Welcome to Newsletter Number 72
Dear SENG Qld members and friends,
Our next event will be about the state of waste in QLD, including looking at the new waste levy and the current state of the recycling industry after China’s ban on receiving recyclable waste. Australians currently produce about 50 million tonnes of waste per year, averaging over 2 tonnes per person and it is continually increasing. The session will also look at how we can reduce waste by changing our thinking. This month’s newsletter includes: War on Waste - closing the cycle Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members, or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. WAR ON WASTE - Closing the Cycle, A Zero Waste Economy Australians currently produce about 50 million tonnes of waste per year, averaging over 2 tonnes per person and it is continually increasing. This session will look at the waste cycle, the current state of the industry and how we can all help reduce the volume of waste produced. It will also provide insight into the new waste levy in QLD and the impact China's ban on receiving recyclables is likely to have. Waste Reduction – Richard Denniss Richard will deliver an entertaining discussion on how we can reduce waste by distinguishing between consumerism, the love of buying things, which is undeniably harmful to us and the planet, and materialism, the love of things, which can in fact be beneficial. Reuse– Kali Martin Kali will discuss the waste streams that are currently being processed by NuGrow and how they are recycled into beneficial products such as compost and soil conditioners. Case studies will be presented demonstrating NuGrow’s innovative approach to closing the loop between waste and resources to achieve their vision of healthier environments supporting healthier communities. Recycling – Rick Ralph Rick will discuss the facts behind the new waste levy in Queensland and what a new waste strategy should contain and look like. He will also discuss the current state of the recycling industry after China’s ban on receiving recyclable waste and what is needed to secure a sustainable future recycling industry. Is it as bad as it sounds? Anaerobic digestion (AD) for energy recovery from organics – Dr. Gareth Forde and Max Barnes Gareth will talk about how we can generate energy from waste organics and how AD compares to other waste to energy (W2E) options. Implications of the proposed landfill levy will be considered. See the event website for more information.
Other Events EcoCentre Forum: Solar Power to the People, 24 June 2018, 10 am - 1pm, Griffith University EcoCentre, Building N68, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan Free - RSVP essential (bring your most recent power bill) The event will be featuring great speakers who have years of experience installing solar in residential, commercial and educational settings, hear from Dalia Mikhail who started the amazing Solar Schools movement and Phil Livingstone the Managing Director and Founder of Redback Technologies who will be showcasing Redbacks's innovative power management solution and answering questions about their exciting plans for the Australian energy sector. RSVP here.
Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items, but always refer to authoritative sources. Linc Energy fined record $4.5million Linc Energy has been issued with a record fine of $4.5 million for causing serious environmental harm as a result of its underground coal gassification project near Chinchilla. Read more here. MDBA amps up strategy to protect environmental water The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is trialling remote sensing data to track environmental flow through the Barwon-Darling Rivers in a bid to monitor and protect environmental water in the region. Read more here.
Turning rubbish into roads to cut down on plastic waste Plastic waste is a growing problem, but some are taking action to repurpose single-use bottles and bags into something more useful. Read more here. Australia's top 10 solar postcodes FROM the ground it may be difficult to notice how quickly solar is being embraced by homeowners across Australia, but from the air it’s a very different story. Aerial photos have emerged showing the enthusiastic uptake of solar in many parts of the country. Read more here. Narangba company fined $130,000 for mishandling oily waste Hahn Group Pty Ltd (Hahn), was fined $130,000 and ordered to pay costs of $32,123 for multiple offences, including regular unlawful releases of contaminated water. Read more here. T4 scrapped: Controversial multi-billion dollar coal loader in Newcastle won't go ahead Plans for a $5 billion coal terminal in the world's biggest coal port in Newcastle have been scrapped. Read more here.
Increase in the value of a penalty unit The value of a penalty unit for offences under state legislation will increase from 1 July 2018. Read more here. Awards and Open for Comment Annual Qld Environmental Engineering Student Awards Night - October 2018 SENG and WMAA have been hosting the annual Environmental Student Award in Queensland since 1999. The event allows Environmental Engineering and Science undergraduate students from Queensland universities to showcase their thesis work to an audience of industry professionals and fellow students. This night also allows a demonstration of the directions in current environmental research and to show the diversity and quality of content in thesis studies from all over Queensland. Find out more about this fantastic honorary event here. Queensland's new resource recovery and waste strategy Submissions are due by 5pm, Friday, 29 June 2018. A new strategy will provide the resource recovery and waste sector with the policy certainty that has been lacking, leading to significant underinvestment in new and expanded resource recovery infrastructure in Queensland. Your input into the development of the new strategy and levy will ensure opportunities and challenges can be identified to ensure the transformation and growth of Queensland’s recycling and waste management industry. More information is available from the QLD Governments Website. Petition to enact legistlation to ban new investments in coal - Sign the petition here for the Queensland Government to enact legislation banning all new investment in coal, oil, and gas projects within Queensland, that contribute to global warming. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. |