‘Ye Olde Empty Bottle Shoppe’: Charity turns discarded bottles into event centrepieces

Darrell Dalton with some of the recycled bottles.

A quirky Sunshine Coast charity venture is turning discarded glass spirit bottles into stylish centrepieces for weddings and events while supporting people with disabilities and promoting the circular economy.

The initiative, called Ye Olde Empty Bottle Shoppe, is run by Golf Programs Australia Incorporated (GPAI) and gives new life to bottles collected via the charity's 10 cent container program in collaboration with Urban Depot in Nambour.

Instead of being crushed and recycled, the most colourful and interesting bottles are cleaned, decorated and rented out for events.

GPAI president Darrell Dalton said the idea came after noticing how many beautiful bottles were passing through the recycling stream.

“As I processed the resource we collected mainly from supporting local businesses including Club Namba & Palmwoods Hotels, I noticed how many of the spirit bottles were beautifully designed – different colours, different shapes, bottles that would be fantastic centerpieces on a wedding table,” he said.

“These bottles are genuinely striking pieces of glass. Rather than sending them straight into recycling, we realised they could have a second life as decorative items.”

Using a cricut machine purchased through a grant secured via Tursa for the initiative the organisation can customise bottles with vinyl decals, logos or themed designs for events.

“We can put images, messages or logos on the bottles, which means they can be tailored for weddings, parties or corporate events,” Mr Dalton said.

The bottles are cleaned, de-labled and prepared for use either as decorative vases, centrepieces or as water bottles on event tables when sterilised.

But unlike traditional event décor suppliers, the charity’s business model is built entirely around "rent don’t buy", the ethos of repurposing and the circular economy.

“We hire them – we don’t sell them – so it’s a gift that keeps on giving,” Mr Dalton said.

“People take the bottles for their event, use them for the day, and then they come back to us to be used again and again.”

The project also delivers social benefits, with people living with disabilities involved in the preparation, decoration & promotion process.

“The circular economy, number one, the charity, and our people with disabilities being involved in the process – it ticks all those boxes,” Mr Dalton said.

Interest is already growing, with Sunshine Coast wedding and event planner Lissa Weckert from Enchanted Eco Events among the venture’s early supporters.

A professional photoshoot staged at Yandina Station is also being used to promote the concept, accompanied by a promotional booklet featuring a foreword by Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli. 

The campaign aims to showcase the bottles as part of the Sunshine Coast’s growing reputation as a wedding destination.