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Metro Waste News
February 2022
Dates for the diary
24 February — MWRRG & UNSSC circular economy leadership course began
6 March — Clean Up Australia Day
8 March — International Women's Day
18 March — Global Recycling Day
Metro news
Expert speakers announced for UN circular economy course
Business leaders, United Nations representatives and circular economy trailblazers are amongst the speakers ready to share their expertise, as our circular economy leadership course launched this week. The course, being run in partnership between MWRRG and the United Nations Staff System College, began on 24 February and will run for six weeks.
Food waste recycling best example of circularity, Forum hears
Recycling food and green waste so that it can be turned into compost and other products is the best example of how councils in Melbourne are putting the circular economy into action. Alongside this, delegates at February's Metropolitan Local Government Waste Forum identified community education programs and purchasing Australian made products with recycled content as the most popular way councils are supporting a circular economy.
Portfolio news
Delivering Recycling Victoria: a new economy—Waste and Resource Recovery Groups update
From a global first circular economy capacity building course to a new guide to help businesses recycle their food waste—find out what’s been happening around the state with the latest update from Victoria’s Waste and Resource Recovery Groups.
Resources for councils to remind the community to take their reusable bags shopping
To encourage the community to remember their reusable bags when shopping, Sustainability Victoria has created a suite of materials for councils to use to amplify a new statewide campaign. Activities, which began on 13 February and continue until 26 March, include video on-demand, radio/audio, social media and digital advertising, as well as public relations activities and multicultural community engagement.
Circular economy grants open for councils
Applications for the Recycling Victoria Councils Fund, Round 2, Stream 2 Implementation grants are open until 14 April. The funding supports circular economy projects with a proven business case. Individuals can apply for grants up to $250,000, with up to $500,000 available for group applications. Our Partnerships and Networks Team are available for feedback and to discuss applications, contact Zandy Powell, Manager Partnerships and Networks: zandy.powell@mwrrg.vic.gov.au.
Grants to make local communities more sustainable
Community groups, not for profits, and social enterprises are encouraged to apply for funding to help their local communities become more sustainable by reusing, repairing, recycling or sharing items that would otherwise go to landfill. There are two streams of funding for local projects and collaborative projects across a wide geographical area. Our Partnerships and Networks Team are available for feedback and to discuss applications, contact Zandy Powell, Manager Partnerships and Networks: zandy.powell@mwrrg.vic.gov.au. Applications to Sustainability Victoria close on Thursday, 31 March.
Round 2 of the Recycling Victoria household education and behaviour change campaign fund open
Councils are encouraged to apply for funds to educate residents on using waste and recycling services correctly to minimise contamination. Applications to Sustainability Victoria close on Tuesday, 15 March.
Round 1 of the Regional Recycling Fund open
Grants of up to $500,000 per facility are available to help upgrade infrastructure for recyclable materials including cardboard, plastic, paper, glass and mixed recyclables through Round 1 of the Regional Recycling Fund. Applications—by 9 March—are welcome from regional councils and private owners and operators of regional resource recovery facilities.
ResourceSmart Schools Awards open to entries
Nomination for awards for the state’s largest celebration of sustainability in schools are now open, with seven categories for schools to choose from no matter where they are on their sustainability journey.
Waste warriors
Michelle Lee, Principal Planner, Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group
Passionate people make the world of waste go around. Each month, we profile a Waste Warrior – someone whose dedication to minimising waste and maximising resource recovery is helping make Melbourne a more sustainable and liveable place.
This month, we feature our own Michelle Lee, a lifelong planner who has been working in waste and resource recovery for nearly 15 years. She has carved out an important niche, working tirelessly to align land use planning with waste and resource recovery and using long term strategic planning to improve waste and recycling infrastructure across Melbourne.
Council spotlight
Grasping opportunities for effective waste and recycling community engagement
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has significantly changed the way councils have been able to engage with residents over the past two years but Knox City Council has found some creative ways to maintain contact.
Weird and wonderful waste news
NASA wants to convert waste into space gold
NASA has launched a competition to help it improve future space missions by identifying ways to reprocess, recycle or repurpose waste generated onboard, specifically faecal matter, rubbish, foam packaging material and carbon dioxide.
If you have a weird or wonderful waste news story to share, please email web.editor@mwrrg.vic.gov.au.
Be informed
- New Environment Protection Authority Victoria guidelines for the storage and management of waste batteries.
Resource of the month
New one stop shop for council resources
From supporting the community to recycle food and green waste to protecting waste and resource recovery infrastructure through land use planning, we have a wide range of free resources available for councils. To make it easier for councils to access our resources, we’ve housed them all in a new ‘one stop shop’.
The Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan sets out four strategic objectives which underpin all of MWRRG’s activities:
Reduce waste sent to landfill
Deliver community environmental & economic benefits
Increase organic waste recovered
Plan for Melbourne’s growing population
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