Buy Recycled Champions Program
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.'
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 open
Applications close on Wednesday 11th September at 5 PM.
Please note, spots are limited.
What we are looking for
To enable greater collaboration between neighbouring councils and regions, up to 2 representatives per council may apply for the program.
Council representatives who are currently in roles that influence, or have responsibility for the procurement of infrastructure, building and landscaping products and services are eligible to apply.
Departments include:
- Infrastructure and engineering
- Major projects/capital works
- Urban design/landscape architecture
- Maintenance and facilities
- Parks and gardens
- Procurement
- Planning
- Asset management
- Sustainability and circular economy
- Waste and recycling
Applications
- Applications close at 5.00 pm 11 September 2024.
- Current Buy Recycled Champions are encouraged to indicate on the application form that they would like to continue their role.
- Applicants will be notified of the outcome by the end of September 2024, with the program due to commence in mid October.
What's in it for you
- Talk, share and learn with your council peers on all things recycled and circular procurement
- Upskill or and build capability through targeted online and in person workshops, events and site visits
- Invites to networking, collaborating and knowledge sharing events
- Access professional development opportunities to build capacity and knowledge in procurement, built environment and embodied emissions and more
- Collaborate with council peers to trial and contribute to the development of templates and tools to drive circular procurement.
Commitment
- Approximately 4 hours per month
- Participate in events and drop-in sessions (about 1 per month)
- Participate in our online council collaboration platform - respond to questions and share information with peers
- Feature in spotlight articles and case studies
- Promote the benefits of the service and share your knowledge with council
- Work with your procurement areas to update policies, systems and frameworks
- Provide feedback to Sustainability Victoria on your progress
- Trial procurement templates and processes with your council to drive circular procurement.
Current Buy Recycled 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.
-
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.
More information
For more information about the Buy Recycled Champions initiative email us or visit Buy Recycled Service.