Community Resource Recovery Standard

This Standard establishes guidance for recognising suitable organic material as a community resource rather than a disposal burden.

Under the National Community Landscape Framework, recoverable organic resources may support soil improvement, mulch production, compost systems, community nurseries, productive landscapes and environmental restoration.

Purpose

The purpose of this Standard is to support a shift from disposal-based thinking toward circular community resource management.

Where practical, suitable organic material should be retained, processed and reused locally to strengthen Community Landscapes and reduce unnecessary removal of valuable natural resources.

Resource Recovery Principles

Local Value

Organic resources generated within a community should, where practical, continue benefiting that community.

Soil First

Recovered material should prioritise soil health, water retention, nutrient cycling and long-term landscape resilience.

Circular Use

Resources should move through local recovery, processing, reuse and regeneration wherever appropriate.

Public Benefit

Recovered resources should support public landscapes, community gardens, orchards, restoration areas and approved community projects.

Recoverable Organic Resources

  • Leaves and small garden prunings.
  • Grass clippings where suitable.
  • Woody material suitable for mulch.
  • Fruit and vegetable scraps suitable for composting.
  • Seeds, cuttings or seedlings suitable for propagation.
  • Other approved organic material assessed as safe and useful.

Community Resource Hierarchy

  • Reduce: prevent unnecessary organic resource loss.
  • Reuse: retain resources within households or local gardens where practical.
  • Recover: collect suitable material for approved community use.
  • Process: convert material into mulch, compost or propagation stock.
  • Apply: return resources to Community Landscapes.
  • Regenerate: improve soil, biodiversity and long-term community resilience.

Recovery Pathways

Community Compost

Suitable organic material may be processed into compost for community gardens, orchards and restoration areas.

Community Mulch

Woody material may be converted into mulch to protect soils, reduce evaporation and support plant establishment.

Seed Recovery

Appropriate seeds may be collected, assessed and used for propagation, education or community nursery programs.

Community Nurseries

Recovered seeds, cuttings and seedlings may support local propagation where biosecurity and suitability requirements are met.

Quality & Safety

Community resource recovery should be supported by practical quality controls.

  • Contaminated material should not be used.
  • Biosecurity risks should be assessed before reuse or propagation.
  • Compost systems should follow locally appropriate health and safety requirements.
  • Mulch should be suitable for the intended landscape use.
  • Seed and plant material should be assessed for suitability before distribution or planting.

Lifecycle Planning

Community Resource Recovery should support the full lifecycle of Community Landscapes:

  • Establishment Phase: soil preparation, mulch supply, compost production and early planting support.
  • Development Phase: ongoing nutrient cycling, soil improvement, propagation and community participation.
  • Legacy Phase: renewal, replanting, landscape adaptation and continued resource circulation.

Community Resource Recovery transforms local organic material into practical public value.

Standard

Suitable organic community resources should, where practical and safe, be recovered, processed and returned to Community Landscapes to strengthen soil health, environmental resilience, public benefit and long-term community sustainability.

Framework Documents

The following documents collectively support the National Community Landscape Framework. While each document may be read independently, together they provide a comprehensive framework for strengthening healthier, greener and more resilient communities.