The online petition calls on Maitland Council to "utilise 100 per cent recycled photocopy paper in support of the recycling circular economy and the creation of local jobs".

Recycling champion and Maitland Greens member Michael Jacobs said the petition was a small part in a larger campaign.

"I've been engaging Maitland Council for a while around recycling .. or more around the reuse of recycling," he said.

"We've been engaging with them about simple things where they can reuse recycling such as plastics in the roads or crushed glass in sand for pavements.

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"The easiest one to change is replacing the paper they are using with recycled paper. It's a really simple change. It's something anyone can do.

"It's about creating reuse options because they create local jobs as well. Over the next year, we will be focusing on the Hunter councils on local reuse creates local jobs."

Over the coming months the group will be engaging with Maitland residents via petitions, letter drops, discussions and rallys.

"The petition is just a little step in a longer campaign which we are looking at working with the councils. Over the next three to four years,they are banning the export of recycled products," Mr Jacobs added.

"We need to create the facilities and industries to handle our own rubbish rather than exporting it to someone else.

"Recycling isn't a waste, it's a resource. If you think of it as a resource then you can create industry out of it."

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