The Recycled First Policy is a Victorian Government initiative that requires the use of recycled and reused materials in government procured construction projects.
First launched for major transport infrastructure projects in 2020, it was expanded to health infrastructure with a capital works value of $20 million or more.
The procurement policy has two key requirements for tenders:
- optimise the use of recycled materials
- report on the materials and volumes used.
The policy is supported by a Victorian Government program, ecologiQ, introduced in 2020 to drive and support the implementation of the policy. ecologiQ continue to support the implementation and expansion of the policy working with delivery partners and the supply chain.
Policy benefits
The Recycled First Policy promotes the use of recycled and reused materials, drives innovation, gathers data to assess supply chains, and supports sustainable, circular economy principals for infrastructure projects.
As well as reducing waste to landfill, the expansion of the Recycled First Policy will support the development of new local industries by creating strong end-markets for new products that utilise Victorian recycled materials.
Project quality and cost
The Recycled First Policy should not impact cost or design life of projects. The policy asks contractors how they will optimise use of recycled and reused materials through project plans and reporting, while complying with relevant standards and specifications (i.e. if using a higher percentage recycled content material does not deliver an optimal solution from a design, durability or cost perspective, it does not have to be used).
The policy’s intent is to drive more sustainable practises without compromising quality or cost. ecologiQ provides wrap-around support to government, regulators, projects and industry to meet the requirements of the project while ensuring that high standards are maintained throughout the project.
Benefiting the community and the environment
By encouraging the use of Victorian recycled and reused materials, the policy diverts valuable materials from landfill, conserving resources and lowering the environmental impact of construction projects.
This supports our transition towards a circular economy, contributing to a more sustainable future for Victorian communities. Since the policy’s initial implementation on Big Build transport projects, 5,989,900 tonnes of waste have been diverted from landfill.
Furthermore, the application of the policy has driven new and additional demand for recovered materials in the building and construction sector. This impact will increase with the expansion of the policy to all public infrastructure projects, helping to grow local markets and drive innovation for the use of recycled materials.
Transitioning Victoria to a circular economy
The Recycled First Policy aligns with the government’s broader strategy to transition Victoria to a circular economy. The policy encourages innovation and supports a vibrant and sustainable Victorian market for reused and recycled materials in all infrastructure construction. It directly supports the Victorian Governments circular economy plan, Recycling Victoria, by promoting the use of recycled and reused materials.
The circular economy market report from Recycling Victoria supports the outcomes of the Recycled First policy, concluding that policies of this kind can successfully advance the procurement of recycled materials.
The Recycled First Policy is consistent with the Social Procurement Framework, and can help to fulfill its requirements, specifically, those that relate to the Environmentally Sustainable Outputs.
The Recycled First Policy aligns with the Victorian Health Building Authority’s Guidelines for sustainability in capital works and the Net Zero Building Handbook.
Further information
For further information about the policy, please visit Recycled First Policy - Victoria’s Big Build, or contact the VHBA sustainability team via email.
