Archived News for Green Sector Professionals

Waste management services in Australia recovered or reprocessed a total of 13.2 million tonnes of material from waste in 2009-10, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Nationally, this represents a rate of waste diversion from landfill of 42.6%. South Australia had the highest waste diversion rate of 66.3%.

Almost 10.4 million tonnes of material were recovered at waste facilities other than landfill. This included 2.2 million tonnes of metal, 1.7 million tonnes of paper and cardboard, and 1.7 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste.

An estimated 2,120 private and public trading sector businesses and 547 general government sector organisations were involved in the Australian waste management services industry, employing a total of 32,737 people.

Waste management services businesses in the private and public trading sector had a total income of $8.6b. The main source of income was from the provision of waste services ($5.1b), consisting of $4.3b for non-recyclable waste and $0.8b for recyclables. Sales of recyclable material contributed another $2.2b or 26% of total income.

Larger businesses with 100 or more employees made up less than 1% of all private and public sector businesses, yet they contributed 54.4% of employment, 68.2% of total income and 69.9% of total expenses.

The report, Waste Management Services, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 8698.0), is available here.

Griffith Uni takes leadership role in UN waste management partnership

Griffith University has been appointed as the Australia and New Zealand sub-regional secretariat of a United Nations global partnership on waste management.

WA carbon capture and storage assessment funded

The Collie South West Hub capture and storage (CCS) trial project in Western Australia is to receive up to $104 million in matching Federal and State funding for the completion of a detailed storage viability study.

Penrice Soda Holdings and GE strike deal over water

Penrice Soda Holdings Ltd and General Electrics have struck a deal to provide the coal seam gas (CSG) industry with a process to remove brine from wastewater.

Federal Government seeks public input over carbon farming regulations

AIMS research gives preview of CO2 impact on reefs

Research by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has drawn on the effects of natural carbon dioxide (CO₂) seeps in Papua New Guinea to give an insight into what tropical coral reefs could look like if human-induced atmospheric CO₂ concentrations continue to rise unabated.

NSW caves to solar tariff pressure

The New South Wales Government has announced it will scrap its plan to significantly reduce allocated tariff cuts after household and business stakeholders have conducted a month-long campaign against the cuts.

Climate change risks to coastal buildings and infrastructure report released

More than $226 billion in commercial, industrial, road and rail, and residential assets are potentially exposed to inundation and erosion hazards in the event of a sea level rise of 1.1 metres, according to a report released by the Federal Government.

Inner city housing more energy efficient than 7 star suburban homes: study

University of Canberra to lead Murray Darling research collaboration

The University of Canberra has been awarded $6.3 million by the Federal Government to establish a new Collaborative Research Network (CRN) to undertake a wide-ranging research project into aspects affecting the Murray Darling Basin.

Partner institutions include the Australian National University, Charles Sturt University, the University of Southern Queensland, the CSIRO, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences and the National Water Commission.

The project will bring together expertise in environmental science, public policy, social and economic modelling, health and regional planning.

In addition to environmental research, the project will examine social issues including the mental health challenges associated with rural communities as they adjust to a changing farming environment.

The network has broad scope to build resilience in the Murray Darling Basin environment and communities by understanding the environmental, social, economic and health implications of drought, water management and preserving a healthy Murray Darling Basin.

University of Canberra Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Frances Shannon said the Murray Darling Basin faces complex problems, which require sophisticated solutions.

"The environmental health of river system doesn’t exist in isolation from the economic and social health of the local community. This collaboration brings together all the expertise needed to ensure policy decisions are informed by the best science, backed up by rigorous social and economic research and modelling.”

Macquarie University leads environmental and ecology research

A listing of the top-ranked institutions in Australia and New Zealand published on the UK site Times Higher Education has placed Macquarie University in the top spot for environmental sciences and ecology research.

Solar-powered nano sensor targets pollutant gases

A solar-powered sensor station to monitor in real time the concentration of gases that are key culprits in climate change and air pollution has been installed on a roof at the Queensland University of Technology as part of an international study on solar-powered environmental nano sensors.