City of Casey is one of 30 councils across Victoria that will share in $630,000 from the State Government in a bid to promote sustainability and increase the state’s circular economy.
Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced on Monday 6 June the funding would be used on projects that investigate how to divert waste from landfill, boost local circular economies and reduce costs by uncovering new methods for recycling materials.
The council is set to receive $20,000 funding to work in collaboration with RMIT University and not-for-profit organisation Circular Economy Victoria on a project that seeks to find a local alternative for a commonly used building material.
The group will work with local developers and builders to find a recycled substitute for expanded polystyrene (EPS) waffle pods, which are used extensively in residential housing developments for their strength and durability.
Despite their suitability, City of Casey’s sustainability and waste manager Michael Jansen explained EPS waffle pods are light and brittle, meaning they break into pieces that are easily blown off building sites and into the environment.
According to The Yarra River Keeper Association and The Cleanwater Group, EPS is consistently the highest littered microplastic detected in the Yarra River.
“The City of Casey has identified EPS pollution as a critical environmental issue in the community, causing environmental damage to livestock, wildlife and waterways,” Mr Jansen said.
“This project seeks to address the root cause of the problem by finding more viable and sustainable alternatives that are more consistent with the circular economy and would have less impact on the environment and community.”
It is hoped the findings of the study can be shared and applied across all of Melbourne, Mr Jansen said.
Other council projects supported by the funding include building business cases for a shared organics processing facilities and a glass recycling facility, as well as establishing a way to recirculate materials into existing Central Victorian industries.
More information is available at sustainability.vic.gov.au.
