ZWA full text

Interaction and participation will be a key element to the Zero Waste Summit 2010

Kim — Wed, 05 May 2010 01:17:35 -0400

Interaction and participation will be a key element to the Zero Waste Summit 2010

We have had a great response to our call for papers and we will have an excellent line up of keynote speakers as well. We are also aiming to have a number of round tables to ensure that we have significant opportunities for delegates to participate and get issues raised. To that end we will ask delegates to submit questions to the round table moderators who will use the opportunity to put the issues to panel members.

The Zero Waste Summit 2010 will have plenary sessions as well as streams on Organics, Water, Technology and Energy. Stream Chairs will help identify and colate issues raised and then these will be discussed in the roundtables.

Closer to the day we will announce the stream chairs and the moderators for the round tables. In this way we hope to give our members and delegates a unique opportunity to engage in discussion of the issues facing anybody bold enough to aspire to Zero Waste Outcomes.

Comprehensive notes from Zero Waste Australia Conference 2009 available.

Kim — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:06:41 -0400

When you join Zero Waste Australia you will receive an excellent summary of the speakers and discussions at our conference last year which ran on the 30th November through to the 1st of December in Sydney

to view the contents and summary of Minister Peter Garret's Presentation Click > Here

This comprehensive summary was compiled by Gus Sharpe of Carbon Innovation Pty Limited.

Regards

Gerry Gillespie

President

Zero Waste Australia

Contacts for Zero Waste Australia

Become a member of ZWA and you will be eligible to receive up to 20% discount on the Summit registration..

Kim — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

If you join as an Individual member of Zero Waste Australia which costs $55.00 including GSTyou will receive up to 20% discount on the registration fees for the Zero Waste Summit.

All other memberships must be applied for in writing. Our
constitution states that all organisational members must be approved by
the board of Zero Waste Australia. Simply download
the application form, fill it in and send it to us. By Fax on 02
61039023 or please email them as attachments to enquiries@zerowasteaustralia.org
. Then once your membership application has been approved we will send
you back an invoice for payment.

Call for papers to be presented at the Zero Waste Summit 2010 closes today.

Kim — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 01:00:00 -0400

Do you have a suggestion on a Topic(s) which is relevant and would
add value to the Zero Waste Summit 2010 programme?
If so we would like to hear from you. We are now accepting papers
which cover experiences, emerging technologies, operational issues,
policy matters affecting sustainable solutions in waste recycling.
Please click here and fill in the form to submit your
entry.

Deadline for
submissions is 5.00pm Friday 7th May.

See Peter Garrett address to Zero Waste Summit 2009

Kim — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:09:37 -0400

The Hon Peter Garrett MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Gave the opening address for the Zero Waste Summit held in Sydney on the 30th November and 1st December it provided a timely focus on the future prospects for the waste industry in a Climate Change world.

Groundswell

Kim — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:23:01 -0500

The wider economic viability of collecting and composting urban organic waste for use as a cost effective, high quality agricultural input is about to be put to the test as part of a new partnership project between farmers and the Goulburn Mulwaree, Palerang, Queanbeyan City and Lachlan Councils.

The Groundswell project will get underway in Condobolin, in the Lachlan Shire, where collections are scheduled to start in May 2008, with collections to follow in Goulburn (August 2008), Queanbeyan and Palerang Shires (November 2008).

Developed in partnership with the Wiradjuri Condobolin Aboriginal Corporation, the Palerang Agricultural Society, Bettergrow, Zero Waste Australia and the South East office of the DECC Sustainability Programs Division, Groundswell builds on the successful City to Soil project run by DECC and Queanbeyan City Council in 2004.

City to Soil demonstrated that high quality, organic wastes from urban communities can be collected, composted and used in agriculture with positive economic and environmental results for farmers.

Going a step further, Groundswell will quantify the economic benefits to agriculture of returning quality organic product to soil and will identify models for the development of a permanent ‘pull’ market for recycled urban organics into agriculture.

For more information contact Gerry Gillespie on (02) 6229 7135

Zero Waste Summit - 13th, 14th and 15th September 2010

Kim — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:34:01 -0400

Member delegates are
eligible for a 20% discount if you register for the Zero Waste Summit 2010
Which is being held at Luna Park in Sydney,
Australia on 13-15 September
2010. Please contact Kim Russell on 0428 696350 or the event organizer, Peter Evans (

PETER EVANS | conference
producer

Director
ph: +61 2 8908 8538  |
fx:
+61 2 8908 8556  |   www.acevents.com.

The event is
being held over three days with an international day on Day One. We are
leveraging our contacts within the Zero
Waste International Alliance as we want to encourage international speakers and delegates to
attend this event. We are currently building the programme and sending invites
out to speakers from around the World. We should have this completed in the
next few weeks.

You will see from the event
website we have managed to secure The Hon. Peter Garrett MP, Federal
Minister for the Department of the Environment. This is of particular
interest given Federal Ministers rarely give their time to attend events unless
they are of significant importance. There is a growing awareness in Australia of the importance of adopting a
Zero Waste culture and the benefits this will bring to the environment and
ultimately to society. The timing for this event is perfect and I would like to
invite you and your colleagues to attend the event.

I look forward to hearing
from you and welcoming you to the Summit.

Kim Russell

Director

Zimbabwe bike project to help workers.

Kim — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:19:44 -0400

Donating your old bike to Revolve could mean a life-changing experience for a family in Zimbabwe, according to Zero Waste Australia Executive Officer, Kim Russell.

"We are partnering with Revolve to transport bikes donated by the Canberra regional community to families in Zimbabwe: said Mr Russell. "Many people in Zimbabwe who still have work, have a hard time paying to get to work with the rising costs of transport. Some of them are walking up to 20 miles a day to get to their job because they can no longer afford the inflationary cost of bus fare".

"A bike can change all that." said Mr Russell. "We are also looking to groups such as Service Clubs and Men's sheds to help us build small trailers and cages so that people can carry goods on their donated bikes as well" he added.

The Zimbabwe connection came about through Zero Wastes international connections and the family relationship between Kim Russell and cousin, Jim Holland who is the husband of Special Minister of State for Zimbabwe, Sekai Hove who is supporting the project.

"We really do appreciate the project and feel that the provision of bicycles will make a gret difference to people who cannot afford the expensive trips to and from their workplace" said Mr Holland.

"Our organisation, the Zimbabwe 3rd Millennium Foundation Trust, is registered as a trust. We will get the bikes into Zimbabwe with the help of the Association of Women's Clubs (AWC). They will get the bikes through customs and have plenty of storage space." he added.

Mr Holland is working on a program of distribution and accountability. He will be prioritising the people most in need and making arrangements for a maintenance program for the bicycles.

It is hoped to develop a "Register of Need". Once this is established, specific bikes and materials could be targeted to a given region or a particular family.

ZimBike a joint project with Revolve.

Kim — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:34:01 -0400

Due to the planned eviction of revolve from its current site this project is on hold until we can identify an opportunity to complete this project.

Zimbike

Life-changing Transport

Donating your old bike to Revolve could mean a life-changing experience for a family in Zimbabwe, according to Zero Waste Australia Executive Officer, Kim Russell.

“We are partnering with Revolve to transport bikes donated by the Canberra regional community to families in Zimbabwe: said Mr Russell. “Many people in Zimbabwe who still have work, have a hard time paying to get to work with the rising costs of transport. Some of them are walking up to 20 miles a day to get to their job because they can no longer afford the inflationary cost of bus fare”.

“A bike can change all that.” said Mr Russell. “We are also looking to groups such as Service Clubs and Men’s sheds to help us build small trailers and cages so that people can carry goods on their donated bikes as well” he added.

“We really do appreciate the project and feel that the provision of bicycles will make a gret difference to people who cannot afford the expensive trips to and from their workplace” said Mr Holland.

“Our organisation, the Zimbabwe 3rd Millennium Foundation Trust, is registered as a trust. We will get the bikes into Zimbabwe with the help of the Association of Women's Clubs (AWC). They will get the bikes through customs and have plenty of storage space.” he added.

Mr Holland is working on a program of distribution and accountability. He will be prioritising the people most in need and making arrangements for a maintenance program for the bicycles.

It is hoped to develop a “Register of Need”. Once this is established, specific bikes and materials could be targeted to a given region or a particular family.

ABC Australian Story "Back to Earth"

Kim — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:54:29 -0400

Finally after 18 months, here is my story! Please let people in your network know. If you miss Monday's edition you can watch a repeat on ABC or watch the full program on the ABC Australian Story page. On that internet page there will also be a gallery of interviews & photo's after the show I'm told. After the show you can enter comments in the Guestbook and react to statements by others. What is the future of Biological Farming? How do we get healthy food production systems? How do we get carbon in the soil? Do we need GM?

ABC Australian Story "Back to Earth" on Monday 1 June 2009 at 8.00 pm (EST) and repeated on Saturday 6 June at 12.30 pm; also on ABC2: Tuesday 2 June at 8.00pm.

Watch a preview: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/default.htm

Dr Maarten Stapper is a man with some fascinating ideas on how to manage our land better.

He is unconventional, stubborn and difficult. Not even a near-fatal car accident could slow him down in his mission to feed the world using less chemicals.

As an advocate for biological farming, Dr Stapper has paid a high price for promoting a greener, cleaner way to grow food. Originally a CSIRO scientist, he left when it became clear his views on biological farming were incompatible with his employer.

Today, he travels the country to educate farmers on how to use less chemicals in their soil and on their crops.

Saudi prince develops ‘date detox’ in Belfast

Kim — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:08:54 -0500

Deserts could soon be irrigated with date stones under a process developed by
a Saudi royal studying at Queen’s University Belfast.

Prince Abdulrahman Bandar Al-Saud has found a novel use for the millions of
date stones that are thrown away in his country each year, devising a method
of using the carbon-rich seeds to purify waste water and industrial effluent.

The nephew of King Abdullah worked on the system as part of his PhD study at
Queen’s school of chemistry and chemical engineering.

For more click here.

Four Small Business Centers Get Big Grants for Energy Efficiency Assistance

Kim — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:13:42 -0500

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Business development centers in Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada and New York are receiving a total of $500,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help fund energy efficiency projects.

The grants, announced yesterday, were awarded under the SBA's Small Business Sustainability Initiative and are to fund programs that range from education, information and training to purchasing and installation of energy efficient building fixtures and equipment.

For more click here.

Low carbon target still a threat to agriculture: NFF

Kim — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:12:33 -0500

Despite agriculture not being included in the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the low targets that have been set, the Federal Government must still take steps to ensure our food production is not compromised, according to the National Farmers' Federation.

The Federal Government today set a target of a 5-15pc cut in emissions by 2020, with the levels to depend on global agreements.

But NFF president David Crombie says the CPRS will still cause significant pain to businesses.

"It could potentially cripple Australia's food production, hinder our self-sufficient food supply and drastically slash our global competitiveness, adding excess baggage to our $30 billion a year export sector," Mr Crombie said.

For more click here.

Australian LNG Producers Win Concessions on Carbon

Kim — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:08:32 -0500

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Chevron Corp. and other liquefied natural gas producers in Australia won concessions that may reduce the cost to their businesses of Australia's planned carbon trading system.

The LNG industry was included among emissions-intensive businesses exposed to international trade that will probably qualify for some free permits under the design of the system announced today by Climate Change Minister Penny Wong. LNG wasn't eligible for any free permits under the government's draft proposal, causing companies to warn investments in new projects were at risk.

For more click here.

Requiring home energy audits up for council vote

Kim — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:09:41 -0500

Starting next summer, Austin homeowners would be required to have their homes checked for energy efficiency before selling their property under an ordinance being considered today by the City Council.

Homeowners would also be required to share the result of their efficiency audit, likely to cost between $200 and $300, with potential homebuyers.

Any upgrades would be voluntary, although officials are hoping that the disclosures would prompt either buyers or sellers to gradually make improvements that will cut energy use in the city. The ordinance includes a goal of having 25 percent of homes sold between June 2009 and 2010 to have some sort of upgrades, and then more homes in subsequent years.

For more click here.