Waste and Circular Economy
At Local Government NSW, we help councils transition to a circular economy through advocating on key issues and representing councils on state and national policy committees and working groups.
We work closely with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) towards meeting the priorities and targets in the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 (WaSM).
Circular economy is about changing the way we produce, assemble, sell and use products to minimise waste, and to reduce our environmental impact.
The circular economy is based on three key principles:
- design out waste and pollution
- keep products and materials in use
- regenerate natural systems
Source: Circular Economy Program- Hunter Joint Organisation
The shift to a circular economy will help to address the challenges of climate change and reduced residual waste. Local government has an opportunity to be a leader of this change through their operations and community activities, to a circular economy model that maximises the use of valuable resources, reduces emissions and reduces waste sent to landfill.
Moving to a circular economy will provide long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits for our communities.
To implement circular economy principles, councils can look to the Waste Hierarchy for the most efficient use of resources.
Source: Behaviour Works
Regional Coordination Support Program
LGNSW participates in the Regional Coordination Support Program which provides support for regional collaboration on waste and resource recovery priorities to regional organisations of councils, council groups, joint organisations, and voluntary regional waste groups. The LGNSW Senior Waste Policy Officer position is funded by the NSW EPA.
The NSW Government has committed $15.6 million over five years under WaSM to build on the success of the program and continue support for regional collaboration and help NSW transition to a circular economy.
The program supports 14 participating regional waste groups under the umbrella of RENEW NSW who work together to deliver regional waste strategies that align with the NSW WaSM priorities and goals.
RENEW is split into two groupings: RENEW – Metro and RENEW – Regional.