This Week In Waste: From Gold Rush To Green Rush - Rethinking Mining Waste
As we head towards a clean energy future, we're facing a stark reality: our need for minerals and rare earth elements is growing rapidly. We've got to think about what we leave behind.
In our latest feature, Green Tech Paradox, we take a look at innovative approaches to rethinking mining waste and rehabilitating old mine sites.
Next, if you are thinking of upgrading to the new iPhone 15, don't throw your old handset into the spare drawer, instead, read Old Phones,Greener Future, where we journey through the recycled afterlife of your trusty mobile phone and the benefits to the environment.
In other exciting news, Laying Waste Media has officially become a member of the the Waste Management & Resource Recovery Association of Australia.
We're looking forward to learning from and collaborating with leaders and experts in the industry.
Till next time, keep cool and happy reading!
Signing off for now
Jane & Team Laying Waste Media
Imagine the echoing depths of 60,000 abandoned mines. Now, picture them transformed into a green oasis or even a renewable energy system.
In this week's feature, The Green Tech Paradox, we take a look at the creative repurposing of mining waste and old mine shafts.
Switching gears, did you know that in Australia we throw out 22 kilos of electronic waste per capita each year - that’s about 113 iPhones per person. Each of those devices contains minerals and materials that can be recycled and reused, read how we can accomplish this in Old Phones,Greener Future.
Our Top 3 News Stories From The Week
01/. 🇪🇺 The EU Parliament has reached a provisional agreement to ban ‘greenwashing’ in advertising products and services.
If it passes into law, businesses selling in the EU will need to verify generic environmental claims such as being ‘carbon-neutral’ and claims based on 'emissions offsetting schemes that a product has neutral, reduced or positive impact on the environment’
“We are clearing the chaos of environmental claims, which will now have to be substantiated, and claims based on emissions offsetting will be banned.” says Biljana Borzan, MEP and EU Parliament rapporteur.
Eight types of environmental claims have been added, including generic environmental claims, commercial communications about the durability and repair of a product, software updates to a product, sustainability labelling and guarantees.
The MEPs will vote on the deal in November. If it passes, member states will have 24 months to add the new rules to their legislation. More here.
02/. 🇺🇸 New York Climate Week News: The World Economic Forum has partnered with Australian Climate Ecosystem Greenhouse to launch the global Near-Zero Steel 2030 Challenge.
The goal of the multi-year challenge is to identify and bring together innovative companies working on the demand, supply and technologies needed to produce near-zero emissions steel.
Globally, the steel industry accounts for around 2.8 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions per year, or 8% of total energy system emissions (IEA, 2020).
The initiative is sponsored by the WEF First Movers Coalition, an alliance of companies using their purchasing power to create early markets for innovative clean technologies across eight sectors.
To learn more about how to get involved, check it out here.
03/. 🐨 The NSW State Government announced its 2023-2024 Budget, featuring investment in the environmental initiatives protecting our beloved koalas here in the Macarthur region and their habitat.
Highlights include an $80.6M allocation for koala protection, funding three safe crossings on Appin Road, boosting the Macarthur region's Koala Care Centre, and investing in the Georges River National Park.
To safeguard biodiversity across Western Sydney, the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan is also set to receive a substantial boost with an investment of $103.6M through 2024-25.
More environmental budget highlights here.
🏆 Awards
This could be your chance to be at COP28 - there's only one week to go before the global NZIM - The Net-Zero Industries Mission Award closes on 30 September 2023.
The awards honour the world’s best innovations for industrial decarbonisation.
There are three categories including: Outstanding Projects, Female Innovators and Young Talent. More info on submissions here
📅 Social Diary
The sun is out and so are we, here are some upcoming October events for Spring to check out:
Queensland Waste & Recovery Forum - 5th October
Hosted by the WMRR, the forum will bring together all levels of government with local and national industry experts to discuss the current challenges and future opportunities on the path to 80%, as they apply to the Queensland sector. Grab a ticket here.
Waste Expo October Melbourne - 25 - 26 October, MCEC
Waste Expo Australia is a free-to-attend event that is the largest gathering of waste management and resource recovery professionals in the country. Register here at Waste Expo Australia website.
📖 Kindle Book Of The Week
We're reading Strategies for the Green Economy: Opportunities and Challenges in the New World of Business by Joel Makower
One of the world's foremost green business experts, Joel Makower offers insights and inspiration from his 20 years' experience helping Fortune 500 companies and start-ups alike formulate strategies that align environmental and business goals. Available here.
⚡ Now if you've reached the end of this week's newsletter, here's our fun fact for you....
⚡ If a nanosecond were represented as a piece of wire, it would be as long as a ruler, about 11.8 inches or roughly 29.98 centimetres long.📏
Thank you for reading this far! If you have a story to share feel free to DM the team or email us team@layingwastemedia.com.au
