Bega Valley Shire is leading the way in circularity.
At a glance
- The Bega Valley Shire aims to set an example for other regions in how to go circular.
- Circularity could improve the resilience of regional communities, providing a myriad of economic, environmental and social benefits.
- Recycling is only one aspect of a circular system, with some businesses in Bega Valley already designing out waste from the start.
- Circularity works best when business and industries work together.
Bega Valley Shire in the far southeast corner of New South Wales may be famous for the catastrophic bushfires of 2019/2020 and its cheese, but it’s also setting a progressive example in how to go circular.
The traditional linear economy poses significant challenges, with waste production projected to increase by 70% by 2050 and global raw material extraction expected to double by 2060, according to the OECD.
A circular economy offers a solution, focusing on designing out waste, maintaining materials in use at their highest value, and regenerating natural systems.
Bega’s vision was sparked by Barry Irvin of Bega Group, who was inspired by the Netherlands’ adoption of circular practices.
“Once you see it, you can’t unsee it,” he told the ABC in July.
And for more than two years, Irvin has rallied support from business, government and academia for perhaps Australia’s most innovative circularity experiment.
Circular valley
Bega Group founded the Regional Circularity Cooperative (RCC) in 2021 with the aim of making Bega Valley the most circular region in Australia by 2030.
“We want to bring people and expertise together, pilot circularity initiatives, succeed, fail and share that information with other regions,” said RCC’s CEO Andrew Taylor, who also works at Bega Group.
He says going circular will improve the resilience of regional communities.
“Regions tend to be the producers and cities the consumers. For us, there’s a real opportunity to add value to raw products, process waste locally, drive sustainability and create jobs.”
RCC Foundation members include Rabobank, KPMG, Deloitte, Charles Sturt University, University of Wollongong, NBN, Australian Agricultural Company and CSIRO among others.
The cooperative supports a $19-million National Centre for Circularity (NCC) in Bega, set to open in two years, which will educate, conduct research, and showcase the transition locally, nationally and internationally.
The NCC will also provide a digital experience, displaying information in real-time from sensors across the valley that monitor waste, carbon, emissions, biodiversity and water flows.
The Bega Valley Shire Council enthusiastically supports the circularity project.
“It could have a transformative effect on jobs,” said the council’s Waste Strategy Coordinator Tim Cook. “There’ll be job creation plus re-skilling. It’s a really exciting time to be down here.”
KPMG projects a circular economy could add $210 billion in GDP and 17,000 jobs by 2047-48 in just three sectors.
Martin Geissdoerfer, Associate Professor of Circular Economy Transitions at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, says there are multiple benefits to the region going circular such as accessing new markets, reducing waste and costs, enhancing supply chain resilience, lowering emissions and meeting environmental targets.
He describes Bega Valley as “a pioneer”.Â
“Going circular often requires a whole ecosystem approach that includes government, companies, innovators, local communities and consumers. This is what they’ve achieved in Bega.”
Recycling and redesigning
Bega Valley Shire Council has been a leader in organics recycling with its Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) curbside service for six years, turning collected materials into compost and building a new processing facility.
Despite these efforts, a lot of waste still ends up in landfill, says Cook, who highlights the need for new recycling pathways and improved diversion rates, especially for soft plastics and textiles.
Diverting commercial, industrial and construction waste requires collaboration between businesses, he adds.
But recycling is just one aspect of a circular system, which should design out waste from the start.
To this end, there’s already lots happening in Bega Valley, with Ocean2Earth converting aquaculture and forestry waste into fertiliser, repair cafes offering affordable fixes for broken items, Green Queen upcycling clothing, and Pact Group redesigning packaging to be more circular.
“We want to see industrial symbiosis, which is industries working together,” said Taylor.
Meanwhile, workshops and programs are educating businesses and the community about circularity and ways to identify transition pathways.
“We want to succeed, fail and share that information with other regions.”
Andrew Taylor
Challenges before gains
Cook acknowledges the journey to circularity will be challenging.
“There will be failures, but also lessons,” he said, emphasising that success hinges on the commitment of all stakeholders and the public.
“Human behaviour change, both at home and in the workplace, is hard.”
Data collection is also crucial to track progress but can be tricky to obtain, he adds.
“The circular economy is a holistic model that requires comprehensive data.”
One of the RCC’s major initiatives is to baseline the metrics to understand all the waste streams and help to measure progress.
Geissdoerfer points out that the investment required in infrastructure technology and talent to go circular can be “substantial”.
“Australian companies transitioning to circular practices face challenges like lack of guidance and successful local examples, difficulties in forming the necessary partnerships, skills shortages, regulatory barriers, and the need to adapt products to local markets,” he said.
Taylor says while the ultimate outcome provides economic and environmental gains, there are also social benefits.
“The circular economy’s focus on valuing and regenerating nature presents huge opportunities for regions and Indigenous communities, bringing jobs, education and wellbeing back to local areas.
“Regions can become more than just producers for city consumers; they can thrive. This approach goes beyond economic and environmental gains – it strengthens cultural and social connections and showcases a model of circularity for the world to learn from.”
The IPA will host the ICSB World Congress, which focuses on small business and sustainability, in Sydney from 7-11 July. More information here.
