We think the Northern Beaches is one of the best places in Sydney to call home!

And as part of our recently adopted Waste and Circular Economy Strategy, we’re on a mission to make our local environment even cleaner and greener. It’s the reason why we’ve adopted a future-focused ‘rethink, reduce and reuse’ mindset in everything we do.

But we can’t do it alone! 

Across our area many businesses, organisations and community groups are running innovative circular economy initiatives, and we’re excited to share some of their stories to inspire more of you to go the extra mile when it comes to reducing waste.

By working together to reduce waste, increase recycling and drive community solutions, we all can help create a more sustainable future.

Takeaway doesn’t have to come with a side of landfill.
Launched in Freshwater in 2021, the team from Devolver set out to tackle single use takeaway food packaging. Their innovative borrow and return system provides cafes and restaurants with reusable containers and cups for takeaway. Used by local cafes, Devolver is supporting locals with takeaway options that don’t cost the planet.

Recycled stitching to support communities in need.
Boomerang Bags Northern Beaches started in 2016 to repurpose unwanted fabric destined for landfill. In the first 3 years, they distributed 10,000 reusable bags to the Manly community. Today its Seaforth, Narrabeen, Belrose, Kimbriki and Manly chapters repurpose everything. From excess curtain and fabric stock to event banners to support communities in need and divert unwanted fabric from landfill.

Championing circular economy, community development and those in need.
Bikes for Life was established locally over 15 years ago to reduce the volume of bicycles headed for landfill and support communities with free transport. Volunteers are upskilled to recycle and restore broken and damaged bikes. To date they’ve refurbished more than 2,800 bikes and gifted them to those in need throughout Australia and overseas. 

Circular Economy with community development.
One Meal Northern Beaches support homeless and vulnerable members in our local community with fresh food, cooked meals and connection. From their Brookvale base they also divert food waste from landfill through their scaled-up composting program. Several local schools contribute and also grow herbs and veggies for their kitchen. Each month 2 tonnes of food waste is processed by local school students who use it to grow veggies and herbs for One Meal’s kitchens. 

The Northern Beaches circular economy HQ.
Just over a quarter of a million tonnes of waste passes through the Kimbriki Resource and Recovery Centre at Terrey Hills each year. Some 80% of this volume delivered by residents and local businesses is reused, repaired and recycled on site or externally as raw materials for remanufacture. Waste education and awareness programs are delivered at the Eco House & Garden and the Hub and quality pre-loved items go on sale at the Buy Back Centre. Kimbriki strives to continually recover more materials from its incoming waste streams.

Textile resources valued to the very last fibre.
As a local manufacturer, Eco Interiors has a business model that centres around minimal impact to the environment; raw materials are sourced from 'waste' and come with a 5-year manufacturing guarantee. Customers are offered a take-back scheme for all products. Returned products in good condition are sold via their second-hand market, repurposed, recycled (as fill for other products) or sent for recycling. 

Preserving a longstanding art form through repurpose and repair.
Since launching in 2023, The Metal Space set out to support silversmiths with a circular economy mindset. From their Brookvale workshop their creatives prioritise the repair, reuse, and repurposing of metal objects and jewellery, contributing to the reduction of waste and the conservation of resources. 

Thank you to all these organisations and the great work they do in creating a circular economy across the Beaches.

If you'd like help from us to share the great work your business or organisation is doing to reduce waste and encourage repair and reuse, we welcome you to submit your Local Circular Economy Initiatives Expression of Interest.