A survey of 1002 Australians reveals a staggering 87 per cent of shoppers are more likely to purchase products that are ethically and sustainably produced.
Plastics Pact network expands with US launch
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation Plastics Pact network has expanded with the launch of the US Plastics Pact at Circularity20 (an online event that aims to accelerate the circular economy).
What one business is doing to make zero-waste coffee
A social enterprise start-up powered by a City of Sydney grant has devised the zero-waste solution, of ‘lending’ coffee beans to local businesses and taking back the coffee grounds for reuse.
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ACT transitions single-use plastic phase out
The ACT Government will transition the phase out of certain single-use plastic following the recent tabling of the exposure draft of the Plastic Reduction Bill 2020.
$10 million grants for NSW solar panel and battery storage
The NSW Government is investing $10 million to help improve environmental performance by diverting end-of-life solar panel systems from landfill, with the first round of grants now open.
Although current waste volumes are relatively low, this emerging waste stream is expected to rapidly increase over the next decade as installed systems reach their end-of-life.
Waste stream expected to grow
In NSW it is forecast that this waste stream could generate up to 10,000 tonnes per year by 2025 and up to 71,000 tonnes per year by 2035.
EPA Director Circular Economy Kathy Giunta said the investment in recycling through this Circular Solar grants program would help NSW meet its commitment of net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
“While current amounts of waste are low, now is the time to invest in developing systems for collecting and recycling these valuable resources like scarce and rare metals, including lithium batteries.
“We want to recycle and re-use the materials in solar panels and battery systems as NSW transitions towards cleaner energy and this program is an important step in building a productive circular economy in NSW.
“It will see NSW well placed to manage waste solar systems over the coming years and will stimulate much needed job creation in the solar power and recycling sectors,” Giunta said.
The NSW Government is inviting Expressions of Interest for grants to run trial projects that increase the collection, reuse and recycling of solar panel and battery storage systems. Applications for projects that trial whole of supply chain approaches to collecting and reusing and/or recycling can be made until 17 September 2020.
$2 million is available in this funding round, with the remaining funding to be made available following evaluation of this EOI process.
For more information visit https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/infrastructure-fund/circular-solar-trials-expression-of-interest or email infrastructure.grants@epa.nsw.gov.au.
AWRE 2020 Expo reimagined
A reimagined Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo (AWRE) will now run from November 25-26 as an interactive online event. The organisers explained that the shift to digital will still make it accessible to everyone, regardless of geography or social distancing rules.
Getting smarter with $10 million CRC-P grants
For an industry hungry for solutions to accelerate the journey to recycling sustainability, $10 million funding for inventive ideas for recycling and reuse of plastics, paper, glass and tyres will satisfy, somewhat.
How Sustainability Victoria is tackling priority recycled waste
Victorian infrastructure projects which use recycled materials and create local jobs are being boosted by $2.6 million Sustainable Infrastructure Fund grants. Local Victorian governments are expected to spend more than $8 billion on infrastructure projects over the next three years, presenting a significant opportunity to increase their use of recycled materials.
Grants of up to $300,000 are now open to local councils and alpine resort management boards to use recycled materials such as glass, paper, cardboard, plastics and rubber to build new infrastructure including roads, footpaths, outdoor park equipment, drainages and cycleways.
The grants are supported by the Government’s previous $4.5 million investment in the development and use of new recycled products through the Research, Development and Demonstration program – increasing the uptake of recycled products, improving market confidence and demand, and supporting innovation.
The Sustainable Infrastructure Fund supports the Victorian Government’s circular economy policy and 10-year action plan, Recycling Victoria.
Recycling Victoria will invest more than $300 million to:
- transform its recycling sector
- reduce waste
- create thousands of jobs
- set Victoria up for a more sustainable future
Grants in action
When the minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio launched the fund, she cited a $200,000 Research, Development and Demonstration Grant which had been awarded in October 2018. The project was a partnership between the Government, Boral, City of Whitehorse and RMIT University which developed an environmentally friendly concrete mix by utilising recycled plastics and crumb rubber.
As a result, the concrete mix will be used for a new footpath in Ailsa Street, Box Hill South in late August.
Grant applications for this round of funding close 3 pm, 8 October 2020.
This is the first of three funding rounds. Round 2 is planned for an October release and round 3 in January 2021.
APCO has its sights clearly set on 2025 targets
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has developed a priority schedule of 23 projects for the 2020/21 financial year, to drive targeted progress towards the 2025 National Packaging Targets.
BHP and Novum Energy to tackle mining truck tyre recycling
BHP will supply used earth moving tyres from all seven BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMC) and BHP Mitsui Coal (BMC) sites to Novum for conversion into heavy and light oils, carbon black, syngas and steel. It will take place at a processing plant that is being built in Nebo in the Isaac region of Queensland.