Promoting smarter and more productive use of resources through efficient resource recovery including reuse and recycling.
Our research aims to radically improve end-of-life management of products and materials by fostering product stewardship and design for a circular economy. Rather than simply looking for a solution to a waste management problem, our approach considers how products, processes and systems can be deliberately designed to avoid adverse social and environmental impacts across product and material life cycles, including at end of life.
Our team has expertise in policy options analysis, new business models, technology and infrastructure assessment, and material flow assessments. Recent research projects have focused on discarded packaging, municipal solid waste and e-waste.
B-cycle Battery Market Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment
Australians consume 8.5 kilograms of batteries on average per person every year. A huge growth market is in lithium batteries, and a large percentage of these...
Scoping study for solar panel and battery system reuse and recycling fund
In 2019, the NSW Government committed $10 million in funding to help reuse and recycle solar panels (photovoltaic panels or PV) and battery systems. This...
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Recycling high-density polyethylene
PROJECT | 2020-2021
For this Cooperative Research Centres Projects Recycling High-density Polyethylene project, ISF is collaborating with other universities to develop a process for supporting recycled plastics processing.
Researchers: Ben Madden, Melita Jazbec, Nick Florin, Damien Giurco
Research outputs
Pathways towards circularity in HDPE packaging: material flow analysis and best practice guidance (2021) (Fact sheet)
Pathways towards circularity in HDPE packaging (2021) (Report)
Sustainability and heat mitigation measures for Western Sydney's Aerotropolis
PROJECT | 2020
ISF as a part of consortium of consultants advised Western Sydney Partnership on the development of plans for the Aerotropolis priority precinct.
Research outputs
Sustainability and Heat for Western Sydney Aerotropolis (2020) (Report)
Recycling and resource recovery infrastructure advice
PROJECT | 2019
Client: Infrastructure Victoria
Researchers: Melita Jazbec, Nick Florin, Ben Madden
Research outputs
Recycling and resource recovery infrastructure in Victoria: International and Australian comparisons (2019) (Report)
Advice on Recycling and resource recovery infrastructure (Infrastructure Victoria) (2020) (Report)
Sydney Airport waste strategy
PROJECT | 2019
Client: Sydney Airport
Researchers: Melita Jazbec, Damien Giurco, Rachael Wakefield-Rann
Packaging material flows through the Australian waste and recycling system
PROJECT | 2018
Client: Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO)
Researchers: Nick Florin, Ben Madden
Evaluation of improving recycling in multi-unit dwellings
PROJECT | 2017
Client: Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC)
Researcher: Melita Jazbec
Product stewardship for energy systems
PROJECT | 2016-2017
Client: ACT Government
Researcher: Nick Florin
Child-safe battery recycling
PROJECT | 2016
Client: Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI)
Researchers: Elsa Dominish, Damien Giurco
Characterisation of battery collection channels in Australia
PROJECT | 2015-2017
Client: Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI)
Researchers: Nick Florin, Rachael Wakefield-Rann
Researchers
