Waste Management stories
Facial recognition and reward points are being trialled to lift China’s recycling rate as waste volumes outpace the US by 2030.
Poorer collaboration is slowing projects, but digitisation, prefab and greener materials are reshaping New Zealand and Australia’s building sector.
Plastic waste could cost EU taxpayers or shoppers more as Brussels moves to levy EUR €0.80 per kilogramme on unrecycled packaging.
Residents and businesses could soon see smarter lighting, bins and parking as Spark’s 5G rollout supports IoT across Auckland’s CBD.
A global push to cut plastic pollution would need at least one billion volunteers just for clean-ups, researchers warn.
Short-term pain from Covid-19 and delayed projects is being offset by record infrastructure spending, with many contractors still hiring.
A new Australian process could cut tyre waste and supply low-sulphur oil, carbon and steel for refining and manufacturing.
Even an ideal recycling system would cut plastics-sector emissions by only 14% by 2050, leaving major producers still far from net zero.
Experts say the $50 billion COVID-19 recovery plan will lift jobs and infrastructure, but warn it leaves big tax and housing gaps.
Recognition of waste-to-energy plants as essential has sharpened focus on their role in safely treating infectious rubbish during the pandemic.
Bond markets and prolonged virus disruption could strain weaker firms, with airlines, shipping and non-food retail facing the biggest risk.
The new plant will treat 40,000 tonnes of hazardous waste a year, helping Shanghai industry meet stricter emissions standards.
A waxworm’s gut microbes could help scientists devise ways to break down polyethylene, offering a possible route to curb mounting plastic pollution.
Youth, immigrants and urban Maori are most at risk as planners warn New Zealand must better reflect its diverse communities.
Recycling plants are cutting contamination and costs as nearly 100 AI-powered machines take over the tedious sorting humans often get wrong.
Environmental pressure is forcing China to curb single-use plastics, with major cities set to lose plastic bags by year-end.
Investors may pour more money into low-carbon projects this year, but election outcomes and climate shocks could still slow decarbonisation.
Rising visitor numbers are putting New Zealand’s lakes, tracks and towns under strain, with a watchdog warning current policy will not curb damage.
Apple accused of encouraging obsolescence, says UNSW industrial design expert. Manufacturers should do more to make products last longer.
Vertel and Ondacomms join forces to provide waste management service, Grasshopper Environmental, with wide-area radio solution.