When it comes to boosting organisational efficiency, seemingly small things often make the biggest difference. For document services providers, print toner turns out to be one such source of inefficiency. [ + ]

As the dust settles on another election, for some Australian businesses, governments - along with their policies - will come and go, but those that have taken an approach of resilience and look beyond the election cycle have their business strategies intact. [ + ]

The first commercially produced gas chlorinator was installed in a public drinking water system in 1913, revolutionising the way the world fought water-borne diseases. The technology was installed by Wallace & Tiernan - now a company of Siemens Water Technologies, which is celebrating the product’s 100th anniversary. [ + ]

New Zealand agricultural lime and magnesium producer Rorisons RMD has teamed up with Hawke's Bay-based fertiliser and lime company Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate to manufacture the latter's fertiliser in the King Country. Rorisons Managing Director Mike Rorison says it's a cost-effective opportunity for King Country and Waikato farmers. [ + ]

Panasonic is providing its technological support to Japan’s Tokai University Solar Car Team, taking part in the 2013 World Solar Challenge (WSC 2013). To be held from 6-13 October, the biennial event is a time-based solar car race from Darwin to Adelaide - a distance of 3021 km. [ + ]

Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre in Wagga Wagga is set to save approximately $276,000 in energy costs, and cut carbon emissions by up to 55% in the first year of operation, with its new state-of-the-art cogeneration system. [ + ]

Wondai Electrical Services has installed a 5 kW solar system which uses the Enphase Microinverter System to power its industrial offices, training room and combined electrical warehouse and workshop in Queensland. [ + ]

The traditional office space is being reshaped, with the intention of combating rising rental costs and providing employees with more flexibility all at the same time. The new style of workplace can be seen in the Sydney office of CBRE at 363 George Street, which is moving to a new way of working. [ + ]

If we can add just one day to the life of fruit or vegetables through using novel microbial management methods we can make an enormous difference, according to a UWE research team. The team aims to develop a practical means of controlling food spoilage, storage life and shelf life of post-harvest produce while also minimising microbiological contamination from contact surfaces, collectively helping to reduce waste and improve food security and food safety. [ + ]

Experienced Office Furniture manufactures its products on-site in the factory, which combines highly trained and experienced staff working with good-quality German machinery. The company’s newest addition is the Weima WL 4 Shredder. [ + ]

Transpacific Industries Group has been granted a patent for its innovative solution to reduce and re-use wastewater taken from grease traps. The company’s Thomastown Grease Trap Treatment Plant in Victoria has adopted a new process and mechanical device to screen, filter and separate wastewater components, allowing it to be treated and re-used. [ + ]

St Mary’s Joinery was established in 1975 and works mainly on commercial building projects to produce quality custom-made joinery for various fit-outs such as offices, hospitals and schools. General Manager Matt White said the company was looking for a solution to manage wood waste in its busy workshop. [ + ]

Infrastructure is critical to Australia’s growing cities and our way of life - what role do scientists play in making sure we get our infrastructure priorities right? This article is a Q&A with one of Parsons Brinckerhoff’s scientists, Barbara Pedersen, as a contribution to National Science Week. [ + ]

Environment Victoria today released Envirotracker, a free online resource which outlines the environment and climate change policies of the three main parties contesting the 2013 federal election - the ALP, the Coalition and the Greens. According to Environment Victoria CEO Kelly O’Shanassy, this is the first time such an analysis has been conducted on environmental policies in Australia. [ + ]

Anyone flushing a toilet in urban Australia today does so confident that they’ll never again see the thing they’ve flushed. They probably also think they are causing minimal environmental harm, thanks to our well-designed wastewater treatment plants. But is our lack of concern for sewage pollution well founded? Recents events in northern Tasmania suggest not. [ + ]