Repurpose It recognised for helping thousands embrace the circular economy

Victorian resource recovery company Repurpose It has won the Community Contribution category at the 2026 City of Whittlesea Business Awards, acknowledging the company’s commitment to educating local residents about resource recovery and supporting community initiatives across Melbourne’s north.

The recognition follows years of community engagement through Repurpose It’s Living with Purpose education program, which has reached thousands of local families through early learning centres, schools, libraries, community festivals and guided tours of the company’s Epping resource recovery facility.

Designed to help residents better understand the circular economy and reduce contamination in household recycling streams, the program combines hands-on learning with practical demonstrations that show how everyday waste can be transformed into valuable resources.

Over the past 12 months, Repurpose It has:

Reached more than 2500 families through early learning centre education programs.
Delivered community workshops through Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries, engaging more than 200 participants.
Donated more than 60 cubic metres of soil, compost and mulch to community gardens, schools and local initiatives across the City of Whittlesea.
Hosted more than 100 site tours for schools, community groups, businesses and council representatives.
Partnered with local organisations including the City of Whittlesea, Hume/Whittlesea Local Learning and Employment Network, Whittlesea Tech School and Melbourne Polytechnic to deliver education and employment pathway initiatives

John McCluskey, Chief Commercial Officer of Repurpose It, said education and working alongside local councils are essential to creating lasting environmental change.

“The circular economy only works when everyone understands the role they play in it. Whether it’s putting the right material in your FOGO (food organics garden organics) bin, visiting one of our facilities or seeing compost returned to a community garden, we want people to experience first-hand how resource recovery creates value,” McCluskey said.

“We’re incredibly proud to be recognised alongside so many local businesses making a positive contribution to the City of Whittlesea. Our commitment extends beyond recovering resources – we’re passionate about empowering communities with the knowledge and confidence to make more sustainable choices every day.”

Repurpose It was also recently recognised with the 2026 Excellence in Reuse, Repair or Repurpose Award for its Advanced Wash Plant and Circular Resource Recovery Program, announced at the WasteMINZ Conference and Australasian Land & Groundwater Association Conference in May.

The Living with Purpose program builds on Repurpose It’s broader mission to eliminate waste and pollution through closed-loop resource recovery. By working directly with schools, educators, councils and community groups, the company aims to foster environmental stewardship from an early age while supporting Victoria’s transition to a circular economy.

Feedback from educators has reinforced the program’s impact, with 100 per cent of surveyed teachers indicating they were either “very likely” or “extremely likely” to recommend and rebook a Repurpose It education session.

The City of Whittlesea Business Awards celebrate businesses demonstrating excellence across customer service, innovation, sustainability, diversity and community contribution. Winners were announced at the 2026 Business Awards on 25 June.