Circular Economy Councils Fund project reports
From 2021 to 2024, the Circular Economy Councils Fund (previously called the Recycling Victoria Councils Fund) supported projects to reduce waste to landfill and transition towards a circular economy.
The fund supported 66 local government and alpine resort management projects with more than $5.6 million, through the Victorian Government’s circular economy policy.
Projects focused on one or more of the following:
- Decreasing waste to landfill.
- Increasing the reuse, repair, repurposing or recycling of materials.
- Increasing circular economy activity, and stimulating local employment and economic growth.
Project findings and recommendations
On this page you can view the final reports from many of these projects, which provide findings and recommendations from a variety of feasibility studies and implementation projects.
Community projects
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Council: Nillumbik Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022This study researched and benchmarked library of things initiatives and other borrowing programs. It looked at initiatives in Melbourne and interstate.
It identified factors required for a viable library of things in Hurstbridge.
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Council: Monash City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Monash City Council, with 12 other councils, explored best practice for a reusable nappy program.
The study sought to:
- explore the effectiveness of local government reusable nappy programs
- assess the performance of reusable nappy products
- understand community behaviour and attitudes in relation to reusable nappies
- help develop a best practice model for a reusable nappy program that encourages long term behaviour change and waste reduction.
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Council: Wyndham City Council
Project type: Feasibility studyWyndham City Council explored the opportunity to create a 'Sharing Shed' to increase reuse of everyday items such as:
- tools
- toys
- gardening equipment
- kitchenware
- leisure equipment.
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Council: Knox City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2023Knox City Council partnered with 6 other councils to explore ways to reduce plastic waste from single-use menstrual and continence products. The report identified initiatives to encourage use of reusable products.
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Council: Glen Eira City Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Fourteen councils implemented a reusable nappy program based on best practice feasibility study findings. It identified actions that could be more effective than offering rebates alone.
The project included:
- workshops for maternal child health nurses and parents
- online resources, including a website and social media presence.
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Council: Bayside City Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Bayside City Council delivered eight pop-up community repair events that allowed residents to:
- have household items repaired
- learn to repair them.
This meant they could keep these items rather than send them to landfill.
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Council: City of Melbourne
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Melbourne City Council created a circular economy precinct in Kensington.
The project aims to help the community and businesses adopt more circular practices, including:
- preventing waste
- extending product lifespans
- recapturing valuable resources
- regenerating nature.
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Council: Mornington Peninsular Shire Council
Project type: ImplementationMornington Peninsula Shire Council designed and constructed a 'Wash Against Waste' trailer to use at events and community gatherings that offered food and beverages .
The trailer was locally designed and constructed. It contains high-quality reusable crockery to cater for events of up to 1,000 people. A commercial dishwasher is its centerpiece, ensuring crockery and cutlery are washed at appropriate temperatures to ensure the highest hygiene standards.
The trailer will:
- allow event organisers to dramatically reduce the amount of single-use, disposable waste they produce
- provide a highly visible public education tool.
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Council: Yarra Ranges Shire Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Yarra Ranges Council held two textile recycling drop off events to:
- reduce textile waste sent to landfill
- help residents recycle otherwise hard-to-recycle materials.
The report outlines key findings, challenges, community feedback and future options.
Education projects
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Council: Monash City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Monash City Council, with 12 other councils, explored best practice for a reusable nappy program.
The study sought to:
- explore the effectiveness of local government reusable nappy programs
- assess the performance of reusable nappy products
- understand community behaviour and attitudes in relation to reusable nappies
- help develop a best practice model for a reusable nappy program that encourages long term behaviour change and waste reduction.
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Council: Boroondara City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Boroondara City Council coordinated this pilot program to help councils engage and train local small and medium businesses on how to adopt circular economy practices.
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Council: Whittlesea Shire Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024This project saw cost effective, scalable solutions to commercial waste and recycling issues put in place for 14 Councils and 125 businesses. It promoted bin sharing between businesses, providing a scalable, affordable way to access recycling and to divert recyclable material from landfill. It also increased the traders':
- awareness of where their waste goes
- understanding of circular economy waste practices.
-
Council: Glen Eira City Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Fourteen councils implemented a reusable nappy program based on best practice feasibility study findings. It identified actions that could be more effective than offering rebates alone.
The project included:
- workshops for maternal child health nurses and parents
- online resources, including a website and social media presence.
Events projects
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Council: Alpine Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Alpine Shire Council worked with seven other councils and three alpine resort management boards to develop a regionally consistent approach to effective waste minimisation and best practice for events in north-east Victoria.
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Council: Glen Eira City Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Fourteen councils implemented a reusable nappy program based on best practice feasibility study findings. It identified actions that could be more effective than offering rebates alone.
The project included:
- workshops for maternal child health nurses and parents
- online resources, including a website and social media presence.
-
Council: Central Goldfields Shire Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2023The 2023 Energy Breakthrough event promoted waste reduction, resource recovery, and environmental consciousness among vendors, and patrons. It built upon the initiatives implemented in the previous year.
This report:
- highlights the waste management strategies deployed during the event
- assesses their effectiveness
- compares the results with those of the preceding year.
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Council: Bayside City Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Bayside City Council delivered eight pop-up community repair events that allowed residents to:
- have household items repaired
- learn to repair them.
This meant they could keep these items rather than send them to landfill.
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Council: Mornington Peninsular Shire Council
Project type: ImplementationMornington Peninsula Shire Council designed and constructed a 'Wash Against Waste' trailer to use at events and community gatherings that offered food and beverages .
The trailer was locally designed and constructed. It contains high-quality reusable crockery to cater for events of up to 1,000 people. A commercial dishwasher is its centerpiece, ensuring crockery and cutlery are washed at appropriate temperatures to ensure the highest hygiene standards.
The trailer will:
- allow event organisers to dramatically reduce the amount of single-use, disposable waste they produce
- provide a highly visible public education tool.
Infrastructure projects
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Council: Darebin City Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024This project delivered a waste infrastructure and education intervention program at 60 multi-unit dwellings across 10 participating councils. It aimed to:
- divert waste from landfill
- decrease contamination
- increase recycling.
The report compares data collected before and after the interventions and discusses key findings.
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Councils: City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022The cities of Melbourne and Port Phillip identified initiatives and systems to recover food organics in multi-unit developments. These would reduce waste sent to landfill and enable a circular economy. The study identified existing waste management systems that are suitable for high-rise developments.
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Council: East Gippsland Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2021East Gippsland Shire Council assessed its capacity to operate a facility to processes organic waste (including food waste) into composted soil conditioners.
The council currently accepts more than 15,500t of garden waste at its landfills and transfer stations per year. This waste is periodically mulched to reduce its total volume.
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Council: Boroondara City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2023Boroondara City Council investigated how to best expand food organic and garden organics (FOGO) services to:
- businesses that generate food or garden waste
- large multi-unit developments (MUDs) in the Boroondara City Council.
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Council: Northern Grampians Shire Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Northern Grampians Shire introduced 97 additional public place recycling bins to its major towns, to divert waste to landfill.
Materials projects
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Council: City of Greater Bendigo
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2023This study identified circular economy opportunities within 9 Loddon Mallee region councils. The report explored 9 opportunities in the organics, construction, consumer goods and manufacturing sectors. They cover a range of circular actions to keep resources in the local economy for longer.
Opportunities include:
- targeted supply chain interventions
- transforming entire material value chains to create new value and products
- pursuing policy and system reforms to support circular outcomes.
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Council: Stonnington City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Stonnington City Council led this project to increase use recycled content in council building and infrastructure projects. It assessed alternative options for five high impact construction materials:
- asphalt
- concrete
- natural aggregates
- brickwork
- steel.
It developed a tool to help Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action councils account for life-cycle costings and the unique variables associated with council buildings and infrastructure.
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Council: Wodonga City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022The City of Wodonga partnered with the other nine North East Waste and Resource Recovery Group council and alpine resort members to analyse options for recycling problematic materials in the region.
The report provides recommendations for dealing with:
- polystyrene
- silage wrap
- paint
- hard plastic.
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Council: Mansfield Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Mansfield Shire Council is experiencing a growing population and increasing tourism. It audited public waste and recycling infrastructure to identify ways to minimise waste and increase landfill diversion.
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Council: Casey City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022The City of Casey undertook this study in collaboration with major developers and builders.
It identified and tested local alternatives to expanded polystyrene waffle pods, using products made out of recycled content.
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Council: Stonnington City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2023This study that assessed the flows of materials in the cities of Stonnington, Boroondara and Glen Eira.
In-scope materials were:
- organics
- paper and cardboard
- plastics
- textiles
- leather and rubber
- glass
- building and demolition materials
- metals
- tyres
- product e-waste.
It assessed 17 interventions, and identified 31 actions for the top 3 interventions.
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Council: Moonee Valley City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Moonee Valley and Melton City Councils explored expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling markets and options for recycling programs at their local transfer
stations. This report looks at:- on-site compaction options (hot and cold)
- collection of loose EPS from the transfer stations
- a direct drop-off model.
It recommends the best path forward for recycling EPS generated at each transfer station.
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Council: Yarra Ranges Shire Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Yarra Ranges Council held two textile recycling drop off events to:
- reduce textile waste sent to landfill
- help residents recycle otherwise hard-to-recycle materials.
The report outlines key findings, challenges, community feedback and future options.
Organics projects
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Councils: City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022The cities of Melbourne and Port Phillip identified initiatives and systems to recover food organics in multi-unit developments. These would reduce waste sent to landfill and enable a circular economy. The study identified existing waste management systems that are suitable for high-rise developments.
-
Council: Nillumbik Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022This project looked at ways to divert food and cardboard waste from landfill in small food-based businesses. It completed visual waste audits and stakeholder engagement with 17 local small food businesses.
-
Council: East Gippsland Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2021East Gippsland Shire Council assessed its capacity to operate a facility to processes organic waste (including food waste) into composted soil conditioners.
The council currently accepts more than 15,500t of garden waste at its landfills and transfer stations per year. This waste is periodically mulched to reduce its total volume.
-
Council: Mansfield Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2023This study assessed local processing options for organic material in the Mansfield and Murrindindi Shire Council areas.
The key driver was the adoption of food organics and garden organics (FOGO) kerbside collections. This was scheduled to occur in 2024 in Mansfield and in 2025 in Murrindindi.
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Council: Boroondara City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2023Boroondara City Council investigated how to best expand food organic and garden organics (FOGO) services to:
- businesses that generate food or garden waste
- large multi-unit developments (MUDs) in the Boroondara City Council.
-
Council: City of Melbourne
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Melbourne City Council created a circular economy precinct in Kensington.
The project aims to help the community and businesses adopt more circular practices, including:
- preventing waste
- extending product lifespans
- recapturing valuable resources
- regenerating nature.
Reuse and repair projects
-
Council: Nillumbik Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022This study researched and benchmarked library of things initiatives and other borrowing programs. It looked at initiatives in Melbourne and interstate.
It identified factors required for a viable library of things in Hurstbridge.
-
Council: Monash City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Monash City Council, with 12 other councils, explored best practice for a reusable nappy program.
The study sought to:
- explore the effectiveness of local government reusable nappy programs
- assess the performance of reusable nappy products
- understand community behaviour and attitudes in relation to reusable nappies
- help develop a best practice model for a reusable nappy program that encourages long term behaviour change and waste reduction.
-
Council: Bayside City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Bayside City Council explored establishing a community repair and re-use centre or service to support its transition to circular economy. The report includes a draft business model for a Bayside repair service.
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Council: Strathbogie Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2021This project looked into establishing a resale shop at a local resource recovery centre. The report includes recommendations for moving forward with a resale shop in Nagambie.
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Council: Murrindindi Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2023Murrindindi Shire Council explored upgrading or redeveloping of the Yea Resource Recovery Centre . It focused on two sites within Yea, including the site of the existing centre.
The report details options for the development of a modern resource recovery centre to service Yea. It explored options to maximise recycling, promote circular economy outcomes and provide the best value to council and its residents.
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Council: Brimbank City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2023This study assessed the viability of establishing a resource recovery centre and circular economy centre in Brimbank. The report provides recommendations for proceeding.
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Council: Whittlesea Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2023This study explored the development of a resale shop in the City of Whittlesea.
The main aim being to reduce waste to landfill by diverting re-sellable items. It found that a resale shop would generate economic, social and environmental benefits in the municipality.
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Council: Alpine Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2023Alpine Shire Council investigated the viability of a reuse shop at existing local transfer station sites.
Residents, visitors and tourists could:
- donate and dispose of usable items
- purchase second-hand items.
This would achieve environmental, social and economic benefits for the region.
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Council: Bayside City Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Bayside City Council delivered eight pop-up community repair events that allowed residents to:
- have household items repaired
- learn to repair them.
This meant they could keep these items rather than send them to landfill.
-
Council: City of Melbourne
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Melbourne City Council created a circular economy precinct in Kensington.
The project aims to help the community and businesses adopt more circular practices, including:
- preventing waste
- extending product lifespans
- recapturing valuable resources
- regenerating nature.
-
Council: Mornington Peninsular Shire Council
Project type: ImplementationMornington Peninsula Shire Council designed and constructed a 'Wash Against Waste' trailer to use at events and community gatherings that offered food and beverages .
The trailer was locally designed and constructed. It contains high-quality reusable crockery to cater for events of up to 1,000 people. A commercial dishwasher is its centerpiece, ensuring crockery and cutlery are washed at appropriate temperatures to ensure the highest hygiene standards.
The trailer will:
- allow event organisers to dramatically reduce the amount of single-use, disposable waste they produce
- provide a highly visible public education tool.
Small business projects
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Council: Nillumbik Shire Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022This project looked at ways to divert food and cardboard waste from landfill in small food-based businesses. It completed visual waste audits and stakeholder engagement with 17 local small food businesses.
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Authority: Mt Hotham Alpine Resort
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Mt Hotham Alpine Resort developed a business case for creating a compostable and reuseable coffee cup program at Falls Creek, Mount Hotham and Mount Buller/Mount Sterling Alpine Resorts.
Commercial operations at each resort researched costs, benefits and options for alternative coffee cup supply and processing.
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Council: Boroondara City Council
Project type: Feasibility study
Year completed: 2022Boroondara City Council coordinated this pilot program to help councils engage and train local small and medium businesses on how to adopt circular economy practices.
-
Council: Whittlesea Shire Council
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024This project saw cost effective, scalable solutions to commercial waste and recycling issues put in place for 14 Councils and 125 businesses. It promoted bin sharing between businesses, providing a scalable, affordable way to access recycling and to divert recyclable material from landfill. It also increased the traders':
- awareness of where their waste goes
- understanding of circular economy waste practices.
-
Council: City of Melbourne
Project type: Implementation
Year completed: 2024Melbourne City Council created a circular economy precinct in Kensington.
The project aims to help the community and businesses adopt more circular practices, including:
- preventing waste
- extending product lifespans
- recapturing valuable resources
- regenerating nature.