ARC Research Hub will address the environmental impacts of waste production

 15 November 2022

ARC Research Hub will address the environmental impacts of waste production  

A new Research Hub will explore new ways to engineer construction and other high value materials from recycled household, commercial and industrial waste to develop innovative solutions for practical application.

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Chief Executive Officer, Ms Judi Zielke PSM, today welcomed the launch of the ARC Research Hub for Transformation of Reclaimed Waste Resources to Engineered Materials and Solutions for a Circular Economy (TREMS).

The Research Hub was officially launched at RMIT University in Melbourne today by Dr Mary Kelly, ARC Executive Director for Biological Sciences and Biotechnology. 

Led by RMIT University, the ARC Research Hub for TREMS will reduce the amount of waste going into landfill and transform reclaimed waste into new material for use in construction and other manufacturing sectors. The Hub’s investigations will include changing behaviours, smart designs to minimise waste, optimum processing of waste and converting waste to energy, developing novel materials using recycling and upcycling technologies, and metrics and tools to encourage uptake of new materials and solutions.

Ms Zielke said the Hub’s research has the potential to reduce emissions associated with the civil infrastructure sector by 20 percent.

“During a time where Australia and other nations are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, this new facilities’ research will play a significant role in addressing the environmental impacts of waste production, management, and re-use,” Ms Zielke said.

“The research outcomes from this Research Hub will enable Australia to progress towards a circular economy and contribute to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.”

The ARC is investing $5 million over five years in this Research Hub, under the Industrial Transformation Research Program.

ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs support collaborative research and partnerships that focus on strategic industry outcomes which would not otherwise be achieved independently.

In this collaboration RMIT University has partnered with leading scientists, researchers and industrial experts from 9 Australian universities and 36 state, industry and international partners.

Media contact: 

ARC Communications 0412 623 056 or communications@arc.gov.au