The unpopular solution to our growing waste problem and what to do with old pianos

About this episode

The episode discusses Australia's waste problem, potential solutions like waste-to-energy facilities, and the fate of old pianos, while also touching on community identity and local governance issues.

Australia sends 26 million tonnes of rubbish to landfills each year, and we're running out of room. Sydney is on track to run out of space in the next five years. Among the potential solutions are waste-to-energy facilities that burn rubbish and turn it into electricity. A few are already up and running, but there's significant community pushback. So could these projects really have a role to play in moving towards a circular economy? If there's an old piano in your life, you might be wondering what to do with it when the keys won't play anymore. It's estimated at least 3,000 pianos are thrown away each year, often because they're costly to maintain, difficult to move, and hard even to give away. Jen Petrie and Mike Hendry share how they're giving unwanted pianos a second chance. The character of a place can be a significant drawcard, so we often feel protective over the vibe of our local community. But this week, a tribunal in Victoria ruled that there's no true authority on what's cool, reversing a local council decision to block McDonald's from moving into the trendy neighbourhood. Resident Life Matters sociologist Dan Woodman weighs in on who decides what's considered cool.

People in this episode

Guests: Jen Petrie, Mike Hendry

Topics covered

• waste management
• circular economy
• piano recycling
• community identity
• local governance

Keywords

• waste
• pianos
• circular economy
• Sydney
• Victoria
• community
• recycling
• energy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: McDonald's

Places: Australia, Sydney, Victoria

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