The federal government has launched its Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy, which will be phased in from July and initially see companies bidding for government construction services contracts needing to meet agreed sustainability outcomes, including products with recycled content. In an announcement from environment minister Tanya Plibersek (pictured on right) on Wednesday, two phases of the…
RMIT University and Visy have partnered up to develop energy-efficient bricks, which switch out clay for recycled materials and show promise in boosting energy-efficiency. The new bricks contain a minimum of 15 per cent waste glass and 20 per cent combusted solid waste (ash), as substitutes for clay, according to a statement from RMIT University…
Lithium ion battery materials company Lithium Australia has increased battery recycling at its Envirostream facilities (pictured) as agreements with overseas manufacturers lead to higher collection volumes. The company told investors it collected 344 tonnes of batteries during the March quarter, including 177 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), an 18 percent increase in LIB collection volumes…
What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading. 5) From soft plastics waste to structural building panels Australian composites manufacturer Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (SIS) has revealed innovative structural building panels made from glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) and discarded soft plastics. The lightweight, high-strength composite panels are…
Australian composites manufacturer Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (SIS) has revealed innovative structural building panels made from glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) and discarded soft plastics. The lightweight, high-strength composite panels are the first in the world to be manufactured using post-consumer mixed soft plastics, which are blended with a proprietary material matrix, according to an announcement. The…
The Queensland government has announced $2.5 million dedicated to a new solar panel recycling pilot program, which it says is the first in the nation, and comes alongside $3 million dedicated to renewable industry association grants. In a statement on Friday, the state government said that “thousands of solar panels” from the state’s homes, businesses…
Paper, packaging and recycling business Visy has announced that an average of 63 per cent recycled content in its glass packaging across Australia and New Zealand for the financial year so far, a 5 per cent increase on the previous financial year. In a statement on Tuesday the company said the figure is higher still…
Plastic recycling startup Samsara Eco has announced the next step in its partnership with athletic clothing brand lululemon, launching their first product containing “enzymatically recycled polyester” on Thursday. According to a statement from the pair, a limited edition Packable Anorak jacket by lululemon contains “a variety of inputs, including mixed plastic waste, lululemon apparel at…
Envirostream to recycle LG lithium batteries Battery recycler Envirostream has signed an exclusive three year agreement with LG Energy Solutions to recycle all its recalled lithium ion batteries collected in Australia. Envirostream, a subsidiary of Lithium Australia, expects significantly increased battery collection volumes equating to 140 percent of the company’s total in FY23. LG has…
Construction of a section of road at Wyndham Vale, Victoria – incorporating consumer and industrial waste and part of a ten-council trial – is expected to be complete by the end of the month. The section at Cambridge Crescent will use a total of 170 tonnes of asphalt including 600 kilograms of recycled plastic, such…
