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Image L-R: Todd Redwood - Deputy Mayor Armidale Regional Council, Michael Sharpe - Chair SCaW Hub, Kate McGrath - Job Coordinator Local Jobs Program, Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO, Sam Coupland - Mayor Armidale Regional Council, Robert Bell - Mayor Uralla Shire Council (Source: Kate McGrath)
UNSW SMaRT Centre Director Prof Veena Sahajwalla joined leaders and decision makers in the New England and North West regions of NSW recently for a range of meetings and discussions about innovative waste and recycling technologies and creating localised circular economies.
Prof Veena did talks and presentations to local councils and leaders exploring how fit-for-purpose recycling technologies like SMaRT's MICROfatoriesTM could help respond to growing waste management pressures while supporting local employment and regional resilience.
With her was Michael Sharpe, Independent Chair of the SMaRT-hosted Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub, as they met with local government representatives and regional stakeholders to discuss these challenges and potential solutions.
The discussions are looking to establish projects under the National Environmental Science Program’s Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub, which Veena and the UNSW SMaRT Centre lead, under the Hub's Fit for Purpose Technological Recycling Solutions project stream.
The talks focused on SMaRT's various MICROfactorieTM Technologies and explored key issues and opportunities related to plastics recycling and circular economy pathways in regional NSW, and to enable knowledge sharing between SMaRT and local stakeholders.
Talks focused on challenges relating to recycling and resource recovery in regional contexts, innovative, decentralised solutions such as MICROfactorieTM Technologies and collaborative opportunities and potential regional applications.
Job Coordinator in the New England North West Local Jobs Program, Kate McGrath, said circular economy initiatives are game changers for regional employment.
“By transforming waste into valuable resources, these innovations create new opportunities in advanced manufacturing, recycling and renewable energy sectors. They not only support sustainability but also help build resilient local economies and skilled jobs in emerging industries."
Co-developing research together with stakeholders
Workshops were held in Tamworth and Armidale, bringing together councils, regional waste organisations and state government representatives.
The Tamworth workshop included:
- Northern Inland Regional Waste
- Gunnedah Shire Council
- Tamworth Regional Council
- Staff from the Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development.
The Armidale workshop included staff and elected representatives from Armidale Regional Council and Uralla Shire Council.
Discussions highlighted the increasing regulatory and compliance requirements facing local governments, alongside the need to increase resource recovery and reduce reliance on landfill.
Exploring recycling opportunities
Participants discussed a range of fit-for-purpose recycling technologies that could help manage current and emerging waste streams in regional contexts. Areas of interest align with the Hub’s Impact Priority 2 – Plastic and waste materials project. These include recycling pathways for solar panels associated with future renewable energy development.
Armidale Regional Council Mayor Sam Coupland said the LGA was thrilled to host Hub leader Prof Sahajwalla.
“The visit was very timely as the discussion turned to the potential to develop a micro-factory capable of processing solar panels and other waste products that will result from the creation of the New England Renewable Energy Zone.”
Read the latest research report:
Technological solutions for circular economies in regional and remote Australia