Waste initiatives

Could insect digestion solve the waste crisis?
CSIRO researchers are peering into the digestive processes of insects to see what happens when they are exposed to plastics. Do insects consume plastic or is something else going on?

Plastic pollution: how much is there?
Scientists and the Australian community are on the hunt for rubbish as part of a national plastic pollution survey. They’ve captured data on more than 270,000 items of rubbish so far. You can help too!

Casting a global net to solve the plastic problem
CSIRO is working with Indonesia and other regional partners where COVID has exacerbated the plastic pollution issue.

Are bio-derived plastics the solution to plastic pollution?
Do you know your biodegradable from your compostable plastics? We give you the rundown on plastic packaging alternatives and their eco credentials.

Fighting food waste one carrot at a time
It's a case of down the hatch instead of down the drain for carrot pulp thanks to a new way of using it for burger patties.

Australia and India waste experts aim to put the fantastic back into plastic
An ambitious project between the two countries to reduce plastic waste could bring global solutions.

Supercharging Australia’s lithium-ion battery recycling industry
Australia could have a $3.1 billion industry in lithium-ion battery recycling, according to a new report.

Reimagining the future of plastics
With our oceans littered with trillions of pieces of rubbish, how do we solve the plastic pollution crisis?

Motherboards as mother lode
Did you know there is up to 100 times more gold in a tonne of mobile phones than in a tonne of gold ore? Microbes could underpin a new urban biomining industry, where gold, silver, copper and other e-waste metals are extracted more cleanly and more economically than through conventional mining.