
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Circular Economy
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AT DEEK ENVIRONMENTAL ENERGY
Recycling is part of a circular economy, but a circular economy is much more than recycling.
The concept of the circular economy encourages a shift away from a take-use-dispose model, also referred to as the /inear economy, towards reuse/repair/refill/repurpose/sharing practises. Ellen McArthur's Foundation (2021) offers an in-depth three pillar definition that aligns with Australias recently expanded National Waste Hierarchy:

1) DESIGNING OUT WASTE AND POLLUTION
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Reminds us that resource scarcity is a global challenge and if materials continue to be sent to landfill or incinerators, economies will face mounting pressures to sustain livelihoods
2) KEEPING PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS IN USE AT THEIR HIGHEST VALUE
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Societies must use the technical cycle (reuse, repair, remanufacture, and recycle) & biological cycle (encouraging biodegradability through composting/anaerobic digestion to boost the nutrient profile of soils and their water as well as carbon holding capacity)
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Recycling is the last resort once upstream interventions have been exhausted for a specific material or product
3) REGENERATE NATURAL SYSTEMS
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Shifting from extraction towards regeneration: returning nutrients back to the soil enhances genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
Expanding the top of the waste hierarchy to incorporate waste invention activities
