Monash University has launched a national research hub aimed at finding ways to turn Australia’s toughest carbon wastes into high-value products.
The ARC Research Hub for Value-Added Processing of Underutilised Carbon Waste (VAPUCW) will develop technologies that convert every day carbon waste, such as plastics, tyres, organic residues and industrial by-products into valuable chemicals, clean energy materials and advanced carbon products.
The hub was launched to address the Australian government’s target of recovering 80 per cent of all resources by 2030, halving food waste to landfill, and phasing out harmful plastics.
VAPUCW Director Professor Lian Zhang, from Monash’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, said Australia needs to better manage organic and carbon-based wastes.
“Australia produces huge volumes of waste – scrap tyres, plastics, crop residues and food waste – that often end up in landfill or stockpiles, creating long-term environmental pressures,” Professor Zhang said.
“This hub is developing technologies that can upcycle these materials into valuable products, helping the nation meet its 2030 recovery targets and shift decisively toward a circular economy.”
The hub has already received AU$4.9 million in funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and AU$4.8 million in cash contributions from 16 industry partners.
The hub is working on projects such as developing iron oxide catalysts from coal fly ash to improve bio-oil derived from organic waste and advanced carbon materials for green hydrogen production from the electro-splitting of water.
Bonnie Johnson, representing the ARC CEO, said the ARC was proud to support research that is focused on solving complex challenges.
“The hub will advance upcycling technologies and strengthen the regulatory and social frameworks needed to process these materials onshore.”