Quick Move from Take, Make, Landfill Needed : BLOG: Mike Ritchie’s Actions for a Circular Economy

Circular Economy (CE) could be transformative. Transforming an economy from linear consumption to circular materials flow including redesign, recovery, reuse, repurposing, is just that – transformative. MRA Consulting’s Mike Ritchie argues that the sooner we move from “Take, Make, Landfill” the better. The better for a sustainable economy, the better for GHG emission reduction and the better for employment and green jobs.

But what does CE involve?

The EU recently published their CE Action Plan report of 54 CE actions. They say that since its adoption in 2015 all 54 actions have been achieved or are being implemented. Impressive.

So what does the EU plan involve? Does it provide guidance for CE in Australia?

I think it does. I have clustered, adjusted to Australia and summarised the EU actions below to give guidance on what the EU at least, thinks CE involves. (I have ignored process recommendations and technical EU terms). My apologies in advance for any loss of clarity in the interest of brevity. My aim is to propose a comprehensive action list for Australia based on the EU actions.

Mandatory product design rules

Product repairability rules e.g. TVs

Mining waste management plan guidelines

Sharing Platform for Cleaner Production and improved production

Support SME’s to find substitutes for hazardous substances

Enforce consumer protection rules to ensure product quality and eliminate greenwash

Update guidance on unfair commercial practices including green claims

Introduce product repairability rules

Roll out Eco-label guidelines including for financial products

Introduce rules and testing to prevent premature obsolescence

Product Environmental Footprint declarations

Green public procurement

New waste legislation with Targets, Economic instruments and Mandated separated collections

Certificates of Destruction for End of Life Vehicles

Improved enforcement of waste transport rules

Voluntary certification of waste treatment facilities

Define the role of Waste to Energy in a Circular Economy

Define best practice waste collection systems

Develop quality standards for secondary materials (especially plastic)

Revised Fertiliser Regulation including organics

Legislation for reused water in irrigation

Promotion of water reuse

Better tracking of chemicals of concern and policy coordination

Electronic data exchange to track waste movement

Raw materials information system

Strategy for plastic in the Circular Economy

Actions to reduce marine litter

Measure food waste

Stakeholder process to improve action of food waste

Legislation to support donation and reuse of food waste as animal feed

Revise Date marking on foodstuffs

Report on critical raw materials at risk

Improve data exchange for electronic waste

Improve standards for material efficient electronics recycling

Best practice recovery of critical raw materials from mining and landfill

Pre-demolition assessment guidelines for industry

Recycling protocol for C&D waste

Core indicators for lifecycle assessment of buildings

Best practice guidelines for biomass use

Develop Renewable Energy Strategy

Pilot innovation deals to address regulatory barriers

Develop investment platforms for CE

Spend waste levy funds on CE initiatives

Circular Economy Finance Support platform by the Reserve Bank of Australia

Partnerships of stakeholders to deliver a CE Plan

These are the key themes and actions. As is obvious, it is an all-encompassing approach to redefining how resources are used (and abused) in the economy. It is important that CE not be restricted to the thinking of a few Think Tanks or Sustainability experts. It is about our economy. The sooner that Central Agencies (Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury, Finance, Infrastructure etc) and their equivalents in the States, get involved, the sooner we can start the journey.