Sydney office towers fight food waste

The war on waste has come to Sydney's Grosvenor Place. In a bid to combat food waste, the premium complex with sweeping harbour and city views has installed a waste food recycling system using an enrich360 dehydrator.

New material can remove carbon dioxide from industrial waste

In the journal Cell Reports Physical Science the researchers present the structure and function of the material which producers can use to remove carbon dioxide from industrial waste gases, natural gas, or biogas, so that it can be responsibly disposed of. The separation process is both energy efficient and cost-effective.

Start-up with plastic waste recycling solution wins top prize at ideasinc 2020

Magorium - a Singaporean start-up seeking to disrupt the construction industry with an innovative plastic waste recycling solution - emerged as the champion of ideasinc 2020, the nationwide start-up challenge helmed by NTUitive, the innovation and enterprise company of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore).

Circular economy could hold key to global economic recovery

The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is far reaching and ongoing, affecting all nations throughout the world. While there are still many unknowns - How long will the pandemic last? Will and when could we see a vaccine ready for distribution? What will the end economic picture look like?

$18 million hub to drive recycling innovation - Inside Waste

A new Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Research Hub will focus on reducing landfill waste and transforming reclaimed waste into new materials for use in construction and other manufacturing sectors. The research hub is an $18 million collaboration involving leading scientists, researchers and industrial experts from nine Australian universities and 36 state, industry and international partners and will be led by RMIT University.

How technology unlocks new value from the circular economy | Greenbiz

This article is part of our Paradigm Shift series, produced by nonprofit PYXERA Global, on the diverse solutions driving the transition to a circular economy. See the full collection of stories and upcoming webinars with the authors here. Ten years from now there will be no tolerance for waste in the value chain.

How fixing Victoria's $4 billion food problem could create a profitable waste industry - ABC News

For a state so committed to recycling, Victorians throw away around $4 billion worth a year of food, according to Infrastructure Victoria.

A solution to metal shortage: First recycling plant set to open next year

The first metal recycling plant will open in Delfzijl around 2021. Team CORE, a student team of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Netherlands, is contributing to this. The students have developed a furnace in which metal can be recycled, something that is impossible for the time being.

Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Award winners announced

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) formally announced the winners of the 2020 Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Awards 'virtually' with over 380 people registered for the two days. The PIDA Awards are an Australia and New Zealand program that is coordinated by the AIP, in conjunction with Packaging New Zealand.

Can cloud brightening protect the Great Barrier Reef?

Updated April 17, 2020 16:00:37 Scientists say they are planning to scale up an experiment using cloud-brightening technology to slow the impact of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. The technique uses a device like a snow cannon to shoot microscopic saltwater droplets into the air.

Vic 'set for container deposit scheme' - 9News

Victoria is reportedly set to get a container deposit scheme, after being the only state or territory in Australia without such a recycling program or plans to introduce one. The scheme gives people the chance to receive cash when they recycle cans and bottles at drop-off points, typically 10 cents per item.

Why sustainability and marketing are a match made in heaven

Last September, outdoor adventure apparel and equipment retailer, Kathmandu, turned heads by announcing it had become a certified B Corporation. In doing so, the brand told the world it would balance purpose and profit and only make decisions that had a positive impact across its workers, customers, suppliers, community and the environment.

How your clothes become microfibre pollution in the sea

From the polar ice cap to the Mariana Trench 10 kilometres below the waves, synthetic microfibres spat out by household washing machines are polluting oceans everywhere. The world has woken up over the last year to the scourge of single-use plastics, from bottles and straws to ear swabs and throw-away bags, resulting in legislation to restrict or ban their use in dozens of countries.

Airline Wants You To Have Your Coffee And Eat It Too

If you order a long black, latte or cappuccino on an Air New Zealand flight, you'll be able to eat the cup too -- and according to the airline, it will taste like vanilla. 'Twiice' - the local company behind the new cups - is also working on an edible range of crockery it expects to roll out in 2020.

Rio Tinto's 'green' aluminium on track for 2024 after sale to Apple

"They are getting it from both sides - from investors pushing at AGMs for public statements and emissions-reduction targets, and from customers saying we want this stuff," John O'Brien, Deloitte partner of energy transition, said. "There's a reason why BHP, Rio and others are going on this route."

Teenage boy catches more than 100 fish by hand to save them from drought

Updated December 09, 2019 07:39:21 A teenage boy from drought-ravaged Tenterfield is so worried about the health of the fish in his farm's river he has taken matters into his own hands to save them - one at a time.

Have you ever lost a thong at the beach? It could have turned up at Melbourne Zoo

Updated December 06, 2019 17:09:00 Rubber thongs, soft-drink bottles and cigarette butts are some of the worst pollutants we leave in our oceans - which is why they have now been turned into works of art for a new exhibition.

Sydney barber's 'remarkable' use of hair to help save the environment

If you were told this pile of stockings stuffed with human hair was the key to saving oceans during oil spills, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a joke. But thanks to extensive research at the University of Technology Sydney, the newly-discovered aid has revolutionised the clean-up process with one Sydney barber leading the way when it came to finding a use for all of its store's waste.

The recycling program helping migrants cut down contamination in Melbourne's outer west

When Chamila Hettiargchchige moved to Melbourne from rural Sri Lanka 17 years ago, recycling was one of the many things that was new to her. With the help of a council education program, she is now a model of waste reduction.

City of Melbourne leads second "bulk-buy" renewables auction

A group of leading Melbourne universities and businesses has joined forces to procure 113GWh a year of renewable energy generation, marking the second major bulk-buy renewables project to be led by the City of Melbourne.

Indigenous rangers can read their country, and know when it's time to burn

Tribal elder and Yugul Mangi Ranger Winston Thompson knows that when the dragonflies come, so too will the cold. He knows that when the grass turns brown, the dikdik - Leichardt's grasshoppers - are on their way. And in April, after the rains have stopped, burning can begin again.

The people turning farms into bio-reactors in a bid to save the planet

Updated November 09, 2019 16:33:52 It's brunch time in the not-too-distant future. You're in your favourite cafe and you have a craving for pancakes. You know they're delicious because you order them all the time: fluffy and light with a slightly carroty taste.

Australian scientists may have discovered a solution to our plastic problem

Updated November 20, 2019 09:34:59 Australian scientists have developed a technology they say could make all plastic recyclable, as the country grapples with how to deal with its waste crisis. The patented technology was created by Len Humphreys and Sydney University professor Thomas Maschmeyer, who say it could process plastics that cannot currently be recycled.

Billionaires back solar projects

Plans to harvest solar energy in the Australian desert to supply power to Singapore is one step closer to becoming a reality after an "oversubscribed"capital raising attracted the attention of some of Australia's richest investors. Co-founder of software success story Atlassian, Mike Cannon-Brookes, and mining magnate Andrew Forrest have both invested in the Northern Territory project through separate companies.

Forgot your keep cup? This reusable coffee cup scheme could help

As the War on Waste highlighted, coffee cups are a massive contributor to landfill in Australia. In fact, we throw away an estimated 2.7 million disposable cups every single day. While a lot of us are trying to do the right thing by buying reusable cups, we don't always remember to keep them with us.

New Technology Turning Plastic Bottles Into Roads

Ninety percent of the plastic we use ends up in landfills, or in the world's oceans. Now, a Scottish firm has invented a way to recycle that hard-to-use plastic for a role that requires durability: paving roads and highways. The driveway at Christopher Boyle's 17th-century English estate looks like regular asphalt and feels like regular asphalt, but it's not.

Councils make pledge on procuring recyclables - Government News

A coalition of Southern Sydney councils has made a commitment to prioritise recyclables in procurement and to use their collective purchasing power to procure recycled materials from regional areas. A Memorandum of Understanding signed by the eleven member councils of the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSRCO) also pledges to work together in creating a regional procurement framework and guidelines to drive the development of a circular economy.

Plastic straws, cutlery and plates could be banned in Queensland next year

Laws would be introduced to bring the ban into effect next year if a consultation phase is successful. Coffee cups, plastic cups, and heavyweight plastic bags could also be on the chopping block down the track the Palaszczuk Government says.

Woolworths reveals revolutionary change

Woolworths says it will be the first retailer in Australia to introduce a zero-wastage food delivery system that delivers grocery essentials in reusable packaging. The major supermarket is partnering with US recycling business Terracycle to offer Loop to shoppers in Australia from mid-2021.

Responsibility for plastic pollution starts at the top

I f the corporate world wants to play a meaningful role in solving our plastic pollution crisis it should stop blaming consumers and start accepting responsibility for its packaging. Discussion of the environment has become embedded in our culture as public awareness over issues such as climate change and plastic pollution has grown.

ACT gov releases discussion paper on banning certain single-use products

A Phasing Out Single-Use Plastics discussion paper has been released by the ACT government after thousands of people and organisations showed support for removing problematic single-use plastics from the state. In later October, Minister for Recycling and Waste Reduction Chris Steel announced the release of a consultation summary from the discussion paper, which during the consultation period resulted in 3300 interactions, including survey responses, submissions and attendance at information sessions.

Coffee brick homes and what else Australia's circular economy is delivering

It might sound like an adult version of Hansel and Gretel, but houses made out of coffee grinds could become a reality in the future. Researchers from RMIT University in Melbourne have found a way to use coffee grinds in building materials.

Google's ambitious plan for your empty plastic bottles

The innovation is part of the company's effort to support global sustainability, with the tech giant also announcing a $221 million investment in renewable energy products during its major hardware launch in New York earlier this week. "At its core, design is about solving problems for people and the world's challenges," Google's head designer Ivy Ross explained at the event.

Will a 'six bins' system solve the recycling crisis?

Updated October 21, 2019 09:08:09 Victorian households could be separating rubbish into six or more bins - instead of the usual two or three - to help solve the state's recycling crisis. It is one of several proposed ideas to rescue the state's collapsed recycling sector, published in an interim report to the State Government by Infrastructure Victoria.

Hotels for every Hall home as 'Honeys' do their bit for bees

Every household in Hall is about to be offered its own hotel, but the type of guests they're likely to attract may not "bee" who you'd expect. A group calling itself the Hall Honeys is creating a buzz in Canberra's north with a plan to have Hall become what is believed to be Australia's first bee-friendly village.

"Packaging has been tricky": How this 133-year-old dairy company made 17 million cartons more sustainable - SmartCompany

One of Australia's oldest dairy companies has switched its old cartons out for ones with bio-lined packaging in a bid to move away from fossil-fuel derived polyethylene plastics. Western Australian Brownes Dairy will replace the 17.8 million or so milk cartons it sells each year with a relatively new packaging solution that utilises bioplastics derived from sugar cane.

Lego maker tests way to recycle bricks

Lego is looking to keep its plastic bricks out of the rubbish. The Danish toy maker is testing a way for customers to ship their unwanted bricks back and get them into the hands of other kids.

Recycled tyres are providing a new material stream

The Australian manufacturing sector could play a pivotal role in developing new markets and products using end-of-life tyres. Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) wants to work with innovative manufacturers to increase the use of tyre-derived product (TDP) in the domestic economy.

Rise of the circular economy: Ikea announces furniture buy-back scheme

Flat-pack juggernaut Ikea is embracing the circular economy with a new national furniture buy-back scheme. The buy-back service allows customers to return their old Ikea furniture in exchange for a gift voucher, the Swedish behemoth announced on Monday. Returned products will be sold to a new owner and saved from landfill, Ikea said.

How a 'little Aussie digger' brought Lady Elliot Island back from the brink

When miners left Lady Elliot Island, on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, all that was left was a herd of imported goats. But now, thanks to a bit of ingenuity (and a scrap-eating giant called OSCA), the pristine cay is thriving once more.

Uniqlo to launch clothes made from recycled plastic bottles - Inside Retail

Japansese fashion retailer Uniqlo and Toray Industries have created apparel made from recycled down and fabric from polyester fibres made with recycled PET bottles. The technology partnership will lead to clothes made from recycled plastic bottles going on sale next year in Singapore and other Asian markets.

We are drowning in plastic

A news agency has created a scary graphic illustrating how many plastic bottles are sold around the world in a year. Reuters Graphics created the pictures, showing iconic structures like the Eiffel Tower, Christ the Redeemer, and New York's Manhattan Island swamped with plastic bottles, based on data about single-use bottle sales.

Industry leaders unite to discuss onshore markets for recovered materials

Australia's Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, has been in New South Wales meeting with waste industry leaders to work out the earliest possible time frame in banning the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres. On September 26, Ley met with the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) to discuss the Federal government's commitment to the sector.

Community engagement in REDcycle high with SA stores taking top spot

South Australia has taken the top spot in soft plastics recycling by returning the highest amount of soft plastics to Coles stores through the REDcycle program. Figures from Coles' 2019FY Sustainability report, revealed that a store in St Agnes, SA, saw 6,732kgs of soft plastics returned, followed by an SA store in Blackwood which saw 6,718kgs returned.

Andrew Forrest launches US$300m war on plastic to tackle ocean pollution

Mining billionaire Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest is launching a business-driven initiative to try to tackle the hundreds of millions of tonnes of plastic waste produced every year around the globe. Forrest, through his Minderoo Foundation, is committing US$300m to launch the scheme that proposes manufacturers of fossil-fuel based plastic pay a voluntary financial contribution for doing so.

Cairns And Townsville Become 'Plastic Free Places' To Try Save The Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is not only one of the wonders of the natural world, it supports 64,000 jobs in Queensland. But that natural wonder is under serious threat, not just from climate change, but also from plastic pollution.

Lids for limbs: Plan to print prosthetics for kids from recycled plastic

Posted September 10, 2019 15:38:17 What started as a school art project could soon be providing practical help to children in need of prosthetic limbs. A couple of months ago, Nikki Bawden, head teacher of supported learning at Hastings Secondary College, put out the call for bottle lids from the Port Macquarie community and surrounding areas.

Melbourne mum's innovation to avert a coffee pod 'disaster'

Like many Australians, Melbourne mother Kayla Mossuto is a big coffee drinker and relies on her beloved coffee pod machine to kick-start her day. "It was this new whizz-bang product that made it really convenient and quick and easy," Ms Mossuto said recalling her excitement of getting one of the machines that now feature in many Australian homes and offices.

Kathmandu recognised for 30 years of sustainability - Ragtrader

The brand has become the first publicly listed B Corp in New Zealand and is the first outdoor and equipment retailer in both Australia and New Zealand to become part of the B Corp movement.

Tas gov seeks public comment on environmental legislation changes

The Tasmanian government is inviting the public to have their say on the draft Environmental Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2019, which contains a range of minor improvements proposed for Tasmania's environmental legislation.

How to make money from your wastewater

We often hear about innovation in the food industry as it relates to core business. Whether innovation is thought of as new product development, packaging design, or adoption of concepts like automation, the Internet of Things (IoT) or even blockchain, it is easy to focus on the glamorous, as opposed to the pragmatic aspects of future business.

From bins to planes: Shell, British Airways plan waste-to-fuel plant

By Susanna Twidale Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Aeroplanes could be powered by jet fuel made from household rubbish from 2024. Shell, British Airways and fuel technology firm Velocys plan to build Europe's first large-scale plant to produce jet fuel from domestic and commercial waste.

Hub to transform battery waste into valuable materials

A new research hub, led by UNSW professor Veena Sahajwalla, will investigate the recycling of battery and consumer wastes to create useful materials for manufacturers. The Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub for Microrecycling of Battery and Consumer Wastes will take metallic allows, oxides, and carbon and divert these elements from landfill and turn them into new materials.

Plastic made from the perfume of apples

A waste-free method of obtaining organic monomers is coming into being and it does not require high temperatures or expensive catalysts. It is the idea that a team of scientists from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS), led by Professor Juan Colmenares, is working on.

Township rallies around local man recycling thousands of Australia's used bread tags into everyday items

The humble bread tag was once considered waste that could only end up in landfill, but a new partnership between a charity and a small recycling business in regional Australia is changing that.

Soft plastics asphalt plant opens in Lake Macquarie

A $5 million asphalt plant has been opened in Teralba, Lake Macquarie, to allow plastic bags, recycled glass and printer toner to be used in the construction of new roads in the area.

Ban on recyclable waste exports looms as political leaders commit to a phase out

Posted August 09, 2019 13:16:26 Australia will work towards banning recyclable waste being exported overseas, after a meeting of state, territory and federal leaders in Cairns. The ban will not be immediate, with all levels of governments giving their environment ministers the role of figuring out a timeframe for plastics, paper, metals and glass to be taken out of the broader waste system.

Seabin Project - Cleaner Oceans for a Brighter Future

Discover how the Seabin Project is dedicated to cleaning up the oceans, one marina at a time. Learn about the Seabin Project and get involved!

Swap and Go Coffee Cups

Every neighbourhood in the Inner West has a trove of cafes to explore. You'll also see single use coffee cups in use - and littering the streets, parks and gutters, headed for the Cooks River and Harbour. We have a solution to cut this waste.

Introducing RETURNR: Deliveroo's new sustainability initiative - Roo Community - Australia

Last year, Australia produced 4.5 million tonnes of packaging waste but only around half (55%) was recycled. At Deliveroo, we care about environmental sustainability initiatives, and want to help cut down on the amount of food packaging waste being created.

Chemical recycling of plastic waste

Plastics do have proven benefits during their use phase - for example preservation of food loss, lightweight construction of vehicles and building insulation. Plastic waste, however, and in particular plastic waste in the context of marine littering, is perceived as a major global challenge.

Shampoo containers used to make prosthetic arms in Sunshine Coast

A Sunshine Coast-based company is collecting used shampoo containers to make prosthetic arms for children, which has the Queensland government urging more businesses to support the reuse of products. The state government recently released its 30-year Waste Management and Recourse Recovery Strategy plan, which aims to transition to a circular economy for waste.

AFI Branding launches industry-first national sustainability initiative

Australia's largest fabric signage display manufacturer is introducing a ground-breaking sustainability program that will allow customers to return fabric for recycling within Australia. It's the first initiative of its kind in the Australian signage industry and aims to divert 100 tonnes of fabric from landfill in its first year alone.