Seeing waste as a resource

Australia’s Community Recycling Enterprises (CREs) divert 152,000 tonnes of waste each year, employ 1500 people and contribute over $56 million to the regional economy.

A study by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has demonstrated that the re-use of disused resources has the potential to create a new industry sector providing jobs for Australia’s most disadvantaged jobseekers.

The study, undertaken in all states, shows that recycling and re-use of unwanted product clearly creates jobs and can be sustained by sales rather than by government handouts. The study summarises the activities of 28 Community Recycling Enterprises (CREs) which employ 609 staff, re-use/recycle 61,000 tonnes and turn over $22.5 million annually.

CREs foster civic engagement and are innovative as they gain sustainability through trade. Local Government Authorities all over Australia are faced with increasing volumes of waste and, as a consequence, huge costs. It makes a lot of sense to establish CREs and allow new enterprises and their potential employees access to resource and waste streams.

The study also showed that CREs provide leadership in domestic and commercial resource recovery modelling new methods of operation that are often adopted more widely. You would automatically think that environmental concerns would drive these enterprises but the motivating factor has been creating jobs. Organisations that have started these enterprises isolate jobs as the single most important factor. They respond to market demands and, as a result, operate highly successful organisations. They demonstrate flexibility in operation and a willingness to learn and provide information to one another. It is amazing to see similar operations in different states working in isolation yet they have discovered the technique of creating jobs.

There have been government-funded programs around for a long time. What is different about CREs is that these enterprises employ the very people that are in need of support and, as a consequence, improve their lot in life, while at the same time allowing them to contribute to an ever increasing waste problem costing all of us hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

The report also highlights three case studies:

The Resource Work Cooperative in Tasmania sees itself as a symbol of change in community attitudes. It operates a Tip Shop and a Collectables Shop and as a result is creating a new industry employing people to re-use resources, rather than spending millions of dollars on machines - which only increases the throw-away mentality.

The Endeavour Recycle Shop in Queensland sees Recycle Shops as places that are really connected to the community. People have a right to work and people with disabilities contribute very positively to the operation of their enterprise. It’s about a lot of small enterprises connected to the community rather than big ventures which dispose of waste.

Great Lakes Resource Recovery believes that CREs can mitigate local governments’ exposure to the carbon tax while at the same time give meaningful employment to people usually excluded from the workforce. This award-winning enterprise has demonstrated that all sections of the community can contribute to the re-use of resources where everybody wins.

The report was sponsored by Social Traders, Sustainability Victoria and the NSW Department of Premier & Cabinet, and can be read here. The study was led by Associate Professor Jo Barraket, QUT Business School.

Community Recycling Network Australia
www.communityrecycling.com.au