What we heard

Across the various engagement activities all comments and feedback were analysed and collated thematically. The key themes raised by participants were:

• Product stewardship: Many participants felt that producers need to take more responsibility for better product design and the end-of-life management of the goods they put on the market. Support for Council to advocate to state and federal governments for mandatory product stewardships schemes and for manufacturers to design out waste.
• Education: Many participants supported ongoing education to improve resource recovery across the kerbside services as well as to reduce contamination and avoid waste.
• Workshops and skill sharing: Many participants felt that more workshops, events and collaboration with community groups around the themes of reuse, swapping, repair and maintenance would help to increase community participation in the circular economy. More education is also needed on the concept of circular economy and how people can participate.
• Kerbside services: Views differed on preferred bin sizes and collection frequencies however many participants agreed that increasing resource recovery, particularly at MUDs, was important as was ensuring that the service is accessible and easy to understand. Some suggested including additional items in kerbside collections such as soft plastics and Tetra paks. A small number of participants felt that municipal wide hard waste collections should be reintroduced to enable salvaging of hard waste.
• Reuse hub: Many participants felt that Council should establish a ‘Reuse Hub’ to recover hard waste and other reusable goods and materials.
• Transfer station: Some participants suggested establishing a transfer/recycling station and/or drop off days for priority items/materials.
• Directory of circular goods and services: There was support from both residents and businesses for a directory of circular goods and services to enable access to, and promotion of, local suppliers.
• Local businesses: Businesses highlighted the need for Council support to help them overcome barriers to adopting circular business models. Also some support for action on C&D waste.
• Council procurement: A number of participants commented that Council should specify ‘recycled content products’ (not just ‘sustainable’ or ‘low carbon’) to increase market pull through for secondary materials.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Need to capture a social circular economy in evaluation - partnerships, local content etc.