By Vincey Chan

At Envirobank we’re always interested in learning about new ways to recycle material in an endless loop, so it never becomes waste.

Welcome to issue four of recycling news and innovation, celebrating our nation’s progress in recycling towards a circular economy.

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HEADLINE –

Scientists to develop car made solely from recycled materials.

A research team from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), intend to develop a car that is 100% constructed from recycled materials.

For industries, this means transitioning to manufacturing low-carbon products. More products need to be recycled, and production has to be adapted so that materials are recycled.

In order for this to be possible, scientists aim to maintain the value of products, materials, and resources for as long as possible, which aligns with the principle of a circular economy. The intention is that all manufacturing should consider the product’s lifespan and recycling possibilities.

Another important factor that scientists have identified is the necessity of high-quality products being created with recycled materials that not only possess a long shelf life, but also do not need to be replaced often. Longer product life will contribute to the shift towards a greener climate.

Source: Innovation News Network

HEADLINE –

Virgin Group and Agilyx to form strategic partnership to produce lower carbon fuel.

Virgin Group has announced it is forming a strategic partnership with Agilyx to research and develop lower carbon fuel facilities to help address plastic pollution and the global transition to net zero.

Virgin Group and Agilyx (a chemical conversion technology company) want to produce synthetic crude oil from plastic waste that will then be refined into a lower carbon fuel. Waste plastic will be diverted from landfill and will help to broaden options in the market for lower carbon fuels from the limited range currently available. Although the fuel will not be exclusive to Virgin, Virgin Atlantic and other Virgin companies are expected to be early adopters as part of the Group’s transitional plans to achieve net zero by 2050.

Source: Virgin

HEADLINE –

Destruction of unsold goods could be banned in Scotland.

The destruction of unsold, durable goods could be banned in Scotland as part of plans to reduce waste, the Scottish government has said. Proposals for a ban will be put forward in a consultation on a new Circular Economy Bill to be published in May.

It’s intended to address public concerns about unsold products being destroyed or ending up in landfill. Retailers may have to look for other options for unsold products, including donation and recycling.

Source: BBC News

HEADLINE –

Global company to transform Australian recycling with $260-million plant in NSW.

A US-based recycling company has announced plans to build the largest plastic processing factory in Australia in the New South Wales Central West. 

Brightmark is investing $260 million to build the recycling plant in Parkes. The facility will have the capacity to recycle 200,000 tonnes of waste plastic per year, making it among the largest in the world. 

According to the CSIRO, less than 12 per cent of plastic waste was recycled in Australia last year. Brightmark chief executive officer Bob Powell said almost all plastic in Australia was processed using mechanical recycling, limiting the country’s capacity.

Construction on the processing plant will begin next year, with the facility expected to be fully operational by 2025. 

Source: ABC News

HEADLINE –

How sodden waste is being converted into electricity in Lismore.

A temporary waste transfer facility has been set up at a disused quarry site near Lismore. Up to 750 trucks are day are bringing in flood waste from across the Northern Rivers. Mr Tunstall said up to 40 per cent of the waste would be recycled, with the rest sent to a bioenergy facility in south-east Queensland.

Veolia Australia said its bioreactor technology rapidly stabilised the waste while capturing environmentally damaging methane and converting it into electricity

Source: ABC News

By Vincey Chan