Waste prevention, minimisation and improved resource recovery are key to supporting the wider Bay of Plenty’s transition to a circular economy.
Bay of Connections has partnered with Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council to explore opportunities for advancing the circular economy in the Western Bay of Plenty.
Building a circular economy is an alternative to the traditional linear economy in which we maximise the value and use of resources, and then recover and regenerate products and materials.
The collaboration seeks to set a path for more efficient use of resources and improved resource recovery in the sub-region across three key sectors – construction, healthcare and food & beverage manufacturing.
To achieve this outcome, the project will assess the current level of circularity and highlight opportunities to advance the circular economy in these sectors, provide circular economy goals to guide businesses and councils, and define indicators and targets that could be used to measure success.
The work is being undertaken by Eunomia, an independent consultancy with offices in the Bay of Plenty, Auckland, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.
Priority One is supporting the project by leading engagement with the Western Bay of Plenty business community.
While the project is limited to the Western Bay of Plenty, the outputs and actions could be adopted by industry and councils across the wider region.
With the national waste disposal levy progressively increasing and expanding, it is an opportune time to establish initiatives that reduce waste, encourage resource recovery and create pathways for a circular economy in the Bay of Plenty.
