WSP Australia leading the circular economy conversation

Circular Economy is often mistaken as a concept limited to recycling or materials selection but in the context of the built environment, collaboration amongst all stakeholders is essential along with initiative to design out waste across the whole life cycle of a project - from demolition to construction through to operation and end of life.

Valentina Petrone, Waste Management and Circular Economy Future Ready Lead says starting early in a project makes it easier to identify and implement variable solutions.

“Our goal is ultimately to design out waste and improve how we manage resources, how we make and use products and what to do with them afterwards,” Valentina says.

“Last year was a big year with the completion of Circular Design Guidelines for the built environment for the New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE), to educate industry and promote waste reduction and materials circularity in the built environment.”

“We also completed master planning and precincts projects including the Moree Plains Shire Council Special Activation Precinct and building design including an industry-leading function development in Victoria. Our expertise in sustainable materials specifications was showcased in research projects investigating recycled materials in roads and related assets undertaken on behalf of Austroads,” Valentina says.

Kicking off 2022, WSP has been appointed as the Circular Economy and Waste Management consultant for two high-profile master planning projects in Melbourne and Sydney. The aim of both projects is to design innovative urban areas leading the integration of Circular Economy into every aspect of the city's buildings, infrastructure, and operations.

“Applying a holistic approach, we will develop a Circular Economy Strategy that will design out waste, regenerate natural systems, use resources to their highest value and limit waste to landfill by embedding circular economy principles into infrastructure, land use planning, space allocation, precinct and building design,” she says.

“WSP is also delivering a general waste strategy including an options and feasibility analysis for organics and resource recovery from kerbside municipal waste bins on behalf of a major Council in the Sydney metropolitan area. The strategy will facilitate the Council’s transition to a circular economy and will include the assessment of options for recycling and reuse of materials locally.”

Valentina has been running a series of webinars and workshops with architects, developers and project managers to educate the construction industry about the importance of the transition to a circular built environment. Valentina is also the Chairperson of the Property Council of Australia's National Working Group on Circular Economy, helping define the needs of the property industry and establishing common language and approach to circular economy principles as well as a proactive member of the Green Building Council of Australia - Responsible Products Expert Reference Panel.

“Embedding circular economy principles in projects has the potential to save the public and the private sector money, create jobs, reduce pressure on the environment, improve the security of the supply of raw materials, increase competitiveness, stimulate innovation and boost economic growth,” she concluded.

Find out more about how we’re helping organisations to adopt Circular Economy principles or contact Maree Marshall for more information about our services.

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