A COMO cafe is anticipating the day it can proudly display a zero-waste certification and be the first location to do so in South Perth.
WA Plastic Free is a pilot project initially entered in the Town of Bassendean, with O2 cafe already certified as zero waste.
Our Ruby Girl cafe & providore owner Sarah Yates said the cafe was working with WA Plastic Free and has met the criteria for zero waste at the front of house.
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READ NOW“They did an assessment and the only thing we had to change was compostable lids,” she said.
“We really hope the pilot project currently running in Town of Bassendean is extended to City of South Perth.”
In addition to reusable straws, Keep Cups and biodegradable takeaway packaging, Our Ruby Girl provides lunch drops for local teachers to reduce takeaway packaging.
The cafe also offers reusable takeaway cups where customers can pay a $5 deposit and get their money back when the cup is returned.
Ms Yates said being certified as zero waste has been her goal since opening in August.
“Zero waste means sending it back to the earth, it doesn’t mean recyclable,” she said.
“It’s always been part of my life growing up.
“My goal is to be completely zero waste back of house as well.”
Ms Yates said her vision for Our Ruby Girl included being an equal opportunity employer with two of the staff being people living with disability.
“With my background as a psychologist, I wanted to employ adults with disability,” she said.
“People with disability in the staff, they get so much value as people in the workplace.”