Key terms and definitions used throughout Circular Tasmania
Throughout the course, you’ll see certain words with dotted underlines. These indicate terms that are explained below. Use this page to look up definitions anytime you need them.
Circular Economy
An economic system where products are designed to be reused, repaired, or returned to nature instead of being thrown away. Instead of the “take-make-waste” linear model, circular economy creates loops where materials cycle continuously.
Linear Economy
An economic system based on “take, make, dispose” – extract resources, manufacture products, use briefly, then throw away. This is the current dominant system and leads to resource depletion and waste accumulation.
Waste
Unwanted or discarded material. In circular economy thinking, “waste” is just a resource in the wrong place – something that could be reused, repaired, recycled, or returned to nature instead of being thrown away.
Landfill
A designated area where garbage is deposited and buried. For us on an island like Tasmania, what goes to landfill stays with us – it doesn’t disappear. This is why reducing landfill waste is particularly important for island communities.
Design Out Waste
One of the 3 core principles of circular economy. Products are created with the intention that they will be reused, repaired, or safely returned to nature at the end of their life. Waste is not the end result – it’s a design failure.
Regenerate Nature
One of the 3 core principles of circular economy. Working with natural systems to restore and improve environmental health rather than depleting it. Materials that come from nature should safely return to soil where they can decompose and become resources again.
Repair Cafes
Regular community events where volunteers help people repair broken items (clothes, electronics, furniture) instead of throwing them away. Repair Cafes keep items out of landfill, build community connection, and make repair accessible to everyone.
Zero Waste Shops
Shops where you bring your own containers and buy items (groceries, cleaning products, etc.) with zero plastic packaging. Zero waste shops dramatically reduce packaging waste and often support local producers.
WRAP Tasmania
Waste & Resource Recovery Tasmania – a government-backed program supporting waste reduction and circular economy education across Tasmania. WRAP provides free resources, community programs, and business support.
Composting
The process of breaking down organic matter (food scraps, garden waste) into nutrient-rich soil through decomposition. Composting returns food waste to the soil cycle instead of sending it to landfill where it creates methane emissions.
Compost
Decomposed organic matter that has broken down into a dark, nutrient-rich material. Compost can be used as soil in gardens and represents the successful return of organic waste to the biological cycle.
Repair
Fix something broken instead of throwing it away and buying new. Repair is one of the 5 R’s and a key strategy in circular economy – it keeps products in use longer and costs less than replacing.
Recycle
Process used materials into new products. Recycling is one of the 5 R’s but is lower priority than reduce, reuse, and repair because it requires energy. Still, recycling is better than landfill.
Supply Chain
The journey a product takes from raw material extraction through production, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Understanding supply chain helps us see where waste happens and where we can make circular choices.
Scaling
Growing an idea from small (one neighborhood) to big (widespread adoption). Scaling happens through stages: pilot, replication, integration, and finally systemic change where something becomes the new normal.
Systemic Change
Real, lasting change that happens at the system level – government policy, business models, and infrastructure all shift together. Systemic change is what makes circular economy the new normal instead of an exception.
The 5 R’s
Five strategies for circular economy, listed in order of priority:
- Reduce: Buy less, use less
- Reuse: Use the same product multiple times
- Repair: Fix what’s broken instead of replacing
- Recycle: Process used materials into new products
- Regenerate: Return materials safely to nature
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