April 2023

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Redefining recycling sorting technology with Australia’s first AI-powered robot

A robot that uses artificial intelligence to sort used Tetra Pak beverage cartons has been installed at APR Kerbside’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Truganina, Victoria. Aimed at advancing the circular economy, this innovative recycling sorting technology has been funded via a joint investment between Tetra Pak and APR Kerbside. As part of APR’s future plans, aspirations for upgrade and expansion include the opening of new Material Recovery Facilities in Victoria and the commissioning of additional AI-powered robots to be rolled out over the next two years. In an Australian first, food and beverage processing & packaging company Tetra Pak has partnered with (Australian Paper Recovery (APR) Kerbside to implement an AI robot that can identify, and sort used Tetra Pak beverage cartons. The robot has been commissioned at the APR Kerbside Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Truganina, Victoria. This glass-out facility has the capacity to process up to 20,000 tonnes of materials annually and mainly sorts items from the kerbside stream. Such items collected from residents’ yellow lidded recycling bins include paper and cardboard, steel, aluminium, plastics (bottles and containers). The robot has been training, learning to recognise all the different types of beverage cartons, like milk, soy, oat, almond, stock and juice ahead of its final deployment in the coming weeks. The councils that are working with APR Kerbside are excited about this opportunity to divert more valuable resources from landfill. They are eager to expand the current kerbside service offering to their respective residents. Darren Thorpe, Managing Director of APR Kerbside. Vikas Ahuja, Sustainability Director at Tetra Pak Australia and New Zealand said: “Tetra Pak is incredibly proud to be pioneering this exciting recycling innovation with APR to further advance the circular economy in Australia. For us at Tetra Pak, to be the first market outside […]

New CSIRO research explores influence of coal seam gas activity on human health

New research has been released into the potential for coal seam gas (CSG) activity in Queensland to affect human health. A 2,150 square kilometres study site in the Surat Basin, Queensland, was selected and factors that could lead to potential hazards such as chemicals, air emissions, noise, light and dust associated with CSG activities were identified and appraised. Existing data related to these factors was screened to determine whether any factors would require in-depth assessment. While the study found that for the majority of factors there was no plausible pathway to impact human health, it determined further in-depth assessment of a small number of identified factors was required. As a result, two new CSIRO research projects are now underway and will conduct further in-depth studies focussing on eight groups of chemical factors. The research, undertaken by CSIRO and The University of Queensland, was governed through CSIRO’s Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA). GISERA is an alliance led by CSIRO and is a collaboration between CSIRO, commonwealth, state and territory governments and industry with the purpose of working with the community to undertake research about the potential or actual impacts of gas development, across major environmental and socio-economic topics. The study was funded primarily by the Queensland (59 per cent) and Federal Governments (21 per cent) and CSIRO (18 per cent). GISERA industry partners APLNG and QGC each provided one per cent in funding and also made available operational data. CSIRO Energy Resources Research Director and GISERA Director Dr Damian Barrett said the study provided forensic information about the potential hazards to affect human health from CSG activities in the Surat Basin. “The value of this exhaustive study is that it provides certainty about where we need to focus further research,” Dr Barrett said. “By ruling out factors of […]

Rockwell Automation partner for OZ West Musgrave Project

Sustainably mining the in-demand minerals for Electric Vehicle (EV) and battery production Rockwell Automation will be the automation partner for OZ Minerals’ West Musgrave copper-nickel project. The company will supply control systems including its PlantPAx distributed control system, and advanced control and information management systems. OZ Minerals specialises in extracting minerals important for a low carbon future. The West Musgrave Project is a greenfield copper and nickel project located in the remote Ngaanyatjarra Aboriginal Lands of central Western Australia near the intersection of the borders of Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. Production is expected to commence in the second half of 2025. Energy transition minerals like copper and nickel are in high demand globally as the world moves into the de-carbonisation and electrification era. Once operational, West Musgrave is expected to be one of the world’s largest copper and nickel projects. It will also be one of the largest fully off-grid, hybrid renewable powered mines in the world. Initially 80% of its energy will be sourced from renewable wind and solar and there are plans to transition to an electric haulage fleet in the future. Rockwell Automation’s Control Systems will be installed throughout the West Musgrave Minerals Processing Plant to provide an integrated solution for the control and monitoring of the processing plant’s equipment and processes. The systems will be used to control and monitor the mine’s ore processing plant. “Modern minerals producers like OZ Minerals are looking to minimise their carbon footprints by using renewable energy, electrifying their fleets, and working with technology providers like Rockwell Automation to be more productive and more sustainable. We are honored to be working with them on this globally important project,” said Rockwell Automation’s regional director for the South Pacific region, Anthony Wong. Rockwell Automation works with miners and manufacturers […]

Premier’s Sustainability Awards – call for sustainability success stories

Sustainability Victoria is calling on manufacturers to showcase their sustainability success stories by entering this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards. The influential awards program has been celebrating sustainability for 21 years, unearthing remarkable advancements and achievements along the way. At last year’s awards, packaging made from mushroom mycelium and the revegetation of land in Euroa received the two Premier’s Recognition Awards, demonstrating the diversity of entries in this long-standing program. The Premier’s Sustainability Awards features six categories aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) – a globally accepted, robust and comprehensive sustainability framework. Two awards within each of the six categories will be presented: the Community Champion Award for individuals and small organisations, and the Industry Leader Award for medium and large organisations. In addition, the Premier will select two overall winners to be presented at the award ceremony: The Premier’s Recognition Award, a stand-out submission from the 12 award winners, and The Premier’s Regional Recognition Award, a stand-out regional organisation/project from all qualifying finalists. These two awards cannot be entered. Sustainability Victoria’s Interim CEO Matt Genever said: “Now more than ever is the time to showcase Victoria’s sustainability success stories so we can learn from each other, share this knowledge and bring about greater change collectively. “The Premier’s Sustainability Awards provides the platform to acknowledge the tremendous work going on right across the state and I look forward to celebrating the achievements of the many organisations, community groups and individuals leading the way to a sustainable future.” Entries for the Premier’s Sustainability Awards close on Friday 30 June 2023 at 5pm. The judging panel will include a broad range of independent environmental experts selected for their sustainability and industry expertise. Visit Premier’s Sustainability Awards – call for sustainability success stories http://www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au for further information.

PCI Pharma Services announces new sterile fill-finish capabilities

New equipment added to Melbourne and San Diego facilities will help with clinical scale and globa global capacity shortages PCI Pharma Services (PCI), a leading global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), has announced the operational launch of three new state-of-the-art automated sterile fill-finish machines at its Melbourne and San Diego facilities. “As the capacity for CDMOs worldwide to take on new projects shrinks, we’re excited to be able to offer integrated sterile fill-finish capabilities, alongside our clinical packaging facilities, to new and existing clients in Melbourne and San Diego,” said Brad Payne, Chief Operating Officer, PCI Pharma Services. “Our increased capacity, stockpile of standardised components, including glass, and technical expertise means we can start running batches as soon as needed. This will cut down on the wait times many local biotech and pharmaceutical companies are facing and begin to help alleviate the global capacity shortage for sterile drug product and downstream packaging.” The new innovative machinery from Cytiva can be used to fill various sterile medications into vials and syringes for small-to-mid scale client needs. The equipment, paired with PCI’s end-to-end services, accelerates company’s drug proof of concept studies, and drastically decreases the average turnaround time from proposal signing to the injectable product’s distribution. The Microcell Vial Filler at Melbourne further enhances the early-stage services offered and brings additional capacity to Australia—the world’s leading Phase I environment. These advanced machines expedite the filling process with automation and remove the need for human intervention in a sterile environment, creating compliance advantages over standard equipment. Additionally, the Microcell Vial Filler and SA25 Aseptic Filling Workcell at PCI’s San Diego facility ensures the delivery of medicines from phase I through phase III, supporting local and global Clinical client needs. “There are less barriers to entry to start a clinical trial in Australia, as […]