From the CE – Winter 2026
- GISA news
August 20, 2026
2026 has been a productive year under South Australia’s new circular economy strategy. A key early activity was an engaging workshop with strategy action leads and partners, which is informing implementation of the strategy along with GISA’s 2026–27 Business Plan – now available on our website.
Minister for Climate, Environment and Water
We welcomed the Hon Emily Bourke MLC into the Minister for Climate. Environment and Water portfolio. It has been enjoyable to work with Minister Bourke and the Minister’s team on her and the government’s priorities. An area of focus has been the delivery of the government’s election commitment to launch a new statewide education campaign to increase public awareness of the fire risks associated with disposing batteries in bins. We look forward to sharing more on the campaign later this year.
Grant programs
We finalised and awarded rounds of infrastructure, local government and business and market development grant funding in the first half of this year, with over $6.8 million awarded in 2025–26.
GISA is currently undertaking a review of its grant programs in consideration of the 2025–2030 strategy and our 2026–27 Business Plan. Stay tuned later this year for outcomes of this review and an indication of when round of funding may be opened to further support circular economy projects across the state.
Disaster waste management
GISA’s planning and preparedness for disaster waste management responsibilities has continued, building on the experiences of the River Murray Flood Clean-up Program. A major preparedness project was delivered this year, with the establishment of a Disaster Waste Management Services Panel comprising suppliers across various categories that can be engaged to assist in the event of a disaster.
It was pleasing to see the GISA team and Procurement SA colleagues be recognised for this work as finalists at the 2026 Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Excellence in Procurement and Supply Awards.
Product stewardship
GISA has strengthened our focus on product stewardship through a new partnership with the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence. Through this partnership, GISA will work with the Centre to advance practical, nationally consistent product stewardship solutions that will support the state’s transition to a circular economy.
We continue to work with colleagues at the SA EPA in reviewing New South Wales’ Product Lifecycle Responsibility Act 2020 and associated batteries regulations regarding the potential application of similar legislation in SA, which would be subject to government consideration and approvals.
National conference
GISA is proud to have been the principal sponsor of the national Waste Management and Resource Recovery ENVIRO conference in June, where Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, the Hon Emily Bourke MLC provided the keynote speech to resource recovery and circular economy practitioners from across Australia and overseas.
I was pleased to participate in the conference on South Australia’s transition to a circular economy. GISA staff and Board members also had the opportunity to meet and engage with Iain Gulland, the inaugural Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, and to share experiences and learnings.
New Waste and Recycling at Events and Venues Guide
GISA’s work supporting events and venues continues with an updated guide to running zero waste events. SA is the ‘festival state’ and this guide ensures all our iconic events, venues and festivals can reduce their carbon footprint, minimise waste and continue to deliver on what audiences now expect when it comes to smarter waste and resource recovery systems operating at the highest possible standards to reduce waste to landfill.
Social enterprise and circular business
GISA is also continuing to back local circular economy innovators through the Circular Impact Accelerator program, delivered by Collab4Good. The program supports emerging circular economy ventures to test, validate and refine business ideas that tackle some of our most pressing waste and resource recovery challenges.
None of GISA’s work happens in isolation. Our progress depends on strong partnerships with businesses, industry, councils, researchers and communities statewide. Thank you to everyone contributing ideas, expertise and action in our circular economy transition.
Josh Wheeler
Chief Executive
Green Industries SA
