Waste as a resource

Hub leader Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO has called on policymakers, industry and communities to embrace a new vision for Australia’s waste in her National Press Club address in Canberra yesterday.

A new paper published by the Hub's Impact Priority 3 - Hazardous Waste and Pollutants team reviews current challenges and research needs for managing contaminants and chemicals in waste streams as part of a circular economy. 

The Hub’s Impact Priority 2 – Plastic and Waste Materials team recently contributed to the UNSW Sustainability Showcase at NSW Parliament House.

Hub researcher Heriyanto presented at the TEFMA25 conference on Impact Priority 2: Plastic and waste materials research. 

Hub leader Veena Sahajwalla AO has spoken to the Infrastructure Connections podcast about circular innovation, remanufacturing from waste materials and micro-recycling.

Ku-ring-gai Council and AUSMAP (Australian Microplastic Assessment Project) have visited UNSW labs as part of the Hub's synthetic grass microplastics project.  

To support safe recycling and reuse, the Hub’s Impact Pri

Hub leader, Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO, has encouraged Australians to think about the durability and end-of-life destination of

The Hub is working with communities, industry, government and researchers across Australia to deliver practical, evidence-based solutions for a healthier environment and towards a circular economy.

Hub leader Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO won the Excellence in Sustainable Innovation (Industrial) Award at the 2025 Vogue Codes Summit.

The Hub congratulates Heinz Schandl on receiving the 2025 Society Prize from the International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE).

“End of life products are literally just products waiting to be remade into something else.” 

Circular economy experts from the Sustainable Communities and Waste were invited to take part in the Regional Circular Economy Summit on Phillip Island, hosted by Bass Coast Shire Council.

Learn how we're working across Australia to reduce the impact of plastics on people and the environment.

Hub staff are taking part in a panel at the Regional Circular Economy Summit to support the shift toward circularity. 

Hub leader Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO participated in a judging panel for Rotary's Pitch for Purpose event as part of the Sustainability and Humanitarian Summit.

Hub leader Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO recently joined CNBC’s IoT: Enabling Sustainability Through Technology panel to discuss the role of technology in advancing sustainability. 

The Plastic and Waste Materials team set up a stall to showcase how innovative waste solutions can drive sustainability as part of the transition to a circular economy.