Zero Waste Victoria is a charity organisation who advocates for a world with less waste. The organisation supports the community to reduce, repurpose, repair, swap and share to avoid unnecessary waste being created.
Kirsty Bishop-Fox is a co-founder and president of Zero Waste Victoria. In this role, she advocates for change to remove barriers which prevent responsible management waste and waste avoidance. Particularly with government policies and action plans.
Zero Waste Festival
The inaugural Zero Waste Festival was held by Zero Waste Victoria in 2018, with an aim to provide people with ideas and skills to reduce waste, and inspire change. I presented the workshop topic “Taking Zero Waste to the Next Level” which encouraged people to rethink waste, and collaborate with locals to do the same. And we were joined by Tammy Logan (Gippsland Unwrapped) and a Repair Cafe panel, which was moderated by Erin Rhoads (Rogue Ginger).
The 2019 Zero Waste Festival opened with a panel discussion “What is the formula for a Zero Waste City?”. I facilitated this panel, comprising Oberon and Lauren Carter (Spiral garden), David Holmgren (Permaculture founder), Bianca Cottle (ZWV and BYOC campaign) Veronica Shannon (Retub), and Nina Taylor MP.
2020 took us online thanks to the pandemic. I was asked to facilitate the “Waste-Less Community Panel” featuring , Eli Bramborova (ShareWaste) David Paynter (Gold Coast Tool Library), Letitia Howlett (Brunswick Tool Library), and Jo Taranto, from Good for the Hood. You can view this here.
I was also asked to speak on the panel ‘What’s happening to our Recycling?’. This discussion was facilitated by Carolina Aguirre, and we were joined by Siobhan Slattery (City of Port Phillip), Joe Agostino (Yarra City council), Amy Yang (Mornington Peninsula Shire Council) and Rose McIvar from Recycling made easy. You can view this here.
Government Advocacy
On behalf of Zero Waste Victoria, I’ve written submissions to inform waste policy and regulatory reviews for local, state and federal governments. Some government submissions written are
• Product Stewardship Act (Federal Government), 2018
• National Waste Policy: Less waste, more resources -2018
• Victorian Government’s Environment and Planning Committee’s inquiry into recycling and waste management 2019
• Victoria’s Circular Economy Policy (DEWLP) 2019
• Feedback for proposed Environmental Protection regulations (EPA) 2020
• Federal Government inquiry into Australia’s Waste Management and Recycling Industries 2020
• Victoria’s container deposit scheme 2020
I was invited to appear and give evidence before the Environment and Planning Committee’s inquiry into recycling and waste management, in a public hearing in October 2019. This is the transcript and summary.
Waste to Energy
A significant highlight of 2020, was negotiating improved conditions in an appeal against the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) works approval for a Waste to Energy facility, via the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
With lawyers from Environmental Justice Australia, we achieved better outcomes for the community, environment and public health. Ensuring greater transparency and safeguards for air quality, waste management and reporting. There will be monitoring of an increased range of pollutants, and public reporting of these results.
Only waste which would otherwise be disposed of to landfill, can be accepted. And the facility is to be designed to be able to accommodate future material recovery.
To add to this, many of the improved conditions have since been transferred to subsequent Works Approvals in Victoria, for which has amplified the outcome.
Zero Waste Victoria Membership
If you would like to support the great work of Zero Waste Victoria, you can become a member, from $5 per month. Or you can donate to support campaigns.
