Redrawing the Circular Economy: Organic Waste and Peri-Urban Futures

Mellick Lopes, A; Stephen, H

Redrawing the Circular Economy: Organic Waste and Peri-Urban Futures

Mellick Lopes, A

Stephen, H

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Publisher:: Western Open Books
Publication Type:: Chapter
Citation:: Sustainable Development Without Borders: Western Sydney University to the World, 2025, 1, pp. 39-45
Issue Date:: 2025

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Mellick Lopes, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2157-421X
dc.contributor.author	Stephen, H
dc.contributor.editor	Boddington, E
dc.contributor.editor	Chandran, B
dc.contributor.editor	Dolin, J
dc.contributor.editor	Har, J
dc.contributor.editor	Hayes, K
dc.contributor.editor	Kofod, C
dc.contributor.editor	Salisbury, F
dc.contributor.editor	Walton, L
dc.date.accessioned	2025-04-13T23:08:19Z
dc.date.available	2025-04-13T23:08:19Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.identifier.citation	Sustainable Development Without Borders: Western Sydney University to the World, 2025, 1, pp. 39-45
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/186842
dc.description.abstract	This paper examines the circular economy’s application in addressing sustainability challenges, focusing on organic waste and peri-urban futures. Critically reflecting on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s definition of circularity, we explore how waste minimization and ecosystem regeneration align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like climate action and responsible production. Realising this more ambitious and transformational version of circularity involves us in a process of redrawing the “circle” and in the process reimagining economies. We explored this possibility through a case focused on redirecting organic waste, in particular spent coffee grounds, from urban centres to peri-urban farms. Using co-design and action research methods, we established a reverse logistics supply chain, highlighting collaborative efforts among social enterprises, family farms, and academic institutions like the University of Technology Sydney. Drawing on Diverse Economies scholarship and George DeMartino’s insights, we advocate for involving diverse economic actors and minimising risks through iterative development. This approach underscores the potential of regenerative practices, including hemp cultivation, to mitigate climate impact and foster sustainable economic linkages.
dc.format.extent	10
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Western Open Books
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP210100175
dc.relation.ispartof	Sustainable Development Without Borders: Western Sydney University to the World
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.61588/TESB2263
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Redrawing the Circular Economy: Organic Waste and Peri-Urban Futures
dc.type	Chapter
utslib.citation.edition	1
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/UTS Ageing Research Collaborative (UARC)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/New Faculty
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-04-13T23:08:15Z
pubs.edition	1
pubs.place-of-publication	Kingswood, Australia
pubs.publication-status	Published online
dc.location	Kingswood, Australia

Abstract:

This paper examines the circular economy’s application in addressing sustainability challenges, focusing on organic waste and peri-urban futures. Critically reflecting on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s definition of circularity, we explore how waste minimization and ecosystem regeneration align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like climate action and responsible production. Realising this more ambitious and transformational version of circularity involves us in a process of redrawing the “circle” and in the process reimagining economies. We explored this possibility through a case focused on redirecting organic waste, in particular spent coffee grounds, from urban centres to peri-urban farms. Using co-design and action research methods, we established a reverse logistics supply chain, highlighting collaborative efforts among social enterprises, family farms, and academic institutions like the University of Technology Sydney. Drawing on Diverse Economies scholarship and George DeMartino’s insights, we advocate for involving diverse economic actors and minimising risks through iterative development. This approach underscores the potential of regenerative practices, including hemp cultivation, to mitigate climate impact and foster sustainable economic linkages.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/186842