Sustainability Victoria has announced the eleven councils set to receive part of the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Councils Fund valued at $1.6 million – helping to divert over 16,000t of waste from landfill.
The selected projects include initiatives ranging from a circular economy program across 14 council business districts, to roving repair events and tool libraries –creating valuable new opportunities to increase local recycling and grow local businesses and jobs.
Other projects include a resale store providing Nagambie residents with access to pre-loved goods, and a roving repair program giving residents in Bayside City Council a local solution to repairing or repurposing quality items.
In a first of its kind for the area, a Tool Library will give Wyndham residents the option to borrow a variety of garden tools and sporting equipment, enabling participation in the sharing economy.
The City of Melbourne has received funding to address one of the most complex waste collection issues in Australia – the collection of food organics in apartment buildings – and will implement a collection service in the CBD, diverting a further 850t of organic material from landfill, and improving processing infrastructure by over 2,500t per year.
Funding has also been provided to tackle mattress waste and will assist Swan Hill Rural City and neighbouring councils to establish a mattress processing facility, to help divert 75t of mattress waste from landfill and result in 15kg steel recovered per mattress.
Sustainability Victoria’s Interim CEO, Matt Genever, said councils are demonstrating great leadership in championing circular economy initiatives for their communities.
“A total of 32 councils are involved in these implementation projects, resulting in reduced waste to landfill and increased awareness of the role all Victorians have in circular economy activities,” Mr Genever said.
“Small regional council solo projects and large metropolitan multi-council partnerships are all working hard to make an impact on diverting waste and increasing job and business opportunities.”
Circular Economy Councils Fund: Round 2 recipients
- Bayside City Council – $50,000
- Establishing pop-up repair events including opportunities for reuse or repurposing
- Central Goldfields Shire Council – $108,700
- Embedding sustainable waste practices in local events by working with Energy Breakthrough, a not-for-profit, STEM-based education program
- City of Melbourne – $217,000
- Implementing a collection service for food organics in high-rise buildings higher than six storeys
- City of Whittlesea (collaborative) – $140,000
- Implementing waste and recycling models across business precincts in 14 metro and regional councils, achieving circular resource practices for 140 businesses
- East Gippsland Shire Council – $250,000
- Improving organics processing facilities adjacent to Bairnsdale Regional Landfill
- Glen Eira City Council (collaborative) – $128,000
- Implementing a best practice reusable nappy program across 13 metropolitan councils and evaluating the impact
- Northern Grampians Shire Council –$196,482
- Introducing public place recycling to promote circular economy practices whilst increasing resource recovery and separation of waste at the local source
- Shire of Strathbogie – $71,625
- Implementing a resale shop at the Nagambie at the Shire of Strathbogie’s Resource Recovery Centre
- Surf Coast Shire Council – $250,000
- Upgrading the Lorne Transfer Station to incorporate three additional bin bays, improve resource recovery options and improve traffic flows for locals and visitors
- Swan Hill Rural City Council – $167,500
- Implementing a large-scale mattress processing and recycling facility
- Wyndham City Council – $91,290
- Providing a facility for residents to borrow high-quality equipment such as tools, gardening, sporting and camping equipment
Feature image courtesy of Sustainability Victoria