Annual Report 2010-11 - Zero Waste SA - SA.Gov.au

Research and development helps Zero Waste SA acquire
knowledge and understanding of better ways to achieve
its objectives
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Zero Waste SA Centre for
Sustainable Design and Behaviour
Research and development helps Zero Waste SA acquire
knowledge and understanding of better ways to achieve its
objectives. They are also a requirement of the Zero Waste
SA Act 2004. Consequently, the Waste Strategy 2011–2015
recognises that research will underpin and inform how we
address these new challenges of wasteful consumption, and
change behaviours. As we extend our knowledge and focus
on sustainable use of resources, we begin to extend beyond
known approaches to recycling and reuse.
The Zero Waste SA Centre for Sustainable Design and
Behaviour, established in 2008, is a $2 million partnership
between the University of South Australia (UniSA) and
Zero Waste SA over five years. Located in the School of
Art, Architecture and Design, the Zero Waste SA Centre,
brings together in collaboration approximately 70
academics across several universities.
Professor Steffen Lehmann was appointed to Chair
the Zero Waste SA Centre on 1 August 2010. Professor
Lehmann is an internationally renowned designer
of sustainable buildings and city scapes, particularly
through his recent roles as Chair, Architectural Design
at the University of Newcastle and UNESCO Chair in
Sustainable Urban Development for Asia and the Pacific.
He is passionate about facilitating sustainable behaviour
change through systems that make it easy for people to
make more sustainable choices.
The research centre will examine issues of waste
management and reduction, recycling and resource
efficiency. The centre uniquely brings together elements
of design and behaviour change across a multitude of
academic disciplines from architecture to childhood
development.
Australia Research Council Grants
In 2009, the Zero Waste SA Centre won an Australia
Research Council Grant of $306,000 for the fouryear
project: Zero-ing in on Food Waste: Measuring,
understanding and reducing food waste in South Australia
from production to consumption in households and
restaurants. The project focuses on understanding social
and behavioural aspects of food waste. It is expected to
generate valuable insights for state government that
generate changes in consumer behaviour.
In 2010–11, three further Zero Waste Centre projects
gained Australian Research Council grants:
> In July 2010, $240,000 was awarded over four years
for the project: Work, Life and Sustainable Living:
How work, household and community life interact
to affect environmental behaviours and outcomes.
The project will examine how the circumstances and
interaction of work, home and community affect
capacities to reduce negative environmental impacts
especially workplace and household transport, waste,
energy and water use practices.
> In January 2011, $370,000 was awarded over three
years for the project: Paving the way: An experimental
approach to the mathematical modelling and design
of permeable pavements. The project will examine the
intelligent use of permeable pavements using recycled
components.
> In January 2011, $445,000 over three years for the
project: Reconsidering Sustainable Building and
Design: A cultural change approach. This project will
help reduce construction and demolition waste by
addressing the role of the building procurement team
in reducing resource use and eliminating waste.