Smart Precinct NQ to play key role in move to a circular economy

The Queensland Government has announced Smart Precinct NQ will be a hub for local businesses looking to integrate circular economy principles into their operations. Townsville and North Queensland are set to play a leading role in Queensland’s drive to build a circular economy, according to an announcement made by the Environment and Science Minister Leanne Linard.

Minister Linard announced that Smart Precinct NQ would become a hub for information and support for local businesses looking to embed circular economy principles into their operations.

In a circular economy, materials are reused, recycled or remanufactured more, producing less waste in the first place and maximising the value of our precious materials.

The Palaszczuk government’s new Queensland Circular Economy (Industry-Research) Program will support industry-driven research and innovation to assist in the transition away from the linear ‘take-make-waste’ business model to a circular economy model that designs out waste and pollution, circulates products and materials at their highest value and regenerates the environment.

The other regional centres involved in the $4 million pilot program are the Resources Centre of Excellence in Mackay and Agribusiness Connect in Toowoomba. If the concept proves to be successful, it will be rolled out to other locations.

Participating businesses and industries in each region will be supported in their move towards a circular economy, drawing on the relevant capabilities of Queensland universities to help develop new solutions.

“The Palaszczuk government has set the ambitious goal of Queensland being a zero-waste society by 2050,” Linard said. “To achieve this, we have implemented a framework for our transition to a circular economy, where materials are retained in the economy for as long as possible at their highest practicable value.

“Recycling tends to be the first strategy industry turns to when transitioning to a circular economy. Recycling certainly has its place, but we encourage industry to also think beyond recycling and focus more on the circular economy principles of designing out waste throughout production and a product’s usable life.”

“On any given day, particularly in major population centres, you will see tonnes of waste sent to landfill centres — multiply this by our country’s population and the coming seven years to 2030 and it can be seen how imperative it is that we act now to reach this goal,” she added.

More information on Queensland’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy is available here.

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