A new technology that may hold the key to rapid, large-scale CO₂ emissions reduction from existing coal- and gas-fired power stations and other smoke-stack industries such as smelters and refineries has been unveiled as a curtain-raiser to three major trial installations along the east coast of Australia next year.

New MIT research points the way to a technology that might make it possible to harvest much of the wasted heat produced by everything from computer processor chips to car engines to electric powerplants, and turn it into usable electricity.

Despite contributing approximately 54 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually to the atmosphere, Australia's seven million dwellings currently have no role in the federal government's proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

General waste from Sydney’s newest shopping centre, Top Ryde City, is scheduled to be recovered and re-used to create renewable electricity, thanks to a waste management process implemented by Veolia Environmental Services. It is looking to recover up to 60-65% of all general waste and recyclable materials, once the centre launches in November.

Black & Veatch has announced that Stage 1 of the Sembcorp Changi NEWater Plant (SCNP) in Singapore has started commercial operations. Black & Veatch provided full design engineering for the plant along with construction support and commissioning services.

KSB Germany is set to deliver a huge vertical tubular casing pump for an intake structure in Saudi Arabia.

A carpet tile recycling centre that separates PVC from nylon and reintroduces it as a raw material is now operating at Ontera Modular Carpets’ Northmead plant in NSW. The initiative is expected to save approximately 200 tonnes of waste from landfill each year. As well as the environmental benefits, it’s also providing cost savings for the company in terms of reducing the raw material consumption of PVC for its carpet manufacturing process.

MidCoast Water (MCW) delivers water and sewage services to the Manning and Great Lakes communities of New South Wales, supplying 11 billion L of water per year to 35,000 households spread over 7000 km².

SITA Environmental Solutions’ new fleet of kerbside collection vehicles, powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), has been officially commissioned in South Australia. The fleet of 23 vehicles will service the Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority (NAWMA) council regions of Playford, Salisbury and Gawler with fortnightly recycling and garden and food organics collections, and a weekly general waste collection.

A conveyor belt allows food processors to cut water required for cleaning purposes.

“Sustainability in infrastructure is about both art and science. The art is in having the ability to recognise and enunciate what we value. The science is being able to adapt and innovate in our field of expertise,” said Dr James Mantle, Parsons Brinckerhoff’s (PB) Managing Director.

Clothing wholesaler Gazal Apparel recently consolidated its warehousing operation to its distribution centre in Banksmeadow, NSW. In order to maximise space at the centre, high-density pallet racking and mezzanine flooring were installed. During the upgrade, consulting engineers Heggies highlighted to Gazal’s management the Building Code Association (BCA) Section J requirement for minimum energy efficiency standards.

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has opened its new distribution centre at Eastern Creek, which is partly powered by nearly 700 solar panels on its roof.

Melbourne Water has completed the construction of six mini hydro-electricity plants at its various reservoirs.

Unit blocks, gated communities and other strata-titled properties could collect, manage and recycle water on site to take pressure off mains water, a Griffith University report has found.