Plotting Reuse Pathways in a Recovery World - An SSROC Journey David Kuhn & Hazel Storey
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An SSROC Journey Plotting Reuse Pathways in a Recovery World David Kuhn & Hazel Storey Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) Inc. Coffs Waste Conference 2019
SSROC context 2013-2021 16 councils (now 11) in southern Sydney; 1.8m residents; 40% of NSW waste Newly developed Regional Waste Strategy Under : Avoiding and Reducing Waste • Reduce volume of material entering waste systems • Encourage & enable efficient consumption choices • Establish and progress a business case for reuse 3 plucky Coordinators hired in 2014
Wayfinding Orientation and navigation. Pathway The critical path linking Coordinators to the Strategy Waypoints Key projects, unlocking new insights or directions Detours A diversion in pathways, but chosen with purpose Obstacles Unforeseen barriers brought on by new intelligence or constraints
We started with data Our compass. Regional objectives Gave us: a council-endorsed road map, and a task SSROC WARR to progress a business case for reuse. (2014) Social research: Gave us: qualitative insights to community ’Reuse attitudes’ willingness to reuse (2014) Pathway Bulky waste audit, Gave us: quantum and 12 councils segregation of materials in Waypoints (2014/15) the cleanup stream Detours Obstacles
Guided by councils 2015 workshop revealed new pathways Reuse Workshop, 9 councils attending Standardise services with The Bower (2015-17) • Tiered services for re-homing, community education • SSROC master agreement (11 councils) • SSROC host contract meetings Request for Proposals – Meeting the region’s reuse needs (2016) 6 Respondents. • Markets could not meet regional reuse objectives • No suitable EPA funding to support. Pathway • “Let’s find a way to bring Reuse Organisations with us.” Waypoints Detours After the RFP, Councils as a group could not agree between 1) better reuse/avoidance, or 2) better diversion Obstacles
Pivot to market capabilities Our assumption was the reuse marketplace needs stronger capabilities to: • address councils’ reuse and procurement objectives • and deliver reuse/avoidance outcomes Strengthening the Reuse Sector in Sydney workshop (2016) • Do Reuse/Recycling enterprises want a Network in Sydney? • 52 attendees: 23 CREs, 20 councils, with EPA, CSIRO, UNSW Zero Waste Network – Sydney (2016) • SSROC Funding Agreement SSROC • ZWN-Sydney Strategic Plan, collaboration with: SSROC + exploration of a EPA + Sydney enterprises + Social Traders ‘cream off’ of • Network launch in Redfern reusable items from clean-up. ZWN-Sydney reuse/impact measurement (17-18) Reuse enterprises’ best chance to verify reuse data SSROC work began on clean-up to EPA & councils processing tender • SSROC + WSROC + Illawarra JO funding • Explore commercial sector • 4 CREs in Sydney willingness to collect and store • Based on global best practice; a NSW first. reusables / recyclables separately
Pivot to market capabilities Continued sector-facing work. SSROC Workshop How to Win Work with Local Government (2016) • For charities, N4P and social enterprise • Collaboration SSROC + LGP + Social Traders SSROC investment in Bower Online store (2017-18) • Part digital expansion, part action learning Auckland Council clean-up re-distribution model – ‘there was over-excitement’ • SSROC investigation and case-making • Reality: Councils have no facilities, are in contract, or are unconvinced • Reality: Re-use takers market was not well understood in Sydney
Another split in directions Community. Council. Reuse Sector. 1. Community-facing 2. Council-facing Responsible Citizenship Business Justification “Dumping is Rubbish… so Get Rid Fleet modelling (2018-19) of it Right” (2017-18) • Data, revenue, costs of www.getridofitright.com changing trucks from • Digital marketing campaign, compactor to box body social media and website • Cost-benefit stacks up, but • Education/awareness about depends on various factors clean-up services • Targeted, successful 3. Reuse Sector–facing SSROC Regional Educators Charity, enterprise, N4P ability to cope • New sessions on reuse added to existing workshop program, ”Takers” market research (2018) and include calls to action. • Current & projected capacities to take quantum • Another strategic use of tonnages from clean-up stream. getridofitright.com • Regional capacity is limited
2019/20 focus on big tickets Pull using our own weight. SSROC Regional Clean-up Tender • How can SSROC/ councils use SSROC charities & ZWN processing tender strategically? engagement • Round tables to work out how reuse sector / charities, and LG can address concerns. SSROC exploration: ‘taking back control’ • Scoping marketing • SSROC levy hypothecation and campaigns behind advocacy ”reuse takers” • Exploring rationale for potential to invest in infrastructure
What have we learned? Two sectors driven differently. For Social Enterprises, it’s a labour of love. • Reuse & recovery is the vehicle. • LG tendering processes are burdensome. For Local Government, it’s about services & efficiencies, resource recovery outcomes. • Service delivery, safety and street amenity are the vehicles. • Some are unwilling to use enforcement @ cleanup behaviours. Meanwhile, community… • Has the appetite for more opportunities. • Online is growing, but only works for some • Better understanding leads to changes in behaviour
Auckland Redistribution Centre WM Inc, Auckland City Council and Zero Waste Network-NZ
Conclusions The path to reuse is not linear Data speaks We still need: • Facilities • To shift society and systems • Government (all levels) to fund & invest • The sector to grow and be incentivised to grow Procurement processes can affect change
Thank you David Kuhn dkuhn@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au Hazel Storey hazel.storey@ssroc.nsw.gov.au
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