Circular Economy
A better alternative to landfill
Circular Economy
A circular economy is an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources.
Throughout our region Rotary is making a difference in a variety of ways that are tailored to suit the local situation. We have included some and look forward to promoting more project types when we receive the information.
A major area of focus is recycling and repurposing reusable equipment and supplies. One of the great “Circular” effects in our region is to use the repurposed goods to help many disadvantaged individuals and communities.
If you have identified a need for equipment or supplies check if repurposed goods are available before buying new goods.
Solutions Category Tags
Circular Education, Circular Households, Circular Markets, Composting, Food Waste, Opp Shops, Plastic Waste, Recycled Art, Recycled Construction, Recycled Electrical , Recycled eWaste, Recycled Fashion, Recycled Furniture, Recycled Medical, Recycled Paper, Recycled Playgrounds, Recycled refrigerants, Recycled Textbooks
Recycled Domestic Goods
Where ever possible surplus reusable domestic goods should be recycled. The thing that makes Rotary special, the projects are run by volunteers and there is no wage bill. With the exception of Op Shops all donations are given to someone in need. Op Shop profits are use to fund Rotary Projects.
Recycled Fashion
In Australia alone, more than 500,000 tonnes of textiles and leather end up in landfill each year. This ‘single use’ mentality has hufge environmental costs not just with landfill, but the resources to produce the clothes. The global average water footprint for 1kg of cotton is 10,000 litres.
Food Waste
Food waste is a crisis for Australians, who throw away a shocking 3.1 million tonnes of edible food each year. and New Zealanders almost 230,000 Tonnes. As thi sorganic waste breaks down it foprms Methane which is a potent greenhouse gas. Project Drawdown identifies Food Waste as the number 1 Global Climate Solution opportunity.
Recycled Medical Equipment
Australian and New Zealanders are very lucky to live in countries that can afford to upgrade Medical Equipment well before its “Use by Date”. Much of it is perfect for our neighbours and repurposing and shipping equipment can dramatically improve medical care in neighboring regions, whether hospital beds, hearing aids, spectacles, dental equipment or more sophisticated medical instruments.
Recycled Educational Goods
Reusable school equipment, text books and supplies can be saved from landfill and recycled for re-sale, or donations to those in need either locally or overseas
Recycled Computers and other eWaste
eWaste is a very significant landfill problem and is very well suited to Circular Economy processes of re-use, refurbish and dismantling and recycling parts for localk and overseas use. Access to Computers and Smartphones for education is an excellent enabler in developing nations. Rotary is particularly well placed to run its own Volunteer programs and to partner with commercial operations that have the skills and processes to refurbish and recycle.
Recycled Business Goods
Often, for commercial reasons, new goods are withdrawn from sale and have to be disposed of in a responsible way. Rotary is a business-based organisation and understands corporate imperatives with disposal and write-off of goods and equipment. Every organization wishes to be perceived as a responsible corporate citizen. Rotary provides businesses with the opportunity to turn their waste into a repurposed gift and to be seen as recycling heroes.
Featured Projects / Activities
Rotary Overseas Recycled Playgrounds: Flemington-Kensington, 9800, Vic Au
We collect unwanted playgrounds from councils and schools and sends them to disadvantaged overseas communities. Starting with a single playground to a girls school in Sri Lanka, this project has now collected over 40 playgrounds from across Victoria and sent them to Timor Leste, the Philippines and Tanzania as well as Sri Lanka.
Donations In Kind
Rotary Donations In Kind West Footscray recycling and repurposing store. It gathers donations of surplus new and reusable commercial items an makes them available for Rotary Projects. It provides management support for Club projects with a particular emphasis on helping them with their overseas projects.
In the last 19 years, DIK has shipped 578 containers of equipment and supplies containing goods worth $58 million to 32 countries, with a strong emphasis on items that improve education, medical and maternal care. We also support disadvantaged area
Recycled Sound: Toorak, 9800, Victoria, Australia
Recycled Sound is a Community Service Project initiated by the Rotary Club of Toorak to collect, clean, reprogram and recycle hearing aids to those people in our community with a special need who are unable to meet the expense of hearing aids in the private market.