Features

ANU study finds 100% renewable energy is Australia's cheapest option
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Research & Reports

ANU study finds 100% renewable energy is Australia’s cheapest option

Led by ANU’s Andrew Blakers, Bin Lu and Matthew Stocks, the study suggests that with most of Australia’s current fleet of coal generators due to retire before 2030, a mix of solar PV and wind energy that is supported by pumped hydro storage would be the cheapest option for the country moving forward.

According to ANU lead researcher Professor Andrew Blakers, the zero-emissions grid would mainly rely on wind and solar PV technology, with support from pumped hydro storage, and would eliminate Australia’s need for coal and gas-fired power. Read more

In conversation with Dale Gilson
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Waste & Resource Recovery

In conversation with Dale Gilson

Inside Waste caught up with Gilson to find out more about the man behind the wheel.

IW: Tell us more about yourself… what were you doing before joining TSA?

Gilson: My working career began by spending 13 years in a third generation small business my family owned. It began as an IBM typewriter dealership (the kind you now see in antique shops) and progressed to sales and service of photocopiers, printers and facsimile machines. This is where I first learnt about customer service which was has been of great benefit to me as I moved in to the not-for-profit sector. Read more

Future-proofing Mackay's operations
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Queensland, Waste & Resource Recovery

Future-proofing Mackay’s operations

In December, Inside Waste spoke to Council about the seven-month evaluation period and procurement process two years in the making that would ensure best practices are implemented at the Hogan’s Pocket landfill and Paget Transfer station, including bulk waste haulage between the two locations (see Related Articles).

At the time, Inside Waste provided an overview of the procurement process as well as key aspects of the new contract arrangements. But these key aspects, specifically haulage and leachate management, are worth digging into. Read more

Mobile Conversations: Can social causes motivate us to recycle more?
 Circular Economy, Features, Online Subscription

Mobile Conversations: Can social causes motivate us to recycle more?

You would think that recycling would be a priority for most of us.

Not only does recycling help recover much needed precious resources that can be reused, but it also helps us declutter – that in itself will make us feel good.

So then why aren’t more Australians recycling? Why are we holding onto old, broken and unwanted gadgets? Read more

Effective monitoring is key to effective wastewater odour control
 Circular Economy, Features, Online Subscription

Effective monitoring is key to effective wastewater odour control

Spreading urban areas are increasingly occupying what until now have been odour buffer zones that separated houses and treatment infrastructure.

As a result, operators are having to allocate more resources to odour monitoring and control.

A key challenge they face is that most environmental management systems focus only on the collection and storage of information. Read more

Green buildings produce workplace benefits
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Research & Reports

Green buildings produce workplace benefits

The study, known as the COGfx Study, was conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and SUNY Upstate Medical and built on previous research conducted in 2015.

It found significantly higher cognitive function test scores for office workers in a simulated green building environment with better ventilation compared to a conventional building environment.

In addition, the findings showed that working in green-certified buildings results in fewer sick building symptoms and improves sleep quality. Read more

Giving control back to councils
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Waste & Resource Recovery

Giving control back to councils

Dr Hofstede, who completed his PhD in 1994, was studying organic waste composting, specifically how to develop a system at a time when landfill disposal costs were relatively low and environmental standards for composting plants were high.

While Dr Hofstede developed the Fabcom system 16 years ago, it is only in the last few years that Spartel has started commercialising the system. Today, the patented system, which comes in three versions, two of which can be found in Maryborough, Victoria (the Fabcom Tunnel) and Bunbury-Harvey in WA (the Fabcom Piccolo). Read more

Melbourne's tram network to be powered by the sun
 Circular Economy, Features, Online Subscription

Melbourne’s tram network to be powered by the sun

The Victorian government have announced they will run a tender to build the new large-scale 75MW solar power plant, with about 35MW of the new solar farm being linked and used to sufficiently cover the energy needs of the state’s tram network by the end of next year.

It is expected that this venture will deliver about $150 million in new capital investment, create around 300 new jobs, and reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80,000 tonnes annually. Read more

Australia's first renewable energy accelerator launches in Sydney
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Australia’s first renewable energy accelerator launches in Sydney

Founded by Piers Grove and Nick Lake, EnergyLab is a not-for-profit business that will be located at the University of Technology Sydney’s Chippendale campus.

The program promises to support entrepreneurs striving to commercialise renewable and advanced energy solutions to the national energy crisis.

EnergyLab recently became the recipient of a $120,000 grant from Jobs for NSW, which the state government has tasked with providing $190 million worth of financial support for start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises with a view to generating new jobs. Read more