Articles
The ARRT of recycling
Despite rising global concern on climate change and increasing scarcity of natural resources, Australia is sending over 21 million tonnes of waste to landfill every year. Technologies exist today that enable councils and businesses to deliver on their sustainability goals and greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint reductions. SITA Environmental Solutions (SITA) advanced resource recovery technology (ARRT) facilities offer a good alternative to process and re-use this ‘wasted’ landfilled feedstock.
[ + ]Efficient materials management - the next big thing
ACOR (previously the Australian Council of Recyclers) has reinvented itself to take on the umbrella industry role of leading the push for governments to recognise the economic and environmental benefits of three complementary business systems: product stewardship, resource recovery and recycling. The organisation’s revised constitution and new leadership is designed to provide all businesses in these three sectors with a stronger voice nationally.
[ + ]The biophilic city
With increased threats from climate change, pollution and diminishing natural resources and biodiversity, it’s important to reconsider the way we live and the way we utilise our environments. Parson Brinckerhoff’s Director of Sustainability Darren Bilsborough* proposes the idea of a ‘biophilic city’ as one potential solution to these increasing pressures. He has developed a paper on an economic rationale supporting Biophilic Cities which is summarised in this article.
[ + ]Tri-generation plant at RSL
Rooty Hill RSL has completed installation of a tri-generation power plant which is designed to future-proof its growing power requirements in a green and efficient way. At a total cost of more than $4.5 million, it is expected Rooty Hill RSL will lower its carbon emissions by 50% as a result of the installation.
[ + ]Business calls for urgent changes to waste recovery
Changes to waste recovery, because of co-mingling of recycled materials, which results in as little as 30% of collected glass being recycled into new bottles and jars and threatens some export-related jobs in Auckland, were called for at a seminar hosted by the Glass Packaging Forum as part of the 22nd WasteMINZ Conference.
[ + ]Sewer mining saving drinking water use
The NSW Government has awarded a water recycling licence to Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies to build a recycled water plant at the $500 million Darling Quarter development. The mixed-use development, located in Darling Harbour, Sydney, is one of the first to be granted a water recycling licence as part of the 2010 NSW Metropolitan Water Plan.
[ + ]Boosting energy and resource efficiency in the manufacture of PET bottles
How can the efficiency of energy and resources be increased, in the long term, in the manufacture of PET bottles? As part of a project sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, and run by the Research Center of Karlsruhe*, experts have been investigating just this in the stretch blow-mould process chain. The project started in 2009 and should be completed by 2011. The first results have now been published.
[ + ]Chemical building block from waste gases
LanzaTech has produced 2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BD), a key building block used to make polymers, plastics and hydrocarbon fuels, using its gas fermentation technology.
[ + ]Environmental win for Alcoa
Reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and energy use, thanks to innovative technology, have secured Alcoa a win at the 2010 WA Engineering Excellence Awards.
[ + ]More beer, less waste
Pacific Beverages’ Bluetongue Brewery in New South Wales features a water recovery plant, which targets best-practice, water re-use standards. The water recovery plant also provides renewable energy for the brewery.
[ + ]Environmental training in Abu Dhabi
An Australian environmental management consultancy is playing an integral role in a major overhaul of the Abu Dhabi tourism, construction and transport industries.
[ + ]Broadcast site embraces renewables
Critical communications specialist Broadcast Australia has commissioned its first broadcast transmission site to be majority powered by renewable energy. The Mount Owen site near Queenstown in Tasmania has been recently upgraded to use site-generated wind and solar power, which are together expected to reliably meet the site’s 8 kW power needs for 80 to 90% of the time.
[ + ]Tablet maker keeps the dust out
An Australia-based contract manufacturer of generic prescription pharmaceuticals has contracted Donaldson Australasia to upgrade its waste disposal system.
[ + ]Flowmeters recover lost revenues
ABB flowmeters have enabled a US university to cut steam losses in its generation plant and recover more than $1.25 million a year in lost revenues. The solution has also created a campus-wide awareness of the need for energy efficiency.
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