Towards a Waste Free Future: Technology Readiness in Waste and Resource Recovery

Co-hosted by the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) and Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE)Towards a Waste Free Future: Technology Readiness in Waste and Resource Recovery takes place from 2:30pm to 5:30pm on 27 April 2021 at Sydney Startup Hub.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Gabrielle Upton MP opens the event.

The seminar convenes a world-leading team of research and industry partners that have joined together to enhance Australia's recycling capability.

Brought together by the NSSN, researchers from the University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and University of New South Wales (UNSW) are collaborating with major Australian companies to develop novel solutions for sensing and treating residual contaminants on HDPE milk bottles.

Project partners and industry experts from Labelmakers GroupDairy AustraliaBegaLactalis and Saputo participate at the event. 

NSSN Development Manger Dr Don McCallum said the event is an excellent demonstration of utilising the research and development capabilities of NSSN member universities to tackle a complex industry problem. 

"Sensing is the fundamental science to efficient sorting of waste. Sensors can help identify materials and detect toxins," Dr McCallum said.

"The NSSN and the project partners are keen to build on the success of the current HDPE recycling project and scale the developed solutions to other recyclables."

Led by PEGRAS Asia Pacific, the industry-driven collaboration has coincided with the publication of ATSE's reportTowards a Waste Free Future. The report showcases how technology can transform the waste and resource-recovery sector in Australia, and support the transition towards a thriving circular economy.

PEGRAS Asia Pacific Managing Director Dr Stephanus Peters said plastics and bottle recycling is still in its early stage of development in Australia.

"Only a small portion of used plastics are recycled back into re-usable materials. Currently, most of these plastics are downcycled or send overseas," Dr Peters said.

"By investing in systems designed for Australia's unique geographical circumstances, we can stop the plastic stream from going into landfill or even worse, into the ocean."

Register here.

The event’s program is available here.

Declaration

The HDPE recycling R&D project was funded by the federal government’s CRC-P grants program.

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