Project Update - July 2024

This consultation is closed.

In May and June 2022, we asked you what you needed to support Yarra's transition to a circular economy. This consultation highlighted your strong desire for immediate action to divert waste from landfill and enhance our recycling. As part of this consultation:

In October 2023 we ran a consultation seeking the community's feedback and ideas to assist us in developing our new Climate Emergency Plan. Through this process we saw some strong opportunities to integrate themes of the Circular Economy Strategy into the broader Climate Emergency Plan.

Council is taking on community feedback and shifting away from having multiple complex multi-year strategies. That’s why we have integrated themes from the Circular Economy Strategy and the Nature Strategy into the broader Climate Emergency Plan.

This approach will allow us to have a more holistic vision in how Council can tackle the climate emergency, support our community's transition to a circular economy and improve Yarra's biodiversity.

After the initial consultation for the Climate Emergency Plan in October 2023, we ran our second stage of consultation seeking community feedback on the draft document in April and May 2024.

You can find Council's commitment to transitioning to a circular economy in "Transformation 7".

At the Council Meeting on Tuesday 9 July 2024, the Climate Emergency Plan was officially adopted and includes the principles of the former Circular Economy Strategy. Click this link to read the agenda and minutes from that meeting.

Learn more about this consultation - 2022

Who did we hear from?

Every year more than 80 billion tonnes of raw materials like metal, cardboard and plastics are consumed worldwide. That's set to double by 2060.

Right now, only 9% of that raw material is reused and recycled. This is because our current waste system struggles to do much with our materials after it's thrown away.

With Yarra's Circular Economy Strategy 2022/30, we're working to reduce waste at each step, from design and purchasing to use and disposal.

This creates a 'circular economy' which changes how we handle and value our raw materials resulting in less being sent to landfill. Moving towards a circular economy will allow us to:

  • rethink how we design materials and products
  • reduce the waste we produce per household
  • reuse items wherever we can
  • recycle more products to create something new

This strategy supports state, federal and international work, addressing the need for a more sustainable system.

What does a circular economy mean for you?

  • We will have products that last longer.
  • Items we purchase will be easier to repair and reuse.
  • There will be more ways to rehome unwanted items through hard rubbish and community partnerships.
  • If we do need to dispose of items, they will be easier to recycle into something new.

We'll be able to:

  • invest in cleaner and more resilient projects
  • regenerate our natural resources
  • reduce emissions that cause climate change in line with our Climate Emergency Plan.

We'll focus our resources on service delivery. We want to minimise waste at all stages of the circular economy through:

  • Working with manufacturers to reduce the waste created during production.
  • Partnering with designers to improve the reparability and recyclability of their products.
  • Educating our community about positive purchasing habits to lower avoidable food waste.
  • Working to recycle and rehome more hard rubbish.
  • Investing in the way we transport and process our waste so more can be recycled.
  • Working with businesses to find new uses for recycled materials.
  • Expanding our recycling service to include additional items.
  • Support the local industry as it evolves and matures.