The City of Parramatta’s Draft Waste and Circular Economy Strategy (the Strategy) sets a 10-year vision and strategic direction for delivering sustainable, resilient, and community tailored waste services.
In alignment with international, national, state and council policies and frameworks, the Strategy aims to support sustainable waste management and the transition to a circular economy.
Traditional economies follow a 'take-make-use-dispose' linear process. This is unsustainable, depletes natural resources, strains global supply chains, and accelerates climate change. In contrast, a circular economy keeps materials circulating through repair, reuse, and resale, followed by recycling and remanufacturing.
Clothing exchange/swap events and community recycling services are examples of circular economy initiatives.
The draft strategy identifies four priorities, supported by an overarching focus on education. Education will support Council staff to understand and proactively fulfill their roles and responsibilities in waste management, foster waste as a shared responsibility across the community, and empower residents to make more circular and sustainable choices.
1. Setting a waste leadership culture
- Support waste as a shared responsiblity through top-down leadership
- Improve ease of access and support for better outcomes
- Champion accurate and consistent data collection
2. Improving waste management
- Reduce the amount of waste we create
- Increase the amount of materials recycled and composted
- Continuous improvement in waste collection
3. Keeping waste out of the city environment
- Prevent litter
- Prevent illegal dumping and hazardous waste
- Support businesses with correct practices
4. Promoting the circular economy
- Investigating opportunities to participate in circular economy initiatives
- Promote existing reuse and repair opportunities
In May 2025, Council launched a survey across the City of Parramatta LGA to gather insights into how the community can further reduce, reuse and recycle waste materials. The survey was open for four weeks and Council received 633 completed surveys. Responses were received from a diverse range of people, from ages 18 to 85, across a range of suburbs/postcodes and in different housing demographics.
Overall, survey respondents viewed recycling initiatives favourably and were eagerly interested in learning more about and improving their own and their communities waste behaviours through participating in education about reducing, reusing and recycling waste.
The survey respondents were culturally diverse, with over 15 languages spoken in addition to English. Respondents showed that they preferred to be informed through community newsletters, the Council website, and social media, but there was also strong interest towards educational workshops for both English-speaking and non-English speaking residents.
Most respondents were aware of bulky waste collection facilities provided by the Council but are not as aware of community education and recycling programs, or the development of the new City of Parramatta Community Recycling Centre.
The results indicate a community that is environmentally conscious, however, there are opportunities to increase awareness raising.
Council generates diverse waste types such as general waste, construction and demolition materials and green waste. Our aim is to lead by example in recovering, recycling and reusing material where possible.
In the draft strategy, Council has made commitments to establish reuse and sharing models in corporate operations; embed circular waste management practices in Council facilities; and keep abreast of any industry trends, new facilities, or technologies in order to achieve the 70% (2030) and 90% (2038) targets for landfill diversion.
There are national targets for waste reduction that state governments and councils must work towards. These include:
- Reducing total waste generated in Australia by 10% per person by 2030
- Achieving an average resource recovery rate from all waste streams of 80% by 2030
- Halving the amount of organic waste sent to landfull by 2030.
The challenge is to achieve these targets while the amount of waste is trending upwards due to growth in population and economic activity.
The Community Recycling Centre (CRC) is anticipated to open in March 2026. Please check the main Council website for information.
The CRC will play an important role in delivering the new Waste and Circular Economy Strategy.
It will serve as the drop-off point for household generated problem waste* such as:
- Paint
- Motor & other oils
- Household & car batteries
- Gas bottles
- Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers
- Fluoro globes/ tubes
* The service is currently being finalised and will be communicated to residents when commissioned.
