War on waste crusader Craig Reucassel has urged Hunter residents to embrace the circular economy as he prepares to take the stage at Australia's biggest sustainability-themed festival, on this Saturday in Lake Mac.
Reucassel will return to the city on Saturday for the Living Smart Festival, held in Speers Point Park and now in its 12th year.
"I love talking to a community like Lake Macquarie who are already a long way into their war on waste. You get to look at the next big challenges that we can take on - whether they be reducing more difficult waste, greenhouse emissions or our impact on the environment," he said.
"We can't continue using things once or twice and throwing them in landfill. It's a huge burden on the planet. We need to avoid waste and look to using our resources."
Reucassel will appear at 10am on the festival's main stage, talking about the war on waste before taking questions from the crowd.
He'll also host a "Waste not, want not" panel discussion in a 'Tent of Big Ideas' from 11.15am.
Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism Jacqui Hemsley said the festival featured a packed lineup of sustainability workshops, demonstrations, speakers, market stalls, entertainment and a perennially popular native plant giveaway.
"We've been encouraging people to learn about and embrace everyday sustainability practices since the very first Living Smart Festival, and it's wonderful to see how this event has helped people think globally and act locally," she said.
Saturday's festival kicks off at 9am and continues to 2pm.
It is proudly supported by the NSW Government, Allambi Care, Greater Bank, Hunter Resource Recovery and the University of Newcastle.
Speers Point Park will also host Feast for the Senses from 5.30pm, an open-air evening of dining and live music, featuring food prepared by food rescue organisation Oz Harvest and sponsored by Greater Bank.
Ms Hemsley said last-minute tickets to Feast were still available, with the $70 price including a drink on arrival, entertainment and a two-course meal.
Sunday will see the second instalment of the Living Together Festival, a celebration of the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that make Australia what it is today.
"Living Together Festival is a celebration of our city's cultural diversity, as well as a chance for our community to connect with and learn more about the different cultures that make up Lake Mac," Ms Hemsley said.
It is supported by the NSW Government.
Free electric shuttle buses will run on Saturday and Sunday from Toronto, Croudace Bay and Glendale to help people get to the events.
Go to livingsmartfestival.com.au
