For Jonathan Trevor, sustainability officer at Cleanaway Queensland, a career in waste and resource recovery was not part of a lifelong plan. Instead, it emerged from a growing interest in the environment, a desire to make a meaningful difference, and a belief that practical solutions can improve communities both in Australia and overseas.
Trevor’s pathway into the industry began with a childhood experience that shaped his perspective on the environment, and the role people play in protecting it.
“As a kid, I didn’t really fully know what I wanted to do,” he said. “My parents took me around Australia in 2014 for six months, so that’s kind of gave me a love for the environment. From that, I studied exercise science, because I also enjoyed sport. I didn’t particularly enjoy the studies, so moved to environmental management at university, and did an honours degree at the University of Queensland.
From there, Trevor looked at anything in the environmental field where he might be able to make a difference in terms of interacting with communities. Something he wanted to do in the future was potentially work overseas with countries that are more disadvantaged than us. He felt that some countries didn’t deal with their waste streams as well as Australia did, so that encouraged him to choose waste as something where he could can make a tangible impact.
After graduating from university, Trevor joined Cleanaway in a role focused on community education and engagement designed to improve resource recovery outcomes and reduce the amount of material sent to landfill.
Now two years into his career, he has gained experience working directly with residents, schools and community groups across Southeast Queensland.
Working with the community
One of the aspects Trevor enjoys most about the role is the variety it offers. No two days are the same, with responsibilities ranging from bin inspections and school presentations to multilingual education sessions and attendance at community events.
“I like being out in the community at events on the weekend sharing my passion for helping the environment and making what might seem a complicated system for some, feel less confusing and achievable in a meaningful way,” he said. “I was recently at the Eco Action Festival, or LEAF and really enjoyed having conversations with a range of different people and providing handy sustainable tips in an engaging and interactive way.”
The community-facing nature of the role also brings challenges. Trevor said some residents remain disengaged despite efforts to provide support and information but on the other hand, it’s rewarding when you see some of these residents come around and begin to make a more positive contribution to sustainable waste management.”
Although he enjoys being active and working outdoors, Trevor said the most rewarding part of his role is engaging with students.
“I find it rewarding going into schools and presenting there,” he said. “You can see the enthusiasm students have for the environment and they are eager to play their part in helping make a sustainable future possible”
Trevor believes education at an early age plays a huge role in building long-term recycling and resource recovery habits.
He said children are not only more engaged, they listen more intently. He said, because children are more impressionable at a young age, it’s important to talk to them about recycling early so it becomes second nature.
Looking ahead
Trevor values the experience he has gained through community engagement and looks forward to new opportunities that might come his way as he continues to grow his career in the environmental and waste management sector.
“I would love to eventually transition into the space of landfill management – potentially landfill monitoring, or getting involved with some of the emerging waste management technologies popping up in Australia,” he said. “It would be great to then go over to countries that could benefit from and utilise that technology, helping roll out projects that contribute to improving their sustainability.”
Looking at the broader industry, Trevor believes Australia is making progress, but there is still room for improvement. In particular, he sees policy consistency as a key issue affecting future investment and development.
He sees the lack of uniform standards across councils, as well as federal and state governments as an issue. He realises that there are a lot of different waste streams, to deal with, but if there was a correct policy setting from the federal level it would be good for the industry and help reduce resident’s confusion to what goes in what bin as this often varies LGA to LGA, and state to state.
Trevor also believes responsibility for better outcomes extends beyond governments and industry. He believes we all need to play a part, from residents to businesses, to brand, manufacturers and local, state and federal governments. Collective action is key.
When asked what changes he would prioritise if given the opportunity, Trevor points to greater producer responsibility and national consistency around recycling systems.
“I think what the EU is doing with the responsibility on the producers and the end-of-life consumers is a good start,” he said. “For example, making the producers of soft plastics responsible for the end-of-life use of those plastics would be one thing.
“With a reliable end market for recycled commodities, it would provide the government and industry with the confidence to invest more heavily in infrastructure and other resources that help progress our transition to a circular economy.
“From an education standpoint, reducing confusion on what items can and can’t go in kerbside bins through the standardisation of what items are accepted in recycling and FOGO bins nationally would be ideal but until then, making waste education accessible to everyone and a standard practice across all learning environments.”
Reflecting on his experience at Cleanaway, Trevor said the company has provided valuable support as he began his career in the industry.
“My experience with Cleanaway has been really positive,” he said. “They’ve been supportive of me and gave me a chance when I was someone fresh out of uni. I had excellent mentors that helped equip me with the knowledge I have today and I feel like I have been able to make a positive impact on our local community.”