Given that landfills are one of the biggest potential emitters of greenhouse gases, SEMF*’s sustainability expert, Dr Gareth Forde, looks at how local government and landfill operators can reduce their emissions while at the same time generating revenue.

Once upon a time, the IT department was ignored when it came to sustainability. But now, more and more Australian companies are wising up to the benefits of green IT. Andrew Collins explains how these new technologies can cut carbon emissions, power usage and your power bill.

In 2009, the global solar industry remains in a very strong position, despite the faltering global economy. A number of factors are driving strong growth in the global solar industry today: government policy incentives and carbon regulation; volatility in the fossil fuels markets; climate change, energy security issues; and the need for increased energy production to meet growing demand.

In November, the New Zealand Minister of Energy Hon Gerry Brownlee opened what is claimed to be the largest wastewater algae to bio-crude oil demonstration project in the world.

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.

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 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.

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.