Industry News
Over 140,000 New Zealanders demand a clean energy future
Earlier this week, groups from around New Zealand converged on parliament to deliver a 140,000-plus signature petition, calling on John Key’s government to abandon its fossil fuels agenda in favour of clean energy. [ + ]
Publication of National Waste Policy Implementation Report 2011
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, on behalf of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Standing Council on Environment and Water, has released the National Waste Policy Implementation Report 2011. [ + ]
McDonald’s rewarded with stars for going green
Kilsyth South McDonald’s is the first Australian restaurant to be recognised with Green Star certification. The establishment has been awarded a 4 Star Green Star - Custom Design rating for developing a new benchmark for the design of environmentally sustainable restaurants. [ + ]
Australian Government and telcos encourage mobile phone recycling
Australia’s telecommunications manufacturers and carriers together with Senator Don Farrell, Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, have launched the industry’s online video encouraging mobile phone recycling. [ + ]
Science bursary assists aspiring students
The Condamine Alliance has established a new bursary with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in 2012 to assist aspiring students to reach their full potential in a career in resource management. [ + ]
Low Carbon milestone: Australia’s major companies avoid 1 million tonnes of carbon pollution annually
Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Mark Dreyfus today applauded members of Low Carbon Australia’s Carbon Neutral Program for avoiding more than 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution and providing a role model for other businesses. [ + ]
How-to guide on lighting bring businesses energy savings
Powering lights is 15-25% of the electricity bill for NSW businesses. That cost can be cut by as much as 82% and a new report from the NSW Government shows businesses how. [ + ]
Impact of the carbon price on local council landfills
A number of local governments from around Australia have asked about how the carbon price will apply to pollution from local landfill sites and the potential impact this might have on rates for local communities. In a number of cases, the potential effect on rates has been overestimated, misrepresented or misreported. [ + ]
Regional community votes 98% in support of solar over gas
Residents of Port Augusta in South Australia’s ‘Iron Triangle’ have voiced strong support for a proposal that would keep hundreds of power jobs in Port Augusta, and protect people’s health and the environment. This week, 3550 residents voted for solar power in the Repower Port Augusta Community Vote. [ + ]
Gillard government announces improvements to rural R&D
The Gillard government today announced significant improvements to rural research, development and extension which will see greater collaboration on research, efforts to increase investment and a drive to improve the adoption of innovation across the sector. [ + ]
National events to highlight carbon capture and storage progress
With a range of events being planned around Australia, the 2012 National Carbon Capture and Storage Week will highlight major developments supporting the commercialisation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. [ + ]
Bond University researcher joins Queensland’s new infrastructure think tank
Professor Michael Regan from Bond University’s Institute of Sustainable Development and Architecture has been appointed to the newly formed Infrastructure Queensland committee. [ + ]
Thiess Services launches into resources
Thiess Services has built a portfolio in fields such as contaminated site remediation, waste management, water management, energy distribution and facilities operations and maintenance. Now the company has been brought into alignment with the needs of the mining industry, so General Manager of Remediation and Infrastructure Doug Moss is looking to take advantage of this. [ + ]
Plastic recycling volume doubles for NZ program
The Agrecovery Rural Recycling program has experienced unprecedented growth over the last two years, with collection of waste plastics reaching record levels. Container plastic collected and sent for recycling by Agrecovery in the 12 months to June 2012 was 157,390 kg. [ + ]
Property trusts capitalise on new finance for building retrofits
A change in Victorian legislation will allow property trusts to gain access to finance for environmental upgrades, significantly increasing opportunities to retrofit buildings in Melbourne’s city centre. [ + ]