The North East Local Government Waste and Recycling Forum was recently held in Benalla, bringing together more than 25 representatives of councils and Alpine Resorts from across North East Victoria.
The Forum created a vital platform for dialogue and collaboration on pressing waste management and recycling challenges.
Benalla Rural City Council Mayor, Danny Claridge, who is also Chair of the North East Local
Government Waste and Recovery Forum, opened the event, emphasising the importance of
regional collaboration in addressing waste management challenges.
“Our region has always been at the forefront of innovative waste management solutions,” Mayor Claridge said.
“This forum provides an invaluable opportunity for us to come together, share our successes, and confront our challenges collectively. By working together, we can continue to lead in sustainability and ensure a cleaner, greener future for all.”
The forum featured guest speaker, Chief Executive Officer of Recycling Victoria, Tony Circelli, who commended recycling initiatives being developed in North East Victoria.
“We recognise the leadership that is occurring in North East Victoria,” he said.
“We’ve seen many recycling initiatives led by this region, and we at Recycling Victoria are keen to learn more about the challenges and opportunities being faced. Equally, I am here to share where Recycling Victoria’s focus lies, including our strategic priorities around recycling and service provisions.
“It’s essential that we engage closely with the local region to ensure the continued success of these initiatives,” Mr Circelli said.
The forum aims to develop forward-thinking solutions to the region’s waste management
challenges and encourages the exchange of best practices to achieve sustainable outcomes.
“Long-term strategic planning is critical in addressing the complexities of waste management,” Mayor Claridge added.
“Through collaboration and shared vision, we can develop robust strategies that benefit not only our individual communities but the entire region.”
The forum’s key objectives include advocating for local governments and alpine resorts to
enhance their capacity in delivering effective, efficient, and sustainable waste and resource
recovery planning and management. It also aims to engage with industry, state government, and community stakeholders to improve waste and resource recovery management and to facilitate regional collaboration in these efforts.
