The Hunter JO, with funding support from the NSW State Government, is rethinking waste and resource recovery in a bid to help transition the Hunter Central Coast region to a circular economy.

A circular economy aims to maximise the value of resources by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. Circular systems employ reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling to create close-loop systems, minimising the creation of waste, pollution and carbon emissions.

Hunter JO, along with its member councils, is investing time and resources in an effort to drive innovation into ecological waste management practices and more sustainable industries based on circular economy principles, which will translate to more jobs and better environmental outcomes for the region. “The Hunter Joint Organisation is committed to creating a network of stakeholders across government, industry, research organisations and communities to find innovative solutions to reuse waste materials and enhance sustainability,” Bob Pynsent, Chair of the Hunter Joint Organisation, and Mayor of Cessnock City Council said.

“The world’s economy has always been a take, make and dispose system,” Kay Fraser, Mayor of Lake Macquarie City Council, and Chair of the Hunter Joint Organisation’s Circular Economy Sub-Committee adds, “however the circular economy message is starting to resonate. Waste is a valuable resource that could be reused, reengineered and reimagined using circular economy principles. Just because a product isn’t useful anymore doesn’t mean the material it’s made of can’t be used. Through continued use and reuse we will reduce both the need for raw materials, minimize the accumulation of waste and capture maximum value from our resources.”

To support the region toward a truly circular economy approach in line with NSW and Commonwealth Government directions, the Hunter JO, with funding support from the NSW State Government has recently completed two important foundational projects – the Hunter Central Coast Material Flow Analysis and Hunter Central Coast Ecosystem project.

For more information contact Tim Askew, Regional Programs Manager, tima@hunterjo.com.au

More news regarding this exciting regional project will be coming within the month.