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.
Impact of the carbon price on local council landfills
24 July, 2012A number of local governments from around Australia have asked about how the carbon price will apply to pollution from local landfill sites and the potential impact this might have on rates for local communities. In a number of cases, the potential effect on rates has been overestimated, misrepresented or misreported.
A penny for your thoughts - and your containers
23 July, 2012 by Lauren DavisIn August, the Council of Australian Governments will consider the proposed national container deposit scheme (CDS). The scheme, which would involve consumers paying a 10-cent deposit on beverage containers and claiming it back at recycling depots, has attracted a large amount of support from environmental groups - and opposition from the beverages industry. As the national CDS gains further public and political interest, Sustainability Matters takes a look at both sides of the argument so far.
Sustainable products key to refurbishment project
17 July, 2012 | Supplied by: ResourceCo Pty LtdResourceCo’s recycled cement has been a key component in the refurbishment of the Civil Contractor’s Federation (CCF) head office and training facility redevelopment. The CCF SA’s Centre of Excellence is being showcased as a ‘model’ for best practice environmental and sustainable construction initiatives.
Price hikes on waste levies unrelated to carbon price
16 July, 2012Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet and Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Mark Dreyfus have cautioned businesses not to mislead customers by claiming recent price hikes in state government waste levies are as a result of the carbon price coming into effect.
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.
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
Clean Energy Regulator determination on local government landfills
19 June, 2012The Clean Energy Regulator has made a determination on the number of local councils with landfill sites that could be emitting large amounts of methane and other gasses.
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, 2012 | Supplied by: Australian Food & Grocery CouncilRoeROC (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.
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.
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’.
