Suzie O’Bree with her sons Byron (6) and Zac (4) and the ‘plate crates’ she hires out for parties.
Camera IconSuzie O’Bree with her sons Byron (6) and Zac (4) and the ‘plate crates’ she hires out for parties. Credit: Supplied/Chelsea Woodbridge Photography

Perth mother hires out party plate crates to reduce landfill waste

Lucy JarvisJoondalup Times

CONCERNED about the amount of single use items from children’s parties going to landfill, a northern suburbs mother set up a party hire business.

Suzie O’Bree, of Warwick, has hired out about 100 “plate crates” since starting Kids Corner Events a year ago, which she said equated to about 18,000 pieces of plastic such as plates, bowls, cups and cutlery that were hired instead of bought.

“Having two young boys, we would often go to kids’ parties and at the end of the party would see piles of plates, bowls, cups, water bottles and other single use items all thrown out,” she said.

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“I have become increasingly conscious of the impact of single use plastic over the past five years, particularly after seeing shows like the War on Waste, Plastic Ocean and Rubber Jellyfish.

“We only have one Earth and I want to make sure my children grow up looking after it where they can.

“We started by creating my first ‘plate crate’ containing plates, bowls, cups, knives, forks and spoons for 30 people; and then started loaning it out to friends.

“I soon realised how many other environmentally conscious people there are in Perth so over the past year have expanded to have five plate crates.”

Kids Corner Events plate crates. Chelsea Woodbridge Photography
Camera IconKids Corner Events plate crates. Chelsea Woodbridge Photography Credit: Supplied/Chelsea Woodbridge Photography

Ms O’Bree said she also had about 25 big, reusable, themed backdrops, a range of character cut-outs, wooden stools, durable tables and fabric tablecloths that people could hire for three to four days before returning the cleaned items.

“In many cases it costs less to hire reusable items rather than buy single use, and is much less wasteful,” she said.

“In the past year, the plate crates have been hired out over 100 times, which equates to roughly 18,000 pieces of single use plastic saved from landfill, and I have hired out backdrops over 150 times.

“One of the most popular items has definitely been unicorn backdrop, paired with the pastel plate crates and lace tablecloths.

“The flower wall backdrops have also been really popular, along with superheroes and PJ Masks.”

Ms O’Bree, who is expecting her third child next March, said another group called Borrow and Share Bunting in Greenwood had sewn more than 50 varieties of bunting from pre-loved or donated fabric that people could hire for free

“It is such a brilliant alternative to balloons,” she said.

Visit the Kids Corner Events Facebook page for more information.

Kids Corner Events plate crate. Chelsea Woodbridge Photography
Camera IconKids Corner Events plate crate. Chelsea Woodbridge Photography Credit: Supplied/Chelsea Woodbridge Photography