Many countries, states and local councils are transitioning to a model that manages the Earth’s resources more efficiently. In a circular economy, waste is designed out of the system, meaning that unnecessary or wasteful items are not produced in the first place.
Circular economy
What is a circular economy?
Our Climate Emergency Response Strategy 2021–25 | Dhumbali Wurrungi-biik Parbin-ata defines the circular economy as ‘a system in which all resources are highly valued and remain in the system through re-use, re-purposing and recycling’.
In a perfect circular economy, the materials we use in products would all be recovered, reprocessed and reused in a continuous loop, rather than becoming waste in landfill.
Our Circular Economy Plan 2022–2026 will enable Council and the community to work together to implement this Plan for future generations and the bettering of our planet.
Your business can transition to a circular economy too.
We are here to help your business reduce waste and transition to a circular economy.
Circular economy resources
Recycling resources
Learn the right way to recycle with Recycle Mate.
Find a recycling service or collection with Planet Ark’s Business Recycling
How to reduce and recycle plastics at work
Find out where to recycle coffee capsules
Smart Recycling transforms timber, commercial green and builders waste into recycled pallets, timber packaging, landscaping and building products.
Precious Plastic Melbourne find creative ways to repurpose and recycle plastic waste. They offer micro-recycling equipment, resources and tools for businesses to transition to a circular economy.
Textile Recyclers Australia supports retailers and manufacturers with textile recycling, compostable packaging and circular solutions for unwanted textiles.
Close the Loop provide best-in-class sustainability solutions to help companies enhance corporate social responsibility programs.
Partner with Upparel to recycle unwanted textiles.
Pharamcycle for used and empty medicinal blister packs.
Upcycle your excess cardboard with Greenway
Use Nespresso capsules in the office? Participate in the Nespresso Bulk Recycling Program, a free-of-charge collection service for used Nespresso coffee pods.
Partner with TerraCycle, who offer recycling programs and solutions for different business items.
Recycle with Ecocycle, Australasia’s most experienced mercury recycling and recovery company. Recycle e-waste, batteries, lighting waste, dental and medical waste, industrial equipment and more.
The ASPIRE marketplace is an online marketplace that connects businesses wanting to buy, sell or trade unwanted materials and products to reduce their waste disposal costs and earn money from unwanted goods.
Organic waste resources
Connect with someone on Sharewaste and recycle food scraps with others who are already composting, worm-farming or keep farm animals.
Visit or join the Caulfield South Community Garden and learn more about sustainable gardening and participate in their food swaps, workshops and open days.
Sign up to Bring Me Home which aims to eliminate food waste in the retail space by making unsold food affordable and accessible to everyone. Businesses can list their meal deals for free on the app, with no sign up or monthly fee.
Donate leftover food to OzHarvest, Second Bite, Foodbank or FareShare.
Paid services
Reground collects businesses’ coffee grounds, chaff and soft plastics and gives them new life.
KS Environmental offer a range of commercial recycling solutions.
Veolia offers organic recycling collection and turns the biogas into renewable energy.
Waste Ninja is an innovative, 100% Australian-owned waste management company with a specialist focus on food waste recycling
Start an on-site worm farm with Worm Lovers
More circular economy resources
The Circular Toolbox aims to enable apparel brands to design and launch their own circular business model, specifically a rental or resale business model.
Circular Metrics for Businesses
Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (CEBIC)
Supply chain transparency
Customers want to know more about the products and services they buy. Find out more about having transparency in your supply chain and the eight steps to achieve this.
If you have any questions or enquiries regarding circular economy for businesses, please contact sustainablebusiness@gleneira.vic.gov.au
