Online Microcredential in Nature & Environment

Planning for Sustainability: Recycling and Waste in a Circular Economy

Become an agent of change with the advanced skills to turn waste challenges into sustainable opportunities.

Created by

Deakin UniversityDeakin University

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Drive the circular economy forward with recycling and waste management solutions

As corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts boom, sustainability jobs are on the rise. Step into this fast-growing field with practical green skills that reaffirm your expertise.

On this online microcredential from Deakin University, you’ll learn the ins and outs of recycling and waste management through a circular economy lens, exploring key concepts, engaging with industry experts, and developing actionable strategies that drive sustainable innovation.

Gain insight into critical waste issues and stakeholder engagement

Begin this microcredential by exploring bigger-picture concepts related to waste and recycling. As you examine these areas, you’ll delve into specific waste issues and understand the human dimension, policies, and regulations at play.

Also a focus, you’ll learn how to engage and communicate with key stakeholders effectively, fostering collaboration to drive impactful change in waste management practices.

Champion environmental management with sustainable solutions

You’ll then delve into developing effective recycling and waste management solutions that reduce environmental impact, considering systems, structures, resource availability, and green technologies. You’ll complete this microcredential feeling empowered to identify solutions and implement strategies that benefit your organisation, community, and career.

You’ll also examine examples of robust action plans, enabling you to create and implement data-driven waste management strategies that contribute to sustainable development initiatives.

Apply strategic planning insights to waste management planning

You’ll wrap up your learning by focusing on the implementation and monitoring of waste management strategies. To help you succeed, you’ll develop a comprehensive evaluation plan that ensures ongoing stakeholder engagement and effective reporting on your recycling and waste initiatives.

In learning this, you’ll be well-equipped to drive sustainable practices that align with organisational goals.

Study flexibly online with the experts at Deakin University

Guided by the experts at Deakin University, you’ll develop an advanced understanding of developing and implementing sustainable recycling and waste programmes, enabling you to tackle real-world challenges and drive impactful change.

The flexible format of this microcredential offers the ultimate online learning experience, allowing you to balance your studies with your professional commitments while gaining valuable insights from industry leaders.

How will this microcredential help your career?

Climate change is driving a significant shift towards sustainability, and, because of it, the demand for green-focused jobs is becoming much more widespread. This online microcredential sets you up to excel in this evolving job market by equipping you with essential skills in recycling and waste management.

You’ll learn to identify waste streams and engage with stakeholders while developing innovative solutions and achievable action plans. With these insights and strategies, you’ll enhance your career prospects and become a valuable asset in the evolving sustainability sector.

How will you be assessed?

You’ll create a comprehensive recycling and waste management plan tailored to an area of interest. You’ll be required to provide contextual input by identifying relevant stakeholders and factors affecting existing waste management practices, analysing various data sources to determine potential opportunities for improvement, and justifying your strategic decisions.

Additionally, you’ll develop a research proposal throughout the programme, where you’ll manage a portfolio of potential research topics, approaches, and questions.

Will I receive university credits?

Upon successful completion of the written assessment, you’ll be awarded 0.5 Postgraduate Level Credits from Deakin University, and a Credly digital badge. You can build up your credits by completing more microcredentials offered by Deakin University.

What skills will you learn?

  • Circular economy
  • Environmental management
  • Waste management
  • Strategic planning
  • Project management
  • Sustainable development
  • Internal reporting
  • Innovation
  • Sustainability

Are you eligible for this microcredential?

There are no entry requirements to join this course, but a background in environmental science or sustainability, and having strong English language skills will be useful.

Is this microcredential right for you?

As climate change drives an urgency for sustainable solutions in nearly all aspects of our lives, this online microcredential will benefit everyone. If you’re looking to upskill in recycling and waste management within the circular economy or gain practical sustainable solutions to apply to your career, this course is perfect for you.

What’s more, you can also stack this online microcredential with other courses from Deakin University and build towards a full postgraduate degree.

Syllabus

What happens before, during, and after your microcredential

  • Before learning

    You’ll get early access to the welcome area, where you can introduce yourself and explore the microcredential structure and course materials.

  • Course

    From 23 Jun 2025

    Planning for Sustainability: Recycling and Waste in a Circular Economy

    Become an agent of change with advanced sustainability and waste management skills. Learn online and earn credit towards a degree.

    0 weeks

    10 hours per week

  • After learning

    You’ll earn a Credly badge worth 0.5 credit points at the postgraduate level. With these points, you can build towards a degree at Deakin University. Additionally, you’ll receive a digital certificate of completion to showcase your learning to recruiters.

What you will receive

0.5 Deakin Credits at Postgraduate level from AQF

Receive a Credly badge verifying your learning and assessment. This badge is worth 0.5 postgraduate credit points and can be applied towards a Deakin University degree.

Find out how credits work and where you can use them in our FAQs.

A Digital Badge from Deakin University and Credly

image ⬅️ Click this image to see more information about the digital badge you will receive upon successful completion, validated by Credly.



Learn more about this organisation

Additional benefits

Complete this online microcredential within six weeks or take extra time and use one of the four regular assessment windows to complete within 20–26 weeks of your enrolment.

What is a microcredential?

Microcredentials are designed to upskill you for work in rapidly-growing industries, without the time and cost commitment of a full degree. Your microcredential can stand alone as an independent credential, and some also offer academic credit to use towards a degree.

Learn online with expert instructors

Complete online courses led by experts over multiple weeks with a dedicated group of professionals.

Complete project-based assessments

Test your understanding with online tutor-marked assessments and exercises.

Earn a professional credential

Finish your learning and pass your assessments to gain an accredited credential.

Advance further in your career

Use your microcredential as evidence of your specialised skills and progress further in your industry.

Deakin University

Career-focused learning by Deakin University

Deakin University is one of Australia’s largest universities with more than 61,000 students and over 15,000 online.

  • Established

    1974
  • Location

    Melbourne, Australia
  • World ranking

    Top 280Source: QS World University Rankings 2021

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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When would you like to start?

We aim to run our microcredentials every few months. Join on the date that suits you or register to hear about future runs and updates.

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FAQ

We can accept payments made by card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) or PayPal via our online system.

You will have 14 days from the day the course starts to apply for a refund. If this Microcredential has any non-refundable costs they will be stated in the ‘Overview’ section above. You can find more information in our cancellation and refund policy.

Microcredentials are designed to fit around your life and timezone.

There may be live events as part of your studies, but these will be recorded and can be watched afterwards if you aren’t online for the live broadcast.

No, microcredentials are designed to be taken anywhere in the world. You won’t need the right to study in the country where the university offering the microcredential is based.

Want to know more? Read the microcredential FAQs, or contact us.