Reuse & recycling
Sustainable salons
When our managing editor heard that her hair salon was joining a movement for greater sustainability, she was intrigued, and sent Kellie Flanagan to find out more.
Read more
gardening
Donna to the (plant) rescue
Most nurseries recycle materials such as plastic growing containers, but what happens to any unsaleable plants? Sarah Coles speaks to Donna Grundy about plant rescue and an unusual business model.
Read more
Reuse & recycling
Building without the waste
Construction waste is a huge problem, with vast quantities of materials, both old and new, going to landfill each year. Sophie Weiner examines the problem and what can be done to fix it.
Read more
DIY
Reduce, reuse, and don’t (always) renovate
Should you reuse a functional but dated kitchen? What do you do with a concrete path removed from your garden? Katie Moon describes how she and her partner Tom Brewer went about upgrading their family home.
Read more
farming
The farmer next door
On a standard surburban block in Melbourne, Simeon Hanscamp is growing enough food to provide his local community with vegie boxes—and himself with an income. Anna Cumming visited him to find out what it takes to be a successful backyard farmer.
Read more
Reuse & recycling
PV recycling – Where do all the panels go?
What do you do when a panel comes to the end of its useful life? Moreover, what do you do with billions of them?
Read more
Reuse & recycling
Howe it’s done – Waste not, want not
Don Batson and Sophie Liu’s dream holiday on Lord Howe Island included a tour of the waste management facility. They describe the amazing work done to reduce waste on this pristine island.
Read more
Reuse & recycling
Recycling analysis – Options for lithium batteries
In a research study at ANU, Matthew Doolan and Anna Boyden considered the full life cycle of lithium ion batteries and their recycling options to assess environmental pluses and minuses. They present a summary here.
Read more
Reuse & recycling
Mottainai vs methane – The case for textile recycling
Sarah Coles explores the environmental and social benefits of diverting textiles from the waste stream.
Read more
Reuse & recycling
From earth, cans and tyres: Earthship Ironbark
It took a few years, but Australia's first permitted earthship has set sail in its new life as B&B accommodation, and as a living laboratory. Owner-builder Martin Freney describes the voyage so far.
Read more
DIY
Salvage it: Top ten waste items to recover
Julian Edgar names his ten favourite parts to recover from waste items.
Read more