Dates for the diary

• 2 December — Ed Net and Sustainability Victoria campaign lab 

• 5 December — World Soil Day

• 8 December — Transfer Station Network meeting  

Metro news

Forum briefed on proposed container deposit scheme model

Over 100 people attended an online update on the Victorian Government’s discussion paper on a new container deposit scheme (CDS) for Victoria on 20 November 2020.

Hosted by MWRRG on behalf of the Metropolitan Local Government Waste Forum, the event gave councillors and council waste officers an opportunity to be briefed on the discussion paper to help councils prepare submissions to the public consultation on proposed design for Victoria’s CDS and how it should operate. 

Forum Chair elected Mayor of Darebin

Congratulations to Metropolitan Local Government Waste Forum (Forum) Chair Cr Lina Messina on being elected Mayor of the City of Darebin, and to all returning Forum councillors.

Councils assess infrastructure options for statewide recycling procurement

Councils have used strategic objectives to evaluate infrastructure options that may come from a statewide recycling procurement. Developed by Victoria’s seven waste and resource recovery groups based on council feedback, the objectives will ensure the procurement delivers the best possible outcome for Victoria by prioritising sustainability and sector resilience.  

Portfolio news

Have your say on Victoria’s container deposit scheme

The Victorian Government has committed to delivering a container deposit scheme (CDS) by 2023 under the Recycling Victoria policy. A discussion paper featuring a proposed design and governance model has been released. Feedback is being sought from individuals and organisations on the proposed model for the scheme and how it can be adapted to best serve Victorians. Public consultation on the proposed model will run until 11:59 pm Monday 30 November.

Access the discussion paper, complete a survey or make a submission on the Engage Victoria website.

Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre brings business into the fold 

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio has launched the $7 million Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (CEBIC) to support businesses to invest in circular economy solutions. CEBIC was developed under the Recycling Victoria commitment to improve business productivity, reduce commercial and industrial waste and accelerate innovation. 
 
CEBIC will work with a variety of businesses — from farms and cafes to factories and appliance shops — to streamline the way they operate, reduce waste, and improve efficiency.   

Businesses will be able to access funding opportunities, best practice insights and an events program through CEBIC to facilitate the implementation of circular economy plans and practices. The CEBIC will set an annual focus to target attention towards a challenging area for resource recovery, the focus for 2020-21 will be food and organics.  
 
To mark the launch of the centre, the first round of two funding programs have been launched:

• the $10 million Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund for initiatives that improve resource efficiency, reduce waste to landfill, increase recycling and reduce operating costs 

• the $3 million Recycling Victoria Innovation Fund to support partnerships between businesses, industry groups, research institutions, community groups and charities to identify, develop and scale-up more environmentally sustainable opportunities and business models.  

Find out more on the CEBIC website.

Read the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change’s announcement here. 

Creating sustainable solutions to tackle packaging waste 

Seventeen organisations will share over $560,000 in funding through the Victorian Government’s Investment Support Grants – Packaging program. The grants will support small to medium sized businesses and not for profits to invest in solutions to reduce, reuse and recover packaging materials.  

$1.7 million in funding has also been invested in 12 projects to make the collection, storage and reprocessing of e-waste safer and more efficient in Victoria.

The grants will create 79 jobs and divert 12,100 tonnes of recyclable material from landfill annually.  

Read Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio’s announcement here. 

Detox your Home resumes across Victoria 

Detox your Home chemical collection events have resumed with additional safety measures in place. Drive through, contactless events across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria will allow community members to dispose of household chemicals safely and responsibly.  

 A full list of locations, dates and safety instructions is available on the Sustainability Victoria website. 

Taking a circular approach to urban design in Stonnington 

Finding innovative uses for recycled products is a sustainability priority for City of Stonnington. The council just installed five sets of recycled plastic seats in King Street Prahran, a busy pedestrian area that runs off Chapel Street. 

Stonnington sees incorporating recycled products into public works as a key responsibility of council. From installing recycled plastic bollards, posts and screens in parks, to using recycled soft plastic and crumb rubber in local roads, the council takes a decidedly circular approach to urban design. 

Passionate people make the world of waste go around. Each month, we’ll profile a Waste Warrior — someone whose dedication to minimising waste and maximising resource recovery is helping make Melbourne a more sustainable and liveable place. 

Be informed

• The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation has released a data monitoring program that will track progress against the 2025 National Packaging Targets. The program is designed to allow government and industry to intervene early to ensure the targets, which include the use of 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025, are successfully met. Read the full announcement here.

Weird and wonderful waste news

Plastic eating super bug may offer the solution to mixed material fabric

Scientists have developed a super enzyme, that can degrade plastic bottles six times faster, from bacteria that have naturally evolved to eat plastic. Researchers hope that when combined with an enzyme that breaks down natural fibres, it might even allow fabrics made from a blend of cotton and polyester to be fully recycled.  

If you have a weird or wonderful waste news story to share, please email web.editor@mwrrg.vic.gov.au. 

Events and professional development

Local Government Waste Education Network and Sustainability Victoria campaign labs

For local government

Local Government Waste Education Network members will participate in a campaign lab with Sustainability Victoria (SV) on Wednesday 2 December. SV will share how insights from its Know your Recycling campaign can be used to inform council behaviour change programs. The session aims to support councils to get the most out of the Know your Recycling campaign, including how campaign collateral can be used to help councils reduce contamination this summer.  

If you have not yet received an invitation, but would like to attend the session, please contact Senior Program Co-ordinator Gayle Seddon gayle.seddon@mwrrg.vic.gov.au.

Update for transfer station operators on Environment Protection Amendment Act 2018 

 For local government 

Environment Protection Authority Victoria will update members of MWRRG’s transfer station network on the Environment Protection Amendment Act 2018 on Tuesday 8 December. The update will include information on the proposed regulations and environmental reference standards set to come into effect on 1 July 2021. Network members will also be given the opportunity to share new technologies, systems and initiatives.  

Please contact Senior Program Co-ordinator Gayle Seddon for more information gayle.seddon@mwrrg.vic.gov.au. 

Resource of the month

Compost in Action map

With people getting their gardens summer ready, it’s an important time to make sure residents are using their green bins correctly. The Back to Earth Initiative Compost in Action map shows residents where compost made from food and green waste is being used to help farms and community gardens thrive, in Melbourne and beyond.

The map helps to draw a clear connection between the contents of kerbside green bins and the quality of the compost that is produced.  

The Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan sets out four strategic objectives which underpin all of MWRRG’s activities:

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