Established by trailblazers of the Australian environment movement in 1972, Total Environment Centre has worked with Australian communities on more than 100 victorious campaigns - defending parks and bushland in rural and urban areas, driving debate, advocating for pure air and water, supporting positive change in business and industry, and encouraging better environmental policy.
Our key achievements from over 100 wins include:
Won
10,000 km2
New Laws
Safeguarded
Battery waste scheme fundamentally flawed: new report
Our investigation into voluntary battery recycling under the failing battery stewardship scheme, B-cycle, identified many free rider producers evading responsibility for battery waste, and B-cycle participants, more often than not, failing to promote the scheme to their consumers.
NSW land clearing set to accelerate?
Today’s announcement by the NSW government of its response to rampant land clearing and dodgy offsets has some welcome elements. However, there is a grave risk that developers and rural landowners will accelerate plans to clear native vegetation before the new laws come into effect.
Green EV Guide shows how to choose the most sustainable car
All cars have environmental impacts. Electric cars are certainly better for the planet than fossil burners. But some electric cars are better than others. That’s why Total Environment Centre has now created the Green Electric Car Guide.
AUSMAP discovers worst Microplastic Pollution in Australia in Adelaide
Shocking levels of microplastic pollution have been found in wetlands on the edge of an industrial area in Adelaide, with the source being plastic production factories and catchment runoff. The results are AUSMAPs, a project of Total Environment Centre, largest found so far since starting to sample in the wetlands since 2019. AUSMAP Director, Dr Michelle Blewitt shares, "The pollution has been going on for years, with little action from environment protection authorities and factory owners. Over 796,000 pieces per square metre, which are long-lasting and accumulating every year."
These levels of microplastics pollution are a continuous danger to fish and birdlife in the Barker Wetlands (and adjoining waterways) and contribute to the microplastic load that is being absorbed by the human population.
Victoria’s Container Refund Scheme – Report Card
Victoria’s 10cent container refund scheme has been operating for 6 months and the first review of its operations has been released today.
"Our review acknowledges there are inevitably teething problems in the early stages, but we are very concerned about a systemic issue that has arisen which could harm consumer convenience to refund points and thus the success of the scheme. This involves reliance on over-the-counter (OTC) return points, especially in the Northern Zone, operated by Visy. They have a multitude of problems and consumers will be the losers,’’ said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of the Total Environment Centre, which undertook the review.
New research shows Koalas in the Sydney Basin are in decline
New research released today by the Sydney Basin Koala Network shows the area where koalas are found in the Sydney Basin is declining and the areas supporting long standing breeding populations of koalas is also reducing. The need for protection is becoming ever more urgent, the Sydney Basin Koala Network and Total Environment Centre said today.
Disastrous NSW Biodiversity Outlook Report 2024
With 50% of species in NSW not expected to survive in the next 100 years; land clearing increasing since 2017; and only 29% of habitat remaining - the NSW Government should be taking urgent action. The release of the government’s 2024 NSW Biodiversity Outlook Report is one big alarm bell, both environmentally and politically. "The last thing the Minns government should find itself with at the next election is a record of more clearing of native vegetation and more species sliding to extinction. This is a fundamental challenge they must not avoid,” said Jeff Angel, Director of the TEC.
ARE USED BATTERY COLLECTION BINS UNSAFE?
The announcement by Officeworks that it has ceased collecting used batteries on behalf of B-cycle casts serious doubt on the effectiveness of the voluntary industry program.
TEC Releases Plan for Battery Recycling and Reuse Crisis
Industry-led voluntary schemes will fail to address the environmental risks arising from battery disposal said Total Environment Centre today on releasing a plan for urgent regulation to establish an effective, mandatory Product Stewardship Scheme to safely collect and recycle all battery types in Australia.