Sarah Furnell is a Circular Economy Officer at Brimbank City Council. She led the delivery of Brimbank’s Soft Plastics Initiative – Circular Contract in partnership with Close the Loop, a Melbourne Metro first that ensures collected soft plastics are processed into an asphalt additive and reused in Brimbank’s local roads. This initiative demonstrates how councils can create local circular solutions by linking community recycling directly to infrastructure and procurement.
Beyond soft plastics, Sarah works across food organics and garden organics (FOGO), waste education, and behaviour-change programs. She sees waste as an opportunity and a resource, with a strong belief that communities can benefit when materials are kept in circulation. A self-confessed composting fanatic, Sarah collaborates with residents, schools, and businesses to embed circular thinking into everyday life and strengthen Brimbank’s leadership in sustainability.