A new solution for Australia’s growing e-waste problem launched Friday with the opening of the UNSW-designed Plastics Filament MICROfactorie in Sydney. Electronic waste recycler Renew IT has incorporated this technology at its Lane Cove facility to transform hard plastics from discarded printers and computers into valuable filament for 3D manufacturing. Developed by the UNSW Centre…
Australia’s battery recycling scheme, B-cycle, has thrown its support behind landmark NSW legislation that would introduce mandatory battery product stewardship in response to growing fire risks from lithium-ion batteries. The Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill, introduced to Parliament on Tuesday by NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, aims to ensure all battery producers and importers take responsibility…
Boral launched an Australian-first proprietary crumbed rubber asphalt bitumen derived from Off the Road (OTR) tyres on Wednesday, claiming the new product can extend pavement life up to twice that of conventional road treatments. The construction materials company has developed the asphalt using end-of-life tyres from front-end loaders and quarry haul dump trucks from its…
By Melita Jazbec, University of Technology Sydney; Monique Retamal, University of Technology Sydney; Nick Florin, University of Technology Sydney, and Stuart White, University of Technology Sydney Australians largely support transforming the economy to increase recycling, repurpose products and reduce waste, according to a new report from the Productivity Commission, but they are being impeded by…
Your old T-shirts and jeans might soon get a glamorous second life, as plastic recycler Pact Group and clean technology company BlockTexx joined forces on Friday to tackle Australia’s growing mountain of discarded clothing. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding to explore an end-to-end rescue mission for unloved polyester and cotton-blend garments. Instead of…
Workspace Commercial Furniture, a 114-year-old business based at the Adelaide suburb of Melrose Park, has launched the expansion of production and warehousing at its headquarters as well as a new “take back” program for used furniture. According to a statement from the company on Monday, the expansion would allow it to “increase output and meet…
Applications have opened for the latest cohort of SMEs working in the recycling and circular economy sectors through CSIRO’s free Innovate to Grow program. The eight-week, purely online program will be run with Deakin University’s Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH), which is funded through the federal government’s Trailblazer program. According to a statement…
By Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie, Charles Darwin University; Matthew Abunyewah, Charles Darwin University, and Patrick Brandful Cobbinah, The University of Melbourne Pollution and waste, climate change and biodiversity loss are creating a triple planetary crisis. In response, UN Environment Programme executive director Inger Andersen has called for waste to be redefined as a valuable resource instead…
Packaging manufacturer and recycler Pact Group has developed new methods which allow its iconic Sulo kerbside bins to become something of a pin-up for the circular economy. The Sulo bins, which collect waste of various types will now collect plastic waste which will then be turned into…more Sulo bins. The recycling breakthrough has already seen…
By Brent Balinski It was last year at Amsterdam’s Rematec, the premier remanufacturing show, when the proverbial lightbulb went on for Colin Doherty (pictured below). The Managing Director of Original Engines Co saw clearly that his business was a real part of the circular economy and decarbonisation movements. “Here in Australia it’s not known about…