Buy Recycled Champions Program

Last updated: 29 October 2024

Since March 2023, Sustainability Victoria’s (SV's) 23 Buy Recycled Champions from 21 Victorian regional and metropolitan councils have shown exceptional leadership in advancing recycled product procurement in Victoria and building capability within their own councils, as part of SV’s Buy Recycled Service. 

Through this initiative Buy Recycled Champions were empowered to embed sustainable procurement practices as business as usual at their councils and provides participants with opportunities to build capacity, influence, network and share successes within their own councils and beyond.

'The Buy Recycled Champions program is a wonderful network of like-minded, motivated and passionate people... These are resources that we all need.'

Katelyn Fryer, Circular Economy Lead, Surf Coast Shire

NEW ‘Buy Circular’ Champions Program

In September 2024 we are thrilled to embark on the next evolution of our program with expressions of interest now open for the new Buy Circular Champions Program - previously ‘Buy Recycled Champions program’. 

In addition to supporting our champions and their councils to buy products containing recycled materials, the ‘Buy Circular’ Champions Program will build our successful champions’ understanding of circular procurement, products and approaches to enable change in councils. This circular focus includes product design, product reuse and product repair within infrastructure, building and landscaping projects. 

Sustainability Victoria will continue to support councils more broadly through the Buy Recycled Service. 

Expressions of Interest now closed

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their expression of interest.

Current Buy Recycled Champions

Metropolitan council champions
Kirsten Friend, Sustainability Projects Officer

Bayside City Council

Gathering data from council officers.
Developing information to add to purchasing policies.

Mahin Shirazi, Senior Landscape Architect

Brimbank City Council

Change management and stakeholder consultation.
Setting up cross council working groups.
Climate positive design.

James Donahue, Environmental Project and Planning Officer

Cardinia Shire Council

Collaborating with council departments and external government agencies to minimise impacts derived from road upgrades in sensitive areas.
Working closely with civil engineers and contractors to find sustainable practices that can be easily implemented.

Kathy Yu, Recycling Education Officer

City of Casey

Behaviour change theories . 
Delivering staff training. 
Feature profile of Kathy Zu.
Arch Brown Reserve case study.

Seana Quinn, Commercial Portfolio Manager (Procurement)
City of Melbourne

How to implement sustainability within procurement processes.
Managing sustainability through contract management.

Simon Scott, Utility Management Officer
Frankston City Council

Energy efficiency.
Waste management.

Angela Ganley, Senior Sustainable Environment Officer
Hume City Council

Aligning with embedding carbon reduction and Water Sensitive Urban Design objectives.
Incorporating Environmentally Sustainable Design into greenfield developments.

George Osborne, Manager Economic Development

Hume City Council

Gaining support from Council for a Circular Economy Program, business case, and more.
Engaging with the business community and residents to promote circularity.

Shane Cutland, Infrastructure Delivery Engineer

Manningham City Council

Asphalt pavements.
Concrete footpaths or kerb and channel.
Project management / infrastructure delivery.
Feature profile of Shane Cutland.

April Williams, Circular Economy Champion

Monash City Council

Grants.
Working with allies on small wins.

Daniel Kabel, ESD Infrastructure Officer

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council

Recycled content in civil infrastructure, e.g. asphalt, concrete.
How to embed sustainability into Council capital works projects and processes.
Feature profile of Daniel Kabel.

Jane Symon, Procurement Business Partner

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council

Team systems.
Small space food production.
Adult training methods.

Maurice Serruto, Unit Manager Engineering Design and Construction

Whittlesea Council

Civil engineering matters and knowledge of Department of Transport and Planning specifications.
Road base rehabilitation case study.

Karolina Kubiak, Sustainability Officer

Wyndham City Council

Sustainable procurement.
Staff and community training.
Setting up Council working groups.
Regional council champions
Michelle Stark, Sustainability Officer

Alpine Shire Council

Adding sustainable procurement content to council’s procurement policy.
Assisting the implementation of sustainable procurement initiatives.
Great Valley Trail case study.

Eric Robinson, Coordinator Road Maintenance

Baw Baw Shire

Incorporating recycled products into asphalt.
Working with contractors to develop fit for purpose asphalt mixes and suitable site locations for usage.

Louise Turner, Strategic Waste Officer

Central Goldfields Shire Council

Installation of concrete pavement – recycled glass and concrete.
Waste contracts – landfill, transfer station and kerbside.

Scott Bryant, Circular Economy Coordinator

City of Greater Bendigo

Implementing co-design processes for circular economy infrastructure procurement.
Developing and implementing a Circular Procurement Policy and embedding in organisational processes.
Feature profile of Scott Bryant.

Tim Mordaunt, Senior Sustainability Officer

City of Greater Geelong

Energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Strategy development.

Paul Taylor, Coordinator Procurement Services

City of Greater Geelong

Procurement for innovation projects.
Any end-to-end procurement requirements.