When we row together, the Northern Rivers moves forward. An image comes to mind: rowers in a skiff, gliding across glass-still water. Oars dip in unison, lift, and drive again, the skiff moving forward with quiet, coordinated efficiency.
There is, of course, another image, one where each rower pulls in a timing of their own, effort expended, momentum lost, the boat turning endlessly in place.
The productivity of each rower depends on the coordination of the collective.
The recent release of Southern Cross University’s (SCU) Northern Rivers Circularity Hub Feasibility Study, alongside the timely findings of the Productivity Commission’s Circular Economy report reinforces a consistent message: coordinated approaches are essential.
According to Hans Lovejoy (The Echo, January 20,) the PC’s report ‘lacked any real content or meaningful reform’ but it did speak of priorities and opportunities.
These opportunities are the mechanisms by which agencies move reform from intent to action.
As example, for the Northern Rivers, the reform implication would be that circular economy projects extend beyond individual local councils to cross-council action.
The SCU study found that efforts to implement Australia’s Circular Economy Framework (DCCEEW, 2024) remain fragmented.
There is currently no unified regional proposal for shared infrastructure, logistics, or data systems capable of supporting a regionally anchored circularity hub.
Without a resolute coordinated policy, the benefits of a circular economy; reduced environmental impacts, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced waste, lower operating costs for councils and ratepayers, alongside improved economic productivity and material efficiency, will remain unrealised.
A fragmented effort is a missed opportunity.
Rowers in unison: alignment in action
Recent national progress on solar panel recycling and stewardship demonstrates what alignment can achieve.
The federal government’s $24.7 million investment over three years to deliver a national solar panel recycling pilot followed sustained and coordinated advocacy by dozens of organisations working through the Smart Energy Council to establish a mandatory stewardship scheme.
Product stewardship is where everyone is involved in a product’s life; designers, manufacturers, retailers, consumers and governments, all share responsibility.
From rooftops to recovery: regional circular solar recycling
Byron Shire Council is well placed to take a similar leadership role at the regional scale.
With Byron Shire, having one of the highest rates of rooftop solar uptake in NSW, Byron Council could embed solar panel recovery within its existing waste objectives and work through the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation to coordinate a Northern Rivers Solar Recovery Hub.
Collecting end-of-life panels from the seven local government councils in the Northern Rivers could divert up to 90 per cent of solar panel materials from landfill.
In addition to waste diversion and recovery and giving consumers participation in returning products at the end of life rather than sending to landfill, the economic opportunity is significant.
The generation of new revenue streams from circular products, digital services and carbon markets could create significant regional employment.
Growth in green jobs and social enterprise could position the Northern Rivers as an emerging clean tech recycling hub, demonstrating how regional collaboration can turn national policy into local productivity.
This region demonstrates high social support for circularity. Much of this is a response to climate shocks, increasing the appetite for resilient, regenerative economic models.
This initiative would require the assignment of empowered transition brokers. Transition brokers act as intermediaries for end-of-life materials, identifying and matching viable reuse or recycling pathways with recyclers and community groups. They navigate regulatory and compliance barriers, coordinate logistics, and broker collaboration between parties who don’t usually work together.
Establishing a Northern Rivers Circularity Hub provides a practical and scalable pathway to accelerate circular innovation, strengthen regional resilience, regenerate natural systems, and create durable economic opportunity.
Anne Stuart, PhD is Adjunct Research Fellow, Griffith University.
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