ORCID Profile
0000-0001-8985-0383
Current Organisation
Curtin University
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2013
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-2009
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 03-08-2023
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS202308.0252.V1
Abstract: Findings primarily drawn from literature review and interviews with professional resource persons suggest that although the RMG industry of Bangladesh has made substantial progress in correcting structural risks within factory buildings, fire still remains an unresolved issue posing unceasing threat to safety. These findings are significant for all stakeholders within the global supply chain network of Bangladesh, concerned with improving sustainability of the RMG industry and seeking to outline the responsibilities for each group of actors towards preventing building disasters. Both Tazreen Fashion fire incident and the Rana Plaza building collapse served as ‘critical junctures’ in rapid transfer of physical technology to enhance structural safety and streamline production planning within the RMG manufacturing factories within Bangladesh. However, the transfer of social technology within the supply chain network of a developing nation in areas such as development of organisational safety culture or promoting workplace ethics, requires long-term planning and prolonged practices. The paper thus concludes that in developing countries, transfer of physical technology is more readily achievable than the adoption of social technology.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 06-03-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU14053061
Abstract: Waste management directly and indirectly contributes to all sustainable development goals. Hence, the modernisation of the current ineffective management system through Industry 4.0-compatible technologies is urgently needed. Inspired by the fourth industrial revaluation, this study explores the potential application of waste management 4.0 in a local government area in Perth, Western Australia. The study considers a systematic literature review as part of an exploratory investigation of the current applications and practices of Industry 4.0 in the waste industry. Moreover, the study develops and tests a machine learning model to identify and measure household waste contamination as a waste management 4.0 case study application. The study reveals that waste management 4.0 offers various opportunities and sustainability benefits in reducing costs, improving efficiency in the supply chain and material flow, and reducing as well as eliminating waste by achieving holistic circular economy goals. The significant barriers and challenges involve initial investments in developing and maintaining waste management 4.0 technology, platform and data acquisition. The proof-of-concept case study on the machine learning model detects selected waste with considerable precision (over 70% for selected items). The number and quality of the labelled data significantly influences the model’s accuracy. The data on waste contamination are essential for local governments to explore household waste recycling practices besides developing effective waste education and communication methods. The study concludes that waste management 4.0 can be an effective tool for acquiring real-time data however, overcoming the current limitations needs to be addressed before applying waste management 4.0 into practice.
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 11-09-2017
DOI: 10.1108/IJDRBE-05-2016-0022
Abstract: This study aims to support the development risk management strategies towards improving the resilience of assets located in the estuary and lower level of the Swan River, Western Australia. The study evaluated the key role of Federal/State policies in adaptation planning and the communication and interface between various stakeholders, including State/Local governments, construction professionals, property developers and landowners. The study applied a mixed research approach through a questionnaire survey followed by an in-depth interview involving local construction experts. Collected data were analysed following the grounded theory methodology style of data analysis. The findings revealed a convoluted understanding of communication networks and responsibility for owning the future risks between relevant stakeholders. As a result, a framework illustrating clear process and roles in mitigating risk and implementing adaptive asset management measures has been formulated and presented in this study. Scientific evidence suggested that sea-level rise and increased frequency of major coastal flooding events are inevitable as early as 2100, and having a comprehensive risk management plan of assets to anticipate climate risks and to improve urban resilience is essential. The proposed framework is aimed at local stakeholders in improving current state of communication and adaptation planning as a pathway to develop a robust risk management strategy.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 21-06-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-02-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S42055-021-00043-8
Abstract: Plastics were considered as a magical material owing to their strong, non-degradable and versatile characteristics. After five decades of mass application, plastics’ property of non-biodegradability has become one of the key concerns for scientists, civil society and government owing to the pollution and damage that plastics cause to our environment. Globally we have generated 8.3bn tonnes of plastics since 1950s and around 9% has been recycled, 12% incinerated and the remaining 79% of the plastics has ended up in the environment. The core question is, should this waste be minimised through the zero-waste agenda or banned through the toxic-waste agenda? The study analyses the zero plastic waste agenda and the toxic plastic waste agenda. It analyses zero-waste practices at different levels including family to community, industry and city levels. In addition, the study investigates the need to phase out toxic plastics. The study identified the need for both approaches. As plastics promote the throwaway living which is responsible for generating undesirable waste, it should be tackled through better design principles and sustainable consumption practices for the short-term agenda. The study proposes a strategic zero plastic waste framework for moving towards a zero plastic waste society. At the same time, there is a need to identify those plastics that are leading to serious and toxic impacts through micro-particles that necessitate them to be phased out more quickly through transitioning to bio-plastics. Both zero plastic and zero toxic agendas are urgently needed. The study concludes that at least three things in the short term need to be implemented simultaneously to achieve a zero plastic waste society. Firstly, through zero-waste design - to eliminate creating any unnecessary plastic waste through closed-loop design thinking. Secondly, through responsible and collaborative consumption - to avoid and reduce generating avoidable plastic waste. Finally, through zero-waste management - to prioritise the value, retain the wasted materials and recover all resources. The study also establishes that a new long-term agenda needs to be created to identify those plastics that must be phased out owing to their toxicity. Consequently, the study suggests a process to achieve it in line with the transition to the post fossil-fuel era through United Nations initiatives as a joint action of the Paris Agreement and the Basel Convention.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 03-09-2018
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS201809.0037.V1
Abstract: This study analyses the case study of a deconstruction project called the ‘Whole House Reuse’ (WHR) which aimed, firstly, to harvest materials from a residential house, secondly, to produce new products using the recovered materials, and thirdly, to organize exhibition for the local public to promote awareness on resource conservation and sustainable deconstruction practices. The study applies characterization of recovered materials through deconstruction. In addition to the material recovery, the study assesses the embodied energy saving and greenhouse gas emission abatement of the deconstruction project. Around twelve tonnes of various construction materials were harvested through a systematic deconstruction approach, most which would otherwise be disposed to landfill in the traditional demolition approach. The study estimates that the recovered materials could potentially save around 502,158MJ of embodied energy and prevent carbon emission of around 27,029kg (CO2e). Deconstruction could eventually contribute to New Zealand’s national emission reduction targets. In addition, the project successfully engages local communities and designers to produce 400 new products using the recovered materials and exhibited to the local people. The study concludes that there is a huge prospect in regard to resource recovery, emission reduction, employment and small business opportunities using deconstruction of the old house. The socio-cultural importance of the WHR project is definitely immense however, the greater benefits of such projects are often ignored and remain unreported to wider audiences as most of the external and environmental costs have not been considered in the traditional linear economy. It is acknowledged that under a favourable market condition and with appropriate support from local communities and authorities, deconstruction could contribute significantly to resource conservation and environmental protection despite its requirement of labour intensive efforts.
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 05-03-2018
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate ways of transferring knowledge and information during the life-cycle phases of construction projects, particularly between the construction and occupancy phases, and to find an approach to minimise knowledge and information gaps during the handover process. The study applied a qualitative approach involving a literature review and an archival analysis of information flow in the studied cases of a construction project, followed by a cross-cases analysis and expert interviews. Data on information flow were collected from three cases of building construction projects in Perth, Western Australia. In addition, a total of 18 local facilities management experts were interviewed to identify the key reasons of knowledge and information gaps and to propose an effective knowledge flow model. The findings of this study indicated a significant knowledge and information gap, which exists during the handover process in construction projects in Western Australia. The findings of case analysis and expert interviews identified that the project handover guidelines were often ignored in construction projects in Western Australia, and the handover phase was not given the same priority as the design and construction phases by most of the project stakeholders, which led to information and knowledge gaps between the project construction and post-occupancy phases. The study conducted, integrated knowledge and information flow modelling to analyse the knowledge and information gaps followed by mapping the gaps against existing knowledge sharing frameworks (KSFs) before proposing an integrated knowledge sharing conceptual model to improve current practice and to enhance the information flow during the various phases of the construction project life cycle. The study is based on three cases in Perth, Western Australia, and thus the findings and recommendations are contextual. Whilst laying a good foundation to do so, further research is needed to investigate more cases in Western Australia and beyond to fully generalise the findings from this study. The study contributes to improve the handover process and information flows in project life-cycle phases in Western Australia and develop an information flow model followed by bringing together existing KSFs, namely, the open communication channel (OCC), soft landing framework (SLF) and building information modelling (BIM), to propose an integrated knowledge sharing conceptual model. The methodology used here to analyse the information flow in a diagrammatic manner, the mapping of FM issues against the KSFs’ capabilities and a conceptual model to facilitate change in the industry’s silo mindset are the main contributions of this paper.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2020
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 03-02-2020
DOI: 10.1108/JEDT-09-2019-0246
Abstract: Off-site manufacturing (OSM) application in vertically higher and spatially larger projects within Western Australian (WA) commercial sector has demonstrated the potential of benefitting from such a construction technique, but introducing a new methodology to a traditional sector such as commercial sector is not always straightforward. The acceptance of the new methodology, level of awareness of the stakeholders involved and the readiness of the supply chain to deliver, for instance, may influence the success of its implementation. Given the infancy of such methodology in the WA construction industry, this research project aims to analyse factors influencing the implementation of OSM construction method in WA. Following a thorough literature review, an existing research agenda in OSM was used to inform the direction of this research, i.e. focussing on external macro aspects of the decision making to implement OSM. Three projects in WA were studied, and the data collection was facilitated through archival study and semi-structured interviews with construction practitioners who were the stakeholders of the three projects. Data analysis was conducted through content analysis to draw the findings and conclusion of this research. The analysis of the studied cases revealed relevant economic/financial, technological and regulatory factors, as well as social factors influencing the implementation of OSM, particularly in WA commercial projects. These findings were then used to develop an overall understanding of the external macro factors influencing decision making in implementing OSM that forms a formal research agenda aimed at enabling successful implementation of OSM in WA construction industry, particularly in its commercial sector. The research findings presented in this paper identified factors that significantly influence the implementation of such alternative technology in a traditional sector. These factors were then structured to form the subsequent research agenda to continuously pursue the implementation of OSM in the sector. While the research agenda takes into account the unique characteristics of the WA construction industry, it contributes to the global and the Australian national research agenda, and the research methodology reported in this paper can be used to develop similar research agenda elsewhere.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 25-02-2022
Abstract: The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are regarded as the key policy agenda for national, regional, and local government to combat climate change impacts and promote sustainable development. For ex le, in Perth and Peel metropolitan area, the capital city of Western Australia, there has been a shift of policy setting from that of a sprawling city to a denser city, while maintaining and promoting its ecosystem services and achieving sustainable city goals. Residential verge gardens have been widely adopted in recent years by communities and local governments in the Perth metropolitan area. This study reviews the motivations and drivers for the uptake of verge gardens in metropolitan suburbs and identifies potential policy responses. The City of Bayswater local government area was surveyed for this research. The study considers a mixed-methods approach, including site auditing and a questionnaire survey for local residents who have transformed their verges. A total of 534 verge gardens were audited on residential lots, and 166 valid questionnaire responses were received from residents. The site-audit of the verge gardens in Bayswater found that native vegetation is the dominant verge garden of choice, followed by the ornamental garden, with food production (plants/vegetables) seeming to be the least popular option. Regarding the motivations and drivers, the study has found that social (e.g., aesthetics, flowers, social interactions, and social mimicry), environmental (e.g., attracting wildlife and birds and environmental practice waterwise garden), and personal (easy maintenance) drivers are the primary motivators for residents to adopt verge gardens. Whilst the on-ground surveys were prior to COVID-19, the article includes how this topic could relate to pandemic-resilient urban spaces. As local governments look towards supporting the sustainable outcome goals, the observations of this study will be helpful for developing local government policy and community programs in the promotion and uptake of verge gardens in Australian cities.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 21-09-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU141911863
Abstract: The environmental impacts of single-use plastics are increasing worldwide due to the continual rise in consumption and a lack of appropriate collection and management systems in many countries. Various programs, known as container deposit schemes (CDS), have been implemented to improve the collection and recycling of single-use plastic containers. This research investigated the drivers and barriers of CDS uptake in Perth, Western Australia. The study surveyed over 400 in iduals within Perth regarding their engagement with and usage of the local CDS, known as “Containers for Change”, which was implemented in October 2020. This research found that there is a high level of public awareness (98%) of the scheme, and it has been widely adopted across Perth within the first year of its implementation however, logistical challenges and container eligibility were found to be key barriers to the uptake of the scheme. It was noted that there is some skepticism toward waste management practices in Australia, and knowledge of the benefits of CDS appears to be lacking. Recommendations for improving the functionality and uptake of the Containers for Change scheme are to increase the range of bottles accepted within the scheme, create more accessible and convenient drop-off locations for containers, and improve/increase education regarding the benefits of the scheme. This research is limited by a response rate that was dominated by in iduals living in stand-alone houses however, with the majority of Perth residents living in stand-alone houses, this research remains valuable. There is scope for further research into skepticism regarding waste management practices in Australia, as well as the logistical challenges of CDS uptake by apartment dwellers.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-02-2013
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 07-09-2022
DOI: 10.3390/BUILDINGS12091405
Abstract: The construction industry is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gases, accounting for 38% of global carbon emissions. Recently, interest in mass timber construction has grown, due to its potential benefits in reducing environmental impact compared to traditional construction methods that use steel and concrete, and in promoting global sustainability and climate agendas, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global net-zero emissions by 2050. Despite the slow adoption of mass timber construction (MTC) in Australia, some innovative and iconic projects and initiatives have been realised. The research intends to identify critical challenges and potential for broader adoption of MTC in Australia. The study reviewed selected MTC projects, followed by a perception survey and interviews of the relevant industry stakeholders in Australia to understand the key barriers and enablers for the widespread application of MTC in Australia. Significant challenges identified in the research include a lack of understanding of fire safety, regulations, performance, inherent application, and local manufacturers and suppliers, which are yet to be improved. In addition, it was found that prior experience built confidence in the application of MTC. Furthering widespread adoption of MTC technology in Australia beyond cost competitiveness requires the Australian construction industry to work towards developing suitable regulatory and insurance policies, financing, incentivising clients, and a skilled workforce. The study focuses on an investigation in the context of industry perceptions of MTC in Australia. Based on the analysis of the critical characteristics of MTC projects, and using the empirical data, the study identifies key challenges and opportunities in the widespread application of MTC in Australia.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 06-09-2022
Abstract: In 2018–2019, 85% of discarded plastics were landfilled in Australia. In Western Australia (WA), only 5.6% of plastics were recovered for reprocessing. With several Asian Countries imposing import restrictions, which were the prime destination for recyclables from Australia, the whole scenario for the waste industry has changed. Australia has now adopted export bans for recyclables, including plastics. WA is at a fork in the road WA needs to rethink its relationship with plastic materials. This study explores how to create local markets for recycled plastics underpinning circular principles. The study examines barriers and drivers to enable markets for recycled plastics in WA through questionnaires, surveys, and interviews with relevant stakeholders. Poor source separation, low and inconsistent plastic waste feedstock, and virgin plastic competition are some of the challenges, while new investments in recycling infrastructure, WA’s take-back scheme for beverage containers and circularity frameworks are drivers. This study concludes that a modulated fee-based product stewardship model focused on product design, along with strategies such as green procurement and landfill management modifications would promote a circular plastic waste economy in WA. This can create markets for secondary recycled plastics, minimize the over-reliance on fossil fuels and prevent plastics from leaking into ecosystems.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 12-07-2013
Abstract: Sustainable waste management requires an integrated planning and design strategy for reliable forecasting of waste generation, collection, recycling, treatment and disposal for the successful development of future residential precincts. The success of the future development and management of waste relies to a high extent on the accuracy of the prediction and on a comprehensive understanding of the overall waste management systems. This study defies the traditional concepts of waste, in which waste was considered as the last phase of production and services, by putting forward the new concept of waste as an intermediate phase of production and services. The study aims to develop a demand forecasting tool called ‘zero waste index’ (ZWI) for measuring the natural resources recouped from municipal solid waste. The ZWI (ZWI demand forecasting tool) quantifies the amount of virgin materials recovered from solid waste and subsequently reduces extraction of natural resources. In addition, the tool estimates the potential amount of energy, water and emissions avoided or saved by the improved waste management system. The ZWI is tested in a case study of waste management systems in two developed cities: Adelaide (Australia) and Stockholm (Sweden). The ZWI of waste management systems in Adelaide and Stockholm is 0.33 and 0.17 respectively. The study also enumerates per capita energy savings of 2.9 GJ and 2.83 GJ, greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 0.39 tonnes (CO 2e ) and 0.33 tonnes (CO 2e ), as well as water savings of 2.8 kL and 0.92 kL in Adelaide and Stockholm respectively.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 29-01-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU14031578
Abstract: Effective governance and inter-organisational cooperation is key to progressing Australia’s journey toward the circular economy. At the local governance level, inter-municipal cooperative partnerships in waste management (‘IMC-WM’ partnerships) are a widespread phenomenon throughout Australia, and the world. This paper aims to analyse waste management in Australia through a governance perspective and inaugurate the scholarship on understanding the complex interactions between actors and institutions designed for regional cooperation. To this end, we explore the partnerships’ institutional characteristics, joint activity outputs and the internal relations observed between participants. Data were collected through a nationwide census survey of Australia’s IMC–WM partnerships and a short online questionnaire to the municipal policy actors (councillors, executives and council officers) who participate in them. The investigation observes that a ersity of innovative institutional responses has emerged in Australia. However, within these partnerships, a culture of competitiveness antithetical to sustainability is also detected. Despite competitive behaviours, the partnerships perform very well in cultivating goodwill, trust, reciprocity and other social capital values among their participants—as well as a strong appreciation of the complexity of municipal solid waste (MSW) policy and the virtues of regional cooperation. This dissonance in attitudes and engagement dynamics, it is suggested, can be explained by considering the cultural-cognitive influence of broader neoliberalist paradigms. As the first scholarly investigation into Australia’s experience with regional cooperation in waste management, this research reveals the macro-level structures and ascendent micro-institutional dynamics shaping the phenomenon.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-2010
DOI: 10.1007/BF03326132
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-01-2017
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 25-07-2023
DOI: 10.3390/SU151511522
Abstract: The significance of ecotourism has been increasing due to its potential for bio ersity preservation, economic advancement, and the promotion of sustainability awareness. In this research, geospatial analysis and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to identify feasible ecotourism sites in Bangladesh. The study applied Geographical Information System–Remote Sensing (GIS-RS) parameters and weighted overlay techniques for selected ecotourism characteristics, such as natural attractiveness, topographic features, accessibility, proximity to facilities, and community characteristics. The study found that a significant proportion (around 44%) of Bangladesh’s land exhibits high potential for ecotourism. Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, and Rangamati are particularly favorable ecotourism locations. However, some difficulties emerge in regions that are not easily reachable, such as mangrove forests, and in densely inhabited localities like Dhaka. The research also identified the ecological costs linked with ecotourism, such as the exhaustion of resources, the fragmentation of habitats, contamination, and the disruption of wildlife. The primary recommendations to address the adverse effects include educating the local populace, enforcing regulatory measures, implementing efficient waste management systems, enforcing a stringent code of conduct, providing economic incentives to the local communities, and addressing the issue of food security. The cartographically delineated potential zones have the potential to function as a navigational instrument for global travelers and facilitate the decision-making process of policymakers in the realm of sustainable land resource management in Bangladesh. This study enhances the understanding of the potential of ecotourism and offers valuable insights for advancing responsible and sustainable tourism practices within the nation.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 18-08-2020
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 30-01-2023
DOI: 10.3390/SU15032500
Abstract: The construction and demolition (C& D) waste stream is the main source of solid waste in Australia. While there is a strong circularity drive in Australia’s and state/territory governments’ waste regulatory framework, clear guidelines for C& D waste management are yet to be developed for the built environment sector in Australia. This study proposes a suite of construction industry-specific guidelines for achieving circular economy (CE) goals by reviewing issues related to “Design for Zero Waste” (DfZW) and “Design for Recycling” (DfR). To do so, this study explores the current CE practices in construction and infrastructure projects in both global and Australian contexts through a systematic literature review. In addition, barriers and enablers of CE in the built environment were identified. This study provides a list of guidelines that can help industry practitioners achieve CE in the construction sector in Australia. These guidelines draw on the main themes identified through the literature review: circularity practices, resource management, innovation, and optimisation. Thus, this study bridges the gap between theory and practice by offering clear, circular guidelines for designing out C& D waste in Australia. The proposed guidelines enable industry practitioners to keep products and materials in use for a longer period and develop strategies to regenerate natural systems. Future research should focus on several aspects, including measuring emissions reductions linked to the strategies shown in the proposed guidelines.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-07-2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-09-2022
DOI: 10.1111/AOGS.14447
Abstract: Use of labor induction has increased rapidly in most middle‐ and high‐income countries over the past decade. The reasons for the stark rise in labor induction are largely unknown. We aimed to assess the extent to which the rising rate of labor induction is explained by changes in rates of underlying indications over time. The study was based on nationwide data from the Icelandic Medical Birth Register on 85 620 singleton births from 1997 to 2018. The rate of labor induction and indications for induction was calculated for all singleton births in 1997–2018. Change over time was expressed as relative risk (RR), using Poisson regression with 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for maternal characteristics and indications for labor induction. The crude rate of labor induction rose from 12.5% in 1997–2001 to 23.9% in 2014–2018 (crude RR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.81–2.01). While adjusting for maternal characteristics had little impact, adjusting additionally for labor induction indications lowered the RR to 1.43 (95% CI 1.35–1.51). Induction was increasingly indicated from 1997–2001 to 2014–2018 by gestational diabetes (2.4%–16.5%), hypertensive disorders (7.0%–11.1%), prolonged pregnancy (16.2%–23.7%), concerns for maternal wellbeing (3.2%–6.9%) and maternal age (0.5%–1.2%). No indication was registered for 9.2% of inductions in 2014–2018 compared with 16.3% in 1997–2001. Our results show that the increase in labor induction over the study period is largely explained by an increase in various underlying conditions indicating labor induction. However, indications for 9.2% of labor inductions remain unexplained and warrant further investigation.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 26-09-2018
DOI: 10.3390/SU10103430
Abstract: This study analyzes the case study of a deconstruction project called the ‘Whole House Reuse’ (WHR) which aimed, firstly, to harvest materials from a residential house, secondly, to produce new products using the recovered materials, and thirdly, to organize exhibition for the local public to promote awareness on resource conservation and sustainable deconstruction practices. The study applies characterization of recovered materials through deconstruction. In addition to the material recovery, the study assesses the embodied energy saving and greenhouse gas emissions abatement of the deconstruction project. Around twelve tons of various construction materials were harvested through a systematic deconstruction approach, most of which would otherwise be disposed to landfill in the traditional demolition approach. The study estimates that the recovered materials could potentially save around 502,158 MJ of embodied energy and prevent carbon emissions of around 27,029 kg (CO2e). The deconstruction could eventually contribute to New Zealand’s national emission reduction targets. In addition, the project successfully engages local communities and designers to produce 400 new products using the recovered materials and exhibits them to the local people. The study concludes that there is a huge prospect in regard to resource recovery, emission reduction, employment, and small business opportunities using deconstruction of the old house. The sociocultural importance of the WHR project is definitely immense however, the greater benefits of such projects are often ignored and remain unreported to wider audiences as most of the external and environmental costs are not considered in the traditional linear economy. It is acknowledged that under a favorable market condition and with appropriate support from local communities and authorities, deconstruction could contribute significantly to resource conservation and environmental protection despite its requirement of labor-intensive efforts.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 08-10-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2016
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2014
Publisher: Intellect
Date: 04-2023
DOI: 10.1386/SFT_00023_1
Abstract: End-of-life uniforms and workwear account for around 11,000 tonnes of textile waste in Australia and only 1 per cent is recycled, with the rest discarded in landfills. Australia’s large mining industry operations do not currently engage in responsible employee uniforms and workwear management contributing to the problem of waste. In 2021, the Commonwealth Government of Australia supported the development of a product stewardship scheme to recycle uniforms and workwear to be launched in 2022 and awarded A$1 million in funding to the Australian Fashion Council to implement a National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme. These initiatives aim to improve the design, recovery, reuse and recycling of textiles, providing a roadmap to achieve clothing circularity in Australia by 2030 in line with the National Waste Policy Action Plan targets. The mining industry is the engine of the Australian economy, contributing to economic performance, employment, exports and tax revenues. With the country having some of the largest reserves of iron ore (#1 worldwide), gold (#2 worldwide), silver (#3 worldwide) and lithium (#2 worldwide), the importance of mining and the employment options it provides will continue to grow, particularly in transitioning to a net-zero economy. Urgent solutions are needed to address the issues surrounding uniform and workwear use to eliminate the substantial amounts of textile waste currently generated by the mining industry. This article presents a case study in Western Australia, where half of Australia’s mining operations are located, examining the potential for reducing the mining industry’s garment waste by applying the circular economy principles. The findings from the case study will assist in better understanding the current practices, key challenges and potential opportunities in upcycling and recycling mining workwear in Western Australia.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-03-2013
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-12-2013
DOI: 10.3390/SU5125289
Publisher: College Publishing
Date: 04-2013
DOI: 10.3992/JGB.8.2.54
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2011
Publisher: Routledge
Date: 24-07-2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2018
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 18-09-2018
Abstract: The evolving phenomenon of zero waste encompasses the theory, practice, and learning of in iduals, families, businesses, communities, and government organisations, responding to perceptions of crisis and failure around conventional waste management. The erse and growing body of international zero waste experience, can be portrayed as both, an entirely new and alternative waste management paradigm, and or, interpreted as overlapping, extending, and synergetic with a general evolution towards more sustainable waste/resource management practices. Combining the terms zero and waste provokes creative, intellectual, and pragmatic tensions, which provide a contemporary axis for necessary debate and innovation in this sphere of resource management. This commentary draws on an interdisciplinary perspective and utilises some elements of the critique of zero waste, as a lens to examine and better understand this heterogeneous global community of practice. In particular, how the concept and implementation of a zero waste goal can increase community engagement and be a catalyst for the design and management of a more circular urban metabolism and hence, more adaptive, resilient, and sustainable future (zero waste) cities.
Start Date: 2011
End Date: 2014
Funder: University of South Australia
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