With ten years of regional waste management coordination and a strong circular economy focus, the Hunter JO brings experience and innovation to waste and resource recovery in the Hunter and Central Coast region. We are working hard towards circularising our waste economy, reducing waste generation, increasing recycling rates and increasing waste diversion from landfill. The Hunter JO facilitates joint action, cooperation and a shared strategic direction with the councils of the Hunter and Central Coast to deliver a range of programs and functions in this space, including:

• Coordinating development and implementation of Regional Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Strategy;
• Knowledge sharing and capacity building within and between Councils, State Government and other key stakeholders
• Researching new technologies, services and management activities to support Councils;
• Delivering regional waste education; and
• Advocating with and on behalf of Councils to improve local and regional waste outcomes.

Read on to find out more about our region-wide outcome focused projects being delivered as part of the Hunter JO’s Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Program:

Small Acts Big Change

Small Acts Big Change is a Hunter JO digital education program aimed at empowering our community to improve their waste avoidance, reuse and recycling habits, one small step at a time. Through content sharing across social media, the internet and on TV, we draw a strong connection between community building, community spirit and improving waste behaviours; using the approach of – each small action we take, if made over and over, can create big change – and what a great way to address an often overwhelming issue for the community.

In videos produced for the program, we hear from Ladine about picking up three pieces of rubbish each time her family visits the beach and from Pearl in Murrurundi we hear about creating beautiful clothing out of unwanted cloth. We hear from people all over the Central Coast and Hunter Valley about the myriad ways people in our communities avoid and reduce waste. Simple, small actions that we can all learn from.

Find out more about Small Acts Big Change and how to re-imagine the way we think about waste for a better planet and better community for all of us:

Visit the Small Acts Big Change website;

Or follow us on social media:
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Youtube

Green Caffeen

The Hunter Joint Organisation is working with Green Caffeen to bring a reusable swap-and-go cup option to cafes and customers throughout the region and beyond.

In Australia, more than one billion disposable coffee cups end up in landfill and our oceans each year.  By signing up to Green Caffeen, coffee-loving residents can help reduce landfill and protect our natural environment.  It works in a similar way to swap-and-go gas bottles and is great for anyone who forgets to bring their own keep cup for their takeaway coffee!

Visit the Green Caffen website for more information.

Community Recycling Centres

The Hunter JO works to promote Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) to our communities across the region to encourage the safe disposal and recycling of household problem wastes that have the potential to become a hazard to the environment or to public health.

Waste Matters – How to use your local Community Recycling Centre

Residents across the Hunter can visit any CRC in the region with their problem wastes, including:

• Paint
• Gas bottles
• Fluoro globes and tubes
• Smoke detectors
• Motor oils and other oils
• Household and car batteries

These problem wastes should never go into household bins.

View our CRC Brochure.

There are CRCs in Cessnock, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton, and Upper Hunter.

There are also several small CRCs at local libraries and other public venues across the region where people can recycle fluoro globes, household batteries, as well as othe ritems such as mobile phones, x-rays, eyeglasses and ink cartridges.

This project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority Waste Less Recycle More Initiative funded by the waste levy.

Circular Economy

The Hunter JO’s Circular Economy Project is a key strategic priority for the organisation. A circular economy exchanges the typical cycle of make, use dispose in favour of as much re-use and recycling as possible, reducing waste and extending the lifetime of products by recycling them in new and innovative ways.

Our Circular Economy Program incorporates a number of projects, to read more about what the Hunter JO’s strategy on Circular Economy, check out our specific project page.

Hunter Central Coast Waste Strategy Group

As the hub for intergovernmental collaboration for our region, the Hunter JO continues to work with Waste Managers and Waste Educators from councils across the Hunter and Central Coast, and with state agencies, to progress the implementation of the Hunter Central Coast Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Strategy 2017-2021. The Strategy focuses on avoiding the creation of waste in the first place right through to final disposal of materials. The eight Strategy themes are:

1. Waste Avoidance
2. Resource Recovery
3. Diversion of waste from landfill
4. Problem wastes
5. Reduce Littering
6. Reduce Illegal Dumping
7. Governance and leading by example
8. Infrastructure and Planning

We are currently working on our next Regional Waste strategy for 2022-2027.

This project is a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.