Australia’s waste and resource recovery sector is standing at a crossroads. Communities are demanding better outcomes, governments are setting more ambitious targets, and industry is being pushed to reinvent itself.
For councils, this moment is especially significant. Once seen largely as service providers, they are now emerging as central players in shaping a truly circular economy. That shift will be on full display at Waste Expo Australia 2025, where the conversations and debates reflect the urgency, and the opportunity of this transformation.
One of the most powerful levers of change is procurement. In 2024, the Australian Government launched the Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy, a framework that channels billions in government spending towards greener outcomes. It may sound technical, but its intent is simple: use buying power to change markets. At the Expo, Fiona Sergi from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will explain how this policy is reshaping supply chains, what it means for businesses trying to prove their sustainability credentials, and how councils can apply the same approach at a local level.
But procurement is only one piece of the puzzle. At the state level, the focus sharpens on Victoria’s strategy for accelerating circularity. Sustainability Victoria’s Matt Genever and Recycling Victoria’s Tony Circelli will explore the strategic priorities for the coming years, and examine opportunities, challenges, and the role of collaboration in creating and supporting circularity across the state.
Driving the circular economy requires more than ambition it needs the right rules in place. Leaders from Australia’s state EPAs will explore key state-level priorities, progress on landfill diversion, and the shift from waste disposal to resource recovery. Hear how EPAs are working together to harmonise standards, enforce compliance and support councils and businesses through the transition. From leveraging technology for smarter regulation to upcoming policy reforms and EPR schemes, this is your opportunity to gain valuable insights into how Australia’s regulator
Technology is another area reshaping the sector’s future, and few topics spark as much debate as Waste-to-Energy. It divides opinion, but it cannot be ignored. Sessions on Victoria’s licensing cap and the broader role of WtE will explore how thermal treatment can reduce landfill reliance while generating energy. For councils, these discussions provide clarity on where WtE might fit not as a substitute for recycling and FOGO, but as one tool in managing residual waste responsibly.
And it is FOGO where the conversation becomes most practical. Across the country, councils are grappling with how to deliver organics programs that are efficient, affordable and embraced by the community. The Expo’s dedicated panel will go beyond the theory, tackling questions about choosing the right processor, managing contamination, and creating end markets for compost. Just as importantly, it will look at the role of education and engagement because no matter how sophisticated the technology, success ultimately comes down to households and the choices they make each week.
For councils, the Waste Expo program offers more than updates but a practical pathway forward. From organics to regulation, procurement to container deposit schemes, the sessions underscore the critical role of local government in building sustainable systems that not only manage waste but also create long-term community and environmental value.
Australia’s waste and resource recovery sector is at a tipping point. Rising community expectations, ambitious government targets and shifting market conditions mean councils are being asked to do more than simply collect and dispose of waste. They are central to the nation’s transition to a circular economy and this year’s Waste Expo Australia program makes it clear just how critical that role has become.
