Last week, the Senate unanimously passed the Product Stewardship Bill, a major milestone in the delivery of Australia’s long-term National Waste Policy. With over 90% of a mobile phone and its accessories recyclable, the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association is committed to the development of a long-term, integrated, e-waste collection service that is funded by industry, accepts all types of electronic waste and is free to all Australians. The efforts of over 300 local councils across Australia in tackling mobile phone e-waste were recognised at the MobileMuster Local Government Awards during the National General Assembly for Local Government in Canberra, on 21 June 2011.

Australia currently has no organised, long-term way of monitoring levels of commercial fungicides in soil and waterways, leading environmental scientists have cautioned.

Emissions from electricity production are one of the major contributors for global warming, being responsible for up to 40% of the carbon footprint in some developed countries. The demand for electrical energy will continue to grow and the question really becomes, what do we need to do to meet this demand without increasing the carbon footprint?

With energy one of the most critical challenges facing the international community, the publication on 15 June of the ISO International Standard ISO 50001 on energy management systems is an eagerly awaited event because it is estimated the standard could have a positive impact on some 60% of the world’s energy use.

The $82 million Bootawa Water Treatment Plant in New South Wales treats all water distributed in the mainly residential region from Coopernook in the north to Tarbuck Bay (south of Forster). MidCoast Water built and opened the plant in 2010 to provide for the future sustainable water supply of the area.

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Macquarie Group’s iconic headquarters in Sydney’s Darling Harbour has set high standards in environmental sustainability and workplace functionality, achieving a coveted 6 Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. Owned and managed by Brookfield Multiplex, the $316 million complex incorporates a range of technologies such as harbour water cooling, passive chilled beam air conditioning and an innovative lighting control system.

Fiber Fresh Feeds has taken a further step towards becoming 100% clean and green by becoming the first stock feed company able to recycle its bags using the Agrecovery Wrap recycling program.

Two Watson-Marlow SPX50 hose pumps have been installed at Dwr Cymru - Welsh Water’s Lavister Waste Water Treatment Works in North Wales in the UK, significantly improving system performance at the site. The pumps were installed during October 2006 and have delivered trouble-free operation since installation.

Ilum-a-Lite has announced that a number of its energy-saving products have been approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART) for inclusion in the state government’s Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) - meaning projects undertaken by Ilum-a-Lite can deliver substantial cash rebates.

IPART recently endorsed energy-efficient lighting upgrades carried out by EELCO - The Energy Efficient Lighting Company, by deeming many of its projects as able to generate revenue under the NSW Government’s Energy Savings Scheme (ESS).

Extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale in the US could do more to aggravate global warming than mining coal, according to a Cornell study published in the May issue of the peer-reviewed journal Climatic Change Letters.

Australian business readiness to move to a low-carbon economy is higher than expected but an unclear regulatory environment is hampering progress. That’s the finding of a new Economist Intelligence Unit report, commissioned by GE, released on 16 May 2011.

Electronic waste or ‘e-waste’ is one of the fastest growing waste streams in Australia. It has been reported to be growing at three times the rate of municipal waste, mainly a result of technological change, shorter life spans of equipment and increased consumption.

According to Consult Australia CEO Megan Motto, a new report highlights the international opportunities available for Australia to lead the way when it comes to sustainability. The right policy framework could give Australia a distinct competitive advantage and enable us to bring best practice to the global arena.