell, as it had very little contamination and was looking forward to upcycling it into a shellfish reef." Rather than going to landfill, every shell will be repurposed to restore marine habitats and create new shellfish reefs, turning a hospitality by-product into a genuine environmental asset.

Our Team on the Ground

None of this happens without the people doing it. Across the 10 days, our crews were the ones keeping Tasting Australia running behind the scenes.

• On-ground crews stayed responsive throughout each day, using streamlined radio communication to adjust on the fly as crowds and conditions changed
• At the ATE26 Welcome Dinner, a dedicated crew of 16 worked discreetly around international tourism leaders - high-frequency table clearing and amenity maintenance, without ever breaking the flow of service
• Coordination with event staff and third-party vendors ran throughout, keeping waste streams moving smoothly across a large, complex site

It's this level of care and consistency that supported Tasting Australia's premium reputation and helped the event run seamlessly from open to close.

Clean Vibes staff at Tasting Australia

Planning Your Next Event?

Whether it's a festival, long lunch, or premium dining experience, Clean Vibes can help you deliver a clean, sustainable event your guests won't think twice about, because everything just works.

Get in touch with our team to talk about your next event.