Managing plastic and other waste materials is a growing challenge for governments, businesses and communities. Impact Priority 2 (IP2) supports evidence-based solutions to reduce waste, improve resource recovery and minimise environmental harm. This research informs policy, industry best practices and community engagement to drive meaningful change. Our research is focused on two key areas:
Understanding where microplastics come from, how they move through the environment, and how to reduce their impact.
Why?
Microplastics are now found everywhere—from remote environments to the food we eat. Understanding their sources, pathways, and impacts is essential to designing effective strategies to reduce pollution and protect ecosystems.
Who?
Project leads:
- Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO, UNSW Sydney
- Dr Rumana Hossain, UNSW Sydney
Project team:
- Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO, UNSW Sydney
- Dr Rumana Hossain, UNSW Sydney
- Sofia Payel, UNSW Sydney
- Asiyeh Kheradmand, UNSW Sydney
- Dr Sanjith Udayakumar, UNSW Sydney
What?
This project focuses on:
- Tracking microplastic pollution – Identifying key sources such as tyres, textiles, and packaging.
- Understanding pathways – Investigating how microplastics move through air, water, and soil.
- Citizen science and education – Engaging schools and communities in monitoring and reducing microplastic pollution.
- Supporting policy and industry action – Providing evidence to inform better product design and regulation.
What’s coming?
- Results from new microplastic tracking studies.
- Educational tools and resources for schools and communities.
- A web tool to help stakeholders understand microplastic sources and solutions.
- Recommendations for reducing microplastic pollution through policy and industry change.
Project outputs:
Paper: Analytical Advances and Regulatory Gaps in Tyre and Road Wear Particle Pollution (Mar 2026)
Paper: A comprehensive toolkit for micro- to nanoplastic analysis (Dec 2025)
Paper: Understanding microplastics generated from polypropylene bottles (Dec 2025)
Paper: Microplastics pollution in Australia: Sources, impacts, and mitigation strategies (June 2025)
Progress Report: Understanding Microplastics (May 2025)
Factsheet: Synthetic Turf Microplastics (Mar 2025)
Report: Synthetic Turf Microplastics (Mar 2025)
Factsheet: Investigating Tyre and Road Wear Particles (Feb 2025)
Report: Investigating Tyre and Road Wear Particles (Feb 2025)
Factsheet: Selecting sites for Microplastic Sampling (Feb 2025)
Report: Selecting Sites for Microplastic Sampling and Analysis (Jan 2025)
Factsheets: Tackling Ghost Nets and Marine Debris with Indigenous Rangers (Aug 2024)
Initial Report: Microplastics from Road and Tyre Dust (Oct 2024)
Supporting local councils and industries in developing practical circular economy opportunities for managing waste more effectively.
Why?
Regional and remote areas face unique waste management challenges, from limited recycling infrastructure to market barriers for recovered materials. By supporting circular economy solutions, we can help communities reduce waste, create local jobs, and improve resource recovery.
Who?
Project leads:
- Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO, UNSW Sydney
- Dr Rumana Hossain, UNSW Sydney
Project team:
- Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO, UNSW Sydney
- Dr Rumana Hossain, UNSW Sydney
- Dr Heriyanto, UNSW Sydney
- Ayub Ali, UNSW Sydney
What?
This project explores:
- Improving waste terminology and knowledge – Making circular economy concepts more accessible to local councils, businesses, and communities.
- Case studies of successful circular economy initiatives – Showcasing what works and why.
- Connecting stakeholders – Supporting collaboration between councils, industry, and government to drive practical solutions.
- Policy and regulatory support – Providing evidence to help shape effective waste management policies.
What’s coming?
- A plain-language guide to circular economy principles for councils and businesses.
- Case studies highlighting successful waste reduction and recovery initiatives.
- A curated Q&A forum answering real-world stakeholder questions.
- Visual tools and videos explaining circular economy solutions.
Project outputs:
Northern Territory Demonstration of Microrecycling for Multilayer Packaging Waste (December 2025)
Report: Indian Ocean Territories case study report (Mar 2025)
Factsheet: Understanding and Defining Regional and Remote Areas (Feb 2025)
Report: Understanding and Defining Regional and Remote Areas (Jan 2025)
Report: Technical Survey for the Development of a Technology Road Map (Oct 2024)
Developing a roadmap to create value from waste solar panels through recycling solutions that support economic growth and reduce carbon emissions.
Why?
As Australia expands its clean energy systems, the number of end-of-life (EoL) solar panels is set to rise sharply, reaching hundreds of thousands of tonnes by 2040. These panels contain valuable materials such as silver, copper, aluminium, and silicon, which are critical resources for industries. Currently, recycling often targets only frames and glass, leaving much of this value behind. This study will deliver a roadmap for scalable recycling solutions that can recover and repurpose EoL solar panel materials, helping to reduce reliance on virgin mining, lower emissions, and extend the lifecycle of solar technologies.
Who?
Project Lead:
- Prof. Veena Sahajwalla AO, UNSW Sydney
- Dr. Rasoul Nekouei, UNSW Sydney
Team:
- Srini Raghavan (Research Assistant)
- Montajar Sarkar (Research Assistant)
- Rehan Khalid (Research Assistant)
- working with partners across government, industry and the community.
What?
This project will:
- Explore new and existing recycling methods to recover high-value materials from EoL solar panels.
- Investigate opportunities to create higher-value products for use in sectors such as electronics, steelmaking, and manufacturing.
- Deliver a roadmap that identifies short- and long-term opportunities for industry adoption.
What’s Coming?
- Collect data on recycling and remanufacturing methods applied to EoL solar panels.
- Assess the cost, environmental impact, and scalability of products from the investigated technologies.
- Conduct stakeholder workshops to shape criteria, adoption pathways, and policy-enabling information.
- Publish a roadmap outlining near-term (<5 years) and long-term (>5 years) solutions, tailored for Australian contexts, with clear economic, environmental, and social benefits.
Exploring the environmental risks of using plastic-reinforced concrete in artificial reefs.
Why?
Plastic fibres are increasingly used in concrete reef modules, but little is known about their long-term environmental impacts. This project reviewed current science and gathered expert insights to inform safer reef design and policy.
Who?
Project team:
- Anissa Lawrence, TierraMar
- Dr Raymond Nias, TierraMar
- Jessica Nias, TierraMar
What?
- Investigated how plastic fibres degrade and leach chemicals in marine environments.
- Reviewed alternatives like hemp, mussel shells and ceramics.
- Informed permitting processes and monitoring frameworks.
Project outputs:
Report: Environmental considerations of plastic-reinforced concrete in artificial reefs
