Waste initiatives

Waste not, want not
Researchers are supporting Australia's move to a zero-waste culture with science. The first step has been a circular economy roadmap to reduce plastic, glass, tyres and paper waste.

The waste problem hiding in your mobile phone
The allure of new technology has created a little talked about waste problem. Lithium ion batteries power many of our devices yet are not recycled effectively, if at all. In order to close the loop on battery resources, Australian researchers are looking ahead and creating sustainable technologies to recycle these batteries.

The future of waste management
Forging trust between the waste industry and the Australian community will be critical for implementing new sustainable waste management solutions.

An unexpected crisis that could change our cities
COVID-19 is a health and economic crisis that’s taken the world by surprise. Yet this wicked problem may also be an opportunity for Australia to invest in new types of urban infrastructure to make cities smarter, greener, safer, and healthier.

Biodegradable versus compostable – knowing your eco-plastics
As the world moves to ban single-use plastics, biodegradable plastics are increasingly in focus as an environmentally friendly alternative. However, some plastics degrade into microplastics, others take ages to disappear from the environment, and in certain conditions they produce powerful greenhouse gases.

The second life of plastics
The problem of plastic is central to creating a circular economy. So, what is science doing to drive innovation. Introducing: The second life of plastics.

The 20th century saw a 23-fold increase in natural resources used for building
There will be huge environmental impact if we keep using raw materials as we did in the 20th Century. There is a way to build more sustainably.