Industry News
ICT to address issues of water management
National ICT Australia (NICTA) has announced the first of its Priority Challenge Strategic Projects, the Water Information Network (WIN) Project. According to NICTA, this project is aimed at providing the information infrastructure to support smart use of the water resource on the scale of an entire water catchment.
[ + ]Cutting the path to reduced emissions
A variety of technological advances being developed by CSIRO can dramatically reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, according to CSIRO's chief of energy technology, Dr David Brockway.
[ + ]Call for solar powered air conditioning
Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, has called on the Federal Government to set up a solar powered air conditioning task force on the eve of the International Greenhouse Conference being held in Sydney.
[ + ]Electronic nose puts end to landfill smell
Scientists at the University of Manchester have invented a device which remotely monitors bad odours and methane gases at waste landfill and water treatment sites.
[ + ]One man caused environmental disasters
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.
[ + ]Energy and water saving in NSW
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.
[ + ]SCRC looks under the lid for steel can recycling insights
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.
[ + ]Australia's largest organics collection trial
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.
[ + ]Hazardous waste test 'inadequate'
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.
[ + ]Calls for government to act on regional issues
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.
[ + ]GHD expands
International professional services company, GHD, has boosted its operations in South East Asia with the Malaysian consulting engineering company AJP recently joining the group.
[ + ]Silt-to-compost project wins Case Earth Award
Contaminated silt was excavated from Brownhills Creek, dewatered and sent off site for composting.
[ + ]Social responsibility investment index launches
Research and ratings agency, ReputTex has launched its Social Responsibility Investment (SRI) Index.
[ + ]Public place recycling initiative
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.
[ + ]Bioplastics association launch
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.
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