Industrial chemist, Thomas Midgley Junior from Ohio, US was responsible for the double-whammy of putting lead into petrol and inventing chlorofluorocarbons, otherwise known as CFCs, and in doing so probably caused more environmental damage than any other single human being.

One of the NSW government's water and energy savings initiatives is for certain categories of high water and energy users (as well as state agencies and local councils) to be required to prepare Savings Action Plans setting out measures to save water and energy. This approach is designed to improve water and energy efficiency in New South Wales and encourage cost-effective investments.

The Steel Can Recycling Council is enjoying not only a commendable steel can recycling rate of 56%, but thanks to a raft of research undertaken during 2004/05, it is much better informed about consumer behaviour and brandowner involvement in recycling education.

Having started in September 2005, almost 1800 Burnside households are participating in a large scale organics waste collection trial, with the aim being to understand the community's use and acceptance of new technology and determine the system's potential to reduce household organic waste going to landfill.

The standard classification test and techniques used to dispose of solid waste are inadequate for Australian conditions, a researcher from the University of New South Wales has claimed.

The ninth annual national Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA) conference conducted in Yeppoon, Queensland recently issued a call to governments at national, state and local levels to act in six key areas in the interests of sustainable economic growth for regional Australia.

International professional services company, GHD, has boosted its operations in South East Asia with the Malaysian consulting engineering company AJP recently joining the group.

Contaminated silt was excavated from Brownhills Creek, dewatered and sent off site for composting.

Research and ratings agency, ReputTex has launched its Social Responsibility Investment (SRI) Index.

There are 15 permanent recycling stations positioned throughout Thredbo, thanks to a partnership between Kosciusko Thredbo and Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA). The aim of the expanded Public Place Recycling program is to establish a world-class recycling program in one of Australia's most popular tourist destinations.

An association dedicated to promoting plastics that are biodegradable, compostable and based on renewable resources is set to represent the industry and provide a streamlined view on issues relating to the benefits of bioplastics in Australia and New Zealand.

A Sydney-based company, Packaged Environmental Solutions (PES), has won a contract to provide eco-friendly and sustainable infrastructure facilities for an island resort in Fiji.

Researchers at Melbourne University have been awarded a $734,000 grant from the Australian Research Council to evaluate and develop a new planted-soil capping technology for landfills known as phytocapping ('phyto' = plant).

A senior technical officer from Gosford City Council in NSW has been awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to study alternative and traditional solid waste management technologies and practices overseas.

The Natural Edge Project has won a Banksia Award for Environmental Leadership, Education and Training for a book entitled The Natural Advantage of Nations and an associated training program for engineers called the Engineering Sustainable Solutions Program.