Recycler hungry for Australia’s stinky old shoes
As Australia transitions to a circular economy, more and more niche recycling programs are popping up and shoes are no exception.
waste
Unquenched Aussie thirst for world’s most costly water
Aussies are among the top consumers of bottled water globally and we are paying the most for it, a new UN report shows.
Pile of poo ’19 times heavier than Harbour Bridge’
Pet owners are turning to eco-friendly methods to dispose of pet poo in an effort to minimise the environmental cost of picking up after our furry friends.
Trust on the line in battle over plastic stockpiles
Coles and Woolworths have offered to deal with mountains of soft plastic stockpiled by a failed recycling scheme amid a push to have it wound up.
Killer balloons to be banned
A second state has banned the release of helium balloons, with others urged to follow suit and end the devastating toll they take on wildlife.
Rise in plastic trash reflects worrying consumer trend
An annual report that details what clean-up volunteers are finding in the environment is further proof that Australia's plastics crisis is worsening.
Garbo strike leaves Sydney stewing in its own stench
Striking garbage workers have left 35,000 bins uncollected in inner-Sydney, wreaking havoc on residents' sense of smell and hygiene.
Mess still unfolding after plastic recycling scandal
The catastrophic failure of Australia's soft plastics recycling scheme shocked customers. Months on, the mess is unfolding as a fight brews over the clean up.
Global plastics crisis deepens despite rising concerns
The world's plastics crisis continues to worsen as manufacturers pump out vast amounts of new, single-use items and shun more costly recycling, a report says.
Adelaide rivers dump microplastics in sea
Adelaide's rivers and creeks are acting as conveyor belts for microplastic pollution and fast fashion could be a big part of the problem, a study has found.
Warehouses found chock-full of plastics
About 3000 tonnes of soft plastics have been discovered in six Melbourne warehouses after the REDcycle recycling program was halted a month ago.
Australia’s 100-million solar panel puzzle
Going solar or upgrading an old rooftop system may slash power bills and cut emissions, but Aussies won't help to save the world if panels end up as landfill.
Aussie unveils flyblown pyramid in Egypt
Australian entrepreneur Mike Smith has built a new pyramid for Egypt and hopes the fetid structure made from rubbish will boost the war on single-use plastics.
Viruses hitchhike on microplastics: study
Australian researchers have discovered viruses can get a free ride by latching onto tiny particles of plastic regularly taken in by humans.
Drink deposit schemes need overhaul
Environment ministers are under pressure to expand container deposit schemes and eliminate baffling rules about what's in and what's out.
‘Sustainable’ lifestyles still waste food
A study of food waste in Australia has found the practice persists even among those who aim for a sustainable lifestyle.
End-of-life plan urged for wind turbines
Without a way to avoid consigning used wind turbine blades to landfill, they may prove no more sustainable than non-renewables, says a leading academic.
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conservation
environmental politics
oceans
waste
waste management and pollution control
Budget blasted for ‘ignoring’ climate
The 2022/23 federal budget has confirmed $1 billion for the Great Barrier Reef over the next decade, but the environmental spend has also attracted criticism.
Qld lab to test for plastics in human body
A high-tech stainless steel lab has been built in Queensland to determine plastic pollution loads in the human body.
Nuclear waste shipment bound for Sydney
Australia is about to get back some of its nuclear waste, but conservationists are alarmed by what the federal government plans to do with it.
Australia backs global plastics pact
Australia and other nations have agreed to pursue a binding treaty to deal with the plastics crisis but the process is expected to be complex and contentious.
Pac-Man enzymes eat into plastic crisis
An emerging recycling technology can reduce plastic to a powder-form that can be used to make new products as good as virgin plastic.
Nation powers up battery recycling scheme
Australians understand dead batteries have value but don't know what to do with them and they generally wind up being dumped.
Stinky old uniforms will build the future
As the kids of Australia head back to school, a Sydney family is forging ahead with a sustainable solution to the mountains of tired old uniforms they produce.
Radioactive: the debate over nuclear waste
Australia's plan to deal with its radioactive waste is either the best or worst idea ever, depending on the perspective.
Monolithic cask of nuclear waste to arrive
Australia is preparing to receive a second shipment of radioactive waste that's been reprocessed overseas.
Recycling scheme targets mattress dumping
Mattresses are believed to be Australia's most common illegally dumped item, accounting for 20 per cent of the inorganic waste found on the street.