The CLAIR Forum is an annual one-day seminar organised and sponsored by the Japan Local Government Centre (CLAIR, Sydney). It was inaugurated in 1995 to provide an opportunity for Australian and New Zealand government officials and academics to exchange knowledge and ideas with other peers and visiting experts from Japan on a topic of mutual interest.
Summary of the 2024/2025 CLAIR Forum
Date: 10 March, 2025 (Monday)
Theme: Waste Reduction and Circular Economy
Venue: UTS Building 1, Level 22, Room 10 (Hybrid)
Address: 15 Broadway, Ultimo, New South Wales
Organiser: CLAIR Sydney
Co-organiser: University of Technology Sydney Institute for Public Policy and Governance (UTS IPPG)
Speakers
- Masahiro Nishimura (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Tokyo Metropolitan Government)
- Gemma Dawson (Manager Waste Strategy, City of Sydney)
- Morihito Munakata (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Kuroishi City Council in Aomori Prefecture)
- Carla Nelmes (Resource Recovery Education Officer, Penrith Council)
Speaker Presentations
Masahiro Nishimura (Tokyo Metropolitan Government)
He provided an overview of key historical events related to the construction of incineration facilities and explained the current state of general and industrial waste processing, as well as recyclable materials. He also introduced collaborations undertaken by the Tokyo government aimed at achieving a circular economy.
Gemma Dawson (City of Sydney)
She highlighted the ambitious strategy of the City of Sydney to achieve zero waste by 2030 and introduced various efforts to reduce waste, maximize recycling, and promote sustainable waste management by the council.
Morihito Munakata (Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture)
He presented on waste management and circular economy initiatives in Kuroishi City, introducing efforts in incineration processing and resource recycling. As an example, he showcased a new apple leather developed with the support of the council using leftover apple pomace from apple juice production. Kuroishi City is famous for its apples.
Carla Nelmes (Penrith City Council)
She addressed the issue of mass clothing consumption caused by the rise of ultra-fast fashion. In 2023, Penrith City Council held its first clothing recycling event. Through the city’s initiatives, the council is raising community awareness about recycling and contributing to the realization of a circular economy.
Q&A Session
Many questions were raised by the participants, leading to a lively discussion. While ways to raise recycling awareness in local communities were discussed by referring to the initiatives of Japanese local governments, the importance of educating children was highlighted in particular.