75 minutes + hands-on 7-day audit
This week we’re digging into:
- Biological cycles vs technical cycles
- Where materials come from and where they go
- Material flows in Tasmania
- Food, plastic, textiles, timber – the real story
- Doing YOUR OWN waste audit (eye-opening!)
💡 Words with dotted underlines are defined in the Glossary
Understanding Material Flows
Every product has a journey. From where it comes from to where it ends up. That’s a material flow.
In a linear economy: Extraction → Manufacturing → Transport → Use → Landfill. Dead end.
In a circular economy: Extraction → Manufacturing → Transport → Use → Cycle back (repair, reuse, recycle, regenerate). Keeps going.
Here’s the thing: Most material flows are broken. Materials flow one direction – into landfill. That’s the problem we’re trying to fix.
Two Types of Cycles
Not all materials are the same. Some belong in nature. Some belong in industry. Understanding the difference is key.
🌱 Biological Cycle
Materials from nature that can safely return to nature. Food scraps, paper, cotton, wood, natural rubber. They break down and become soil.
The cycle: Soil → Plant → Product → Use → Compost → Soil (repeat forever)
🔧 Technical Cycle
Materials made by humans that don’t break down naturally. Plastic, glass, metal, synthetic fabrics. They need to be processed and reused in industry.
The cycle: Extract → Manufacture → Use → Recycle → New Product (repeat)
The problem: We’re mixing them up. Biological materials going to landfill (creating methane). Technical materials in nature (polluting forever). Fix the flows, and everything changes.
Material Flows in Tasmania
Let’s look at what’s actually happening with our stuff here in Tasmania:
🥕 Food Waste
Third of our food goes to landfill. Instead, it should compost. Creates methane in landfill. Could become soil. Simple fix, huge impact.
🧴 Plastic
Single-use plastic everywhere. Most doesn’t get recycled properly. Our island is drowning in it. Zero waste shops are showing the way.
👕 Textiles
Fast fashion creates mountains of waste. We need: reduce buying, reuse (charity shops), repair (alterations), textile recycling.
🌳 Timber
Tasmania does this RIGHT. Using every part. Sawdust to fuel. Bark to mulch. Scraps to composite. This is how circular should work.
🏝️ Island Reality: What goes to landfill on an island stays with us. We can’t ship it away. We live with the consequences. This makes circular economy not optional – it’s essential.
Your Waste Audit (7 Days)
This is the most eye-opening exercise. Track everything you throw away for 7 days. You’ll see patterns. You’ll see opportunities.
What you need: Four bins or bags. Labels: Landfill, Recycling, Compost, Other. Seven days. A notebook.
Step 1: Set Up Your Audit
Get 4 containers. Label them clearly. Landfill (stuff going to landfill), Recycling (paper, plastic, metal), Compost (food scraps, garden), Other (reusable, refundable).
Step 2: Collect for 7 Days
Everything you throw away goes into the right bin. Be honest. Include work, home, shopping – all of it. Take notes about what surprises you.
Step 3: Analyze & Learn
After 7 days: What filled up fastest? What surprised you? Which items are repeat offenders? Which could you reduce, reuse, or repair?
This isn’t about judgment. It’s about awareness. What you measure, you can change. Once you see the patterns, you’ll start changing them naturally.
⚡ Your Challenge This Week
Do your 7-day waste audit.
This is hands-on. This is real. You’ll see your material flows clearly. You’ll see what’s broken about the system. And you’ll get ideas for fixing it. This one exercise will change how you think.
💭 Have a Think (After Your Audit)
- What filled your landfill bin fastest?
- What surprised you most?
- Which item would be easiest to eliminate?
- What could you reduce starting tomorrow?
Don’t just think about it. Write it down. These answers are your starting point for action.
Week 3 done! 🎉 Plus an eye-opening audit.Next: Week 4 (Building Local) →
Circular Tasmania 