Three projects have been awarded $1.25 million by the NSW government to tackle plastic pollution through innovative and impactful solutions.
Under the Plastic Research Program, universities and government research institutions were invited to apply for funding. Following a competitive process, the following were successful:
- Research to develop ways to reliably collect and analyse microplastics in soil, compost and treated sewage (NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and CSIRO).
- A project to create tools to identify and prioritise harmful chemicals from plastics in agricultural soils (NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and CSIRO).
- Study into plastic fabrics like polyester to track harmful chemicals in new and recycled textiles (University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures).
NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe says NSW is facing a landfill crisis, with the state requiring new solutions.
“Hidden chemicals in plastic waste make recycling harder,” she says.
“This investment into cutting edge research will help uncover hidden chemicals in soils and everyday fabrics, to assist in finding better solutions to get rid of them.”
The Plastic Research Program is focused on making NSW a leader in managing plastic waste and the findings from these projects will guide future policies, regulations, and actions.
Each project will receive between $308,000 and $493,000, and completion is expected by 31 May 2027.
