Industry News
Kensington engineering student a national winner
Liyao Zhou, a first-year engineering student from Kensington in Sydney, has won a national design competition.
[ + ]LoveNZ recycling bins installed
The first ‘LoveNZ’ recycling bins have been installed in Kaikoura and unveiled by Environment Minister Trevor Mallard.
[ + ]Government grants for two renewable energy projects
The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, has announced more than $8 million in grants for two renewable energy projects from the Australian government’s Renewable Energy Development Initiative.
[ + ]Trust lifts the stakes in fight against butts
The Butt Littering Trust has consolidated its role as Australia’s leading protagonist in the fight against butt littering with the appointment of its first full-time executive director.
[ + ]Mindarie community benefits from a new vision
BioVision 2020 has signed an agreement with Mindarie Regional Council (MRC) to build an $80 million waste processing plant in Perth’s northern suburbs.
[ + ]Record crowds for environmental gathering
Australian environment and sustainability conference Enviro 08 will take place in Melbourne 5–7 May, with a conference theme of ‘Facing the Challenge’. It is expected to attract over 6000 delegates and visitors to the conference and exhibition.
[ + ]Record plastics recycling could fill the MCG five times
An independent national survey has found the recycling rate for plastics packaging has equalled last year's record result and continues to meet environmental improvement commitments.
[ + ]US ethanol mandate is a massive step
In a ground-breaking move that will reverberate to Australia, President Bush has signed the energy bill which requires a five-fold increase in the use of transport fuels — most of which will be ethanol.
[ + ]Time running out for nominations
Nominations for the National and International Thiess Riverprizes, worth a total of $300,000, close March 30.
[ + ]Call for renewable energy projects
Environment Minister Trevor Mallard intends to call in two renewable energy development proposals under the Resource Management Act.
[ + ]Bottle makes dirty water drinkable
Michael Pritchard has introduced the Lifesaver container, a plastic bottle that claims to instantly clean the dirtiest water, making it safe to drink.
[ + ]City dwellers less serious about water
Across Australia, the number of people in cities who think the water situation is ‘very serious’ has dropped by more than 7% in the last year, going from 44.1% in 2006 to 36.7% in 2007.
[ + ]Energy partnership sparks students’ interest
In an Australia-wide push to address the demand for a larger power engineering skill base, Curtin University of Technology will receive over $150,000 from the Australian Power Institute (API) in 2007-2008 to fund projects and bursaries for top engineering students.
[ + ]Public Facilities Program now open
Funding is now available for water- and energy-savings projects in public or education facilities through the NSW government’s Climate Change Fund.
[ + ]Move to phase out plastic bags confirmed
Peter Garrett has confirmed that he will move to phase out plastic check-out bags “by the end of the year” — if necessary with a legislative ban. The move follows an announcement by the Chinese government that it will ban the giving away of free plastic bags by June.
[ + ]