War on Waste

After Craig Reucassel’s War on Waste series aired on ABC TV in May 2017, the public sentiment around waste changed. The community became more aware of the ‘recycling’ crisis between China and Australia. Whilst we had always been passionate about the circular economy and waste reduction, we chose this time (2018 to 2020) to increase our advocacy and education around these issues. This included a number of submissions, community engagement events and we also supported waste free events. 

War on Waste Action Group

Recognising that waste and recycling were issues affecting everyone, GS decided to establish a War on Waste action group to campaign for stronger legislation, innovative solutions and community education.
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UN SDG 12:
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Key Outcomes

  • Our community is aware and informed about the waste crisis, the waste hierarchy, local recycling options and the value of a circular economy
  • People are empowered to live more sustainably
  • Federal, state and local governments have implemented effective waste and resource recovery legislation to promote efficient use of natural resources and drive the transition to a circular economy
  • For the region to be realising the potential for regional employment through new recycling industries
  • For food losses along production and supply chains to be significantly reduced
  • For food waste to be totally removed from landfill
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Waste Hierarchy

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Why we need a circular economy

Current activities and focus

  • Encouraging people to rethink, refuse, reduce, repair, reuse items 
  • Promoting minimalism so we can be more with less
  • Reminding people to take their reusables and say no to single-use plastics
  • Educating the public to #Recycle Right to reduce contamination in yellow kerbside bins
  • Educating people to waste less food and to compost scraps to regenerate the soil
  • Encouraging people to separate soft plastics for REDcycling
  • Participating in community clean ups and advocating for a plastic-free sea
  • Supporting the transition to zero waste festivals and community events through our wash against waste services 
  • Advocating for local councils to establish a materials recycling facility (MRF) in our region
  • Supporting local cafes to better manage food waste and recycling through a Green Cafes program 
  • Campaigning against waste-to-energy option to incinerate leftover co-mingled recyclables
  • Advocating for a regional food organics recycling scheme to stop food waste going to landfill
  • Advocating for close-the-loop thinking and a fast transition to a circular economy

Campaign supporters & partners