‘Green steel’ from old rubber tyres produces no waste or toxic fumes
26 June, 2012The seemingly impossible dream of producing steel with the help of recycled materials such as old rubber tyres and plastics is now a reality thanks to close researcher-industry collaboration.
Carbon calculator helps to boost timber pallet recycling and jobs
25 June, 2012On 21 June, Stephen Mitchell, Sustainability Program Manager with the Timber Development Association of NSW, launched the online end-of-life wood pallets and packaging diversion calculator at Direct Pallets and Recycling, a new recycling centre at Ingleburn in Sydney’s south-west.
Feathers one day, fibre the next
25 June, 2012Every year, New Zealand produces about 50,000 tonnes of chicken feathers. In the past the only options for these feathers were to process them into low-grade animal feed, incinerate them or store them in landfills. But the feathers are now being sought as extra support for biodegradable plastics. An example of this concept was announced in March 2011, when American scientists including Dr Yiqi Yang demonstrated that they could make chicken-feather-based thermoplastics which remained stable in water. A little over a year later, at the University of Waikato, a similar incident is occurring.
Westfield almost trebles recycling rate
19 June, 2012Following the successful installation of new recycling bins at Westfield Shopping Centres nationally, the recycling of bottles and cans has almost trebled from 542 to 1492 tonnes a year, equivalent to more than 62 million small plastic PET containers.
Brother joins ANZRP to provide a free national e-waste recycling service
19 June, 2012Brother International Australia, a provider of home and business IT peripherals, has joined the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP), to provide a free e-waste recycling service for Australian consumers.
Regional Western Australia introduces state’s first mobile glass crusher
14 June, 2012RoeROC (Roe Regional Organisation of Councils) has celebrated the launch of the first mobile glass crusher in Western Australia. The Komplet MT5000 mobile glass crusher will increase glass recycling rates in the region by processing glass bottles and jars collected from households and businesses in Corrigin, Kulin, Kondinin and Narembeen Councils. The recovered glass will then be used locally in civil construction applications, diverting around 800 tonnes of glass from landfill annually.
Report on role of local government in waste and recycling released
08 June, 2012The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has released the report ‘Role and performance of local government - waste and recycling related data and information’.
Plantic eco Plastic for high-barrier packaging
31 May, 2012Plantic Technologies and Braskem are bringing their technologies together to create an ultrahigh-barrier packaging which is 90% renewably sourced.
Century Yuasa battery recycling program
28 May, 2012Century Batteries has launched a nationwide recycling service for used lead acid batteries with over 900 locations around Australia where businesses and households can drop off used lead acid batteries free of charge and know that they will be handled safely and recycled into a host of different products.
Thousands of students to participate in largest recycling challenge
28 May, 2012Australia’s largest schools recycling program, MobileMuster’s 2012 Schools Recycling Challenge, has kicked off again for the fifth year running. This free schools program, offered by the telecommunications industry, is designed to educate and engage students in learning about product stewardship and the importance of keeping old mobiles and their accessories out of landfill.
Sulo Australia Waste Watcher and Billi Box office and school recycling containers
22 May, 2012Sulo Australia has launched a practical and versatile range of containers specifically designed for recycling and waste collection in offices and schools. These stylish containers are suitable for the canteen, staffroom, kitchen, workshop, library, photocopying room, common room, conference room and more.
Canon celebrates 10 years of recycling with Cartridges 4 Planet Ark
04 May, 2012Canon is proud to be celebrating 10 years of the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark recycling program. This anniversary is a significant milestone, with more than 18 million cartridges diverted from landfill since 2003, of which 4,267,687 were Canon cartridges.
Rural WA town embraces recycling
25 April, 2012Mundijong, in rural Western Australia, is embracing new away from home recycling. The initiative, which is expected to divert more than 10 t of beverage containers from landfill annually (equivalent to more than 400,000 small plastic drink bottles), is a partnership between the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Packaging Stewardship Forum and the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire.
World’s first ecofriendly, super-elite muscle car to unveil at MotorEx 12
23 April, 2012Car constructor and green homes builder Mick Fabar plans to stun car enthusiasts, politicians and environmentalists alike at Meguiar’s MotorEx in Sydney’s Olympic Park Dome on 21 July, when he unveils ZERO’D, a 600 horsepower, turbocharged, biodiesel V8-powered sedan built with a ‘zero carbon footprint’ approach.
Remanufacturing recovers the goods
23 April, 2012 by Lauren DavisIn a climate where consumers and businesses are feeling pressured to meet new sustainable energy targets, Fuji Xerox Australia is way ahead of the pack. The company’s Eco Manufacturing Centre, recently relocated to Rosehill, proves, through the remanufacturing of parts and an eco-friendly building, that a commitment to the environment can pay off.
