Emerging thermal technologies and their role in energy production
16 October, 2012 by Dominic Schliebs*Each year, millions of tonnes of waste materials are sent to landfills across Australia. While Australians are very good at recycling, there will always be waste that is not physically able to be recycled, or where it is not financially viable. Much of that waste, however, has a significant energy content, and a large portion of that energy is from renewable sources.
Cameras, action on food waste
28 September, 2012Budding filmmakers have the chance to do something about the global problem of food waste - now totalling 1.2 million tonnes a year in NSW alone, and valued at $2.5 billion.
Automated brick production line provides greater efficiency
26 September, 2012ABB has delivered four IRB 660 palletising robots to the Datong Coal Mine Group, China, to be used in the Tashan coal mine. Supported by brick machinery components from Shandong GONGLI, the ABB robots will play a key role in producing bricks primarily for adobe palletising.
Timaru dairy effluent compliance improves in latest season
26 September, 2012Seventy-seven per cent of dairy farms in the Orari-Opihi-Pareora zone achieved full compliance with dairy shed effluent consent conditions in the latest season.
Toilet Challenge winners
28 August, 2012The California Institute of Techology’s (Caltech’s) solar-powered toilet has won the Reinventing the Toilet Challenge issued by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Caltech engineer Michael Hoffmann and his colleagues were awarded $100,000 for their design, which they demonstrated at the Reinvent the Toilet Fair, a two-day event held 14-15 August in Seattle.
Enviropacific establishes in Western Australia
09 August, 2012Enviropacific is pleased to announce the establishment of its office in Landsdale, Perth.
Publication of National Waste Policy Implementation Report 2011
25 July, 2012The 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.
Improved rates of dairy effluent compliance in 2011-12 season
12 July, 2012Out of 977 dairy farms in Canterbury, New Zealand, 70% achieved full compliance with dairy shed effluent consent conditions in the latest season, up from 65% in the previous season.
Team to manage and monitor NZ earthquake waste established
12 June, 2012Local agencies in New Zealand have combined to make sure the current disposal of earthquake waste is efficiently managed and monitored to ensure protection of the natural environment in both the short and longer term.
Pilot project, with compostable bags for biodegradable waste, successful
11 May, 2012Municipal waste management company Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR) and chemical company BASF have successfully completed a joint pilot project involving the use of organic waste bags made of the biodegradable plastic Ecovio FS. The bio-based bags meet European standard EN 13432 for compostable plastics, and in accordance with the amendment to the German Organic Waste Regulations at the end of 2011, they can be used to collect organic waste.
Liquid Waste Assessment & Waste Classfications in Australia reports available
26 April, 2012The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has released two new waste policy reports: the Liquid Waste Assessment Report and Waste Classifications in Australia.
Publication of National Waste Report 2010 Evaluation Workshops study
13 March, 2012The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has released the ‘National Waste Report 2010 Evaluation Workshops’ study. The ‘National Waste Report 2010’ was launched on 7 May 2010 and is intended to assist government, businesses and the community to make sound policies and decisions, and help individuals to contribute to waste minimisation in meaningful and achievable ways.
Place of sustainable building design
23 November, 2011A collaborative effort between Lend Lease and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) has seen the completion of the $550 million Darling Quarter development in Sydney’s CBD. In the heart of the development is the new Commonwealth Bank flagship campus which has used CSR Gyprock’s EC08 plasterboard.
Rubbish revolution around the corner
19 September, 2011Noisy trucks collecting garbage bins in the early morning could be a thing of the past, thanks to an automated system that silently gathers garbage via an underground pipe network.The automated system is just one part of the City of Sydney’s new draft waste strategy - which details how the city will reduce landfill and greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Griffith Uni becomes UN advisor on waste management
06 June, 2011Griffith University’s appointment as the Australia and New Zealand sub-regional secretariat of a UN global partnership on waste management will mean Queensland local authorities receive improved advice.
