Climate change is becoming a more significant issue. The production of human waste is a massive part of this. Businesses in Australia are starting to progress in producing less waste.
Simple steps can go a long way to promote more steps towards waste reduction. Hence, we have also taken a step to educate businesses about their waste reduction. Here are 3 effective waste reduction strategies for businesses.
Before knowing about waste reduction, we also need to know about waste management. It will help us understand some principles and fundaments like recycling, reusing and reducing.
Let’s get into it then.
What is Waste Management?
Waste management is all about handling, collecting, treating, and disposing of waste in a safe and environmentally friendly way.
Think about all the products we use every day, like packaging, food scraps, old electronics, and more. When we’re done with these things, they become waste.
Properly managing waste means finding ways to reduce the amount of waste we produce, recycling things that can be reused, and disposing of the rest safely.
Waste management helps protect the environment, conserves resources, and reduces pollution. We can make sure that our planet stays healthy for future generations if we manage our waste.
Benefits of Efficient Waste Management for Businesses
Helps the Environment:
Helps the Economy:
Using good ways to handle waste creates jobs, finds new uses for things we throw away, and helps make an economy where things are used again and again.
Moreover, it saves money by reducing the costs of getting rid of waste and cleaning up the environment.
Better for People and Health:
Correctly handling waste keeps people safe from dangerous stuff and stops diseases from spreading.
It also gets people involved in their communities, helps them learn about waste, and makes them better at dealing with it.
Less Greenhouse Gases:
Understanding Waste Reduction
Waste reduction means finding ways to make less waste in the beginning. It’s about using things wisely, reusing materials when we can, and making smart choices not to use too much.
Waste reduction tries to stop waste from happening in the first place, which helps the environment.
Difference between Waste Reduction and Waste Management
Waste reduction is about stopping waste from being made, while waste management is about dealing with waste that’s already made.
Waste management covers picking up, handling, treating, and getting rid of waste safely. It includes things like recycling and making sure waste is thrown away correctly.
So, waste reduction tries to make less waste, and waste management deals with the waste we already have.
Importance of Waste Reduction for Australian Businesses
Reducing waste is really important for businesses in Australia for a few key reasons:
Saving Money: When businesses use less and waste less, they spend less money on buying new things and getting rid of old stuff. It means more profit for them in the end.
Protecting the Environment: Waste can harm the environment by polluting land, water, and air. By reducing waste, businesses help keep Australia’s natural spaces clean and healthy for everyone.
Meeting Regulations: Australia has rules about how businesses should handle their waste. By reducing waste, companies can make sure they’re following these rules and avoid getting into trouble with the law.
Building a Good Reputation: People like to support businesses that care about the environment. By reducing waste, companies can show that they’re responsible and environmentally friendly, which can attract more customers and make existing ones happy.
Key Principles of Efficient Waste Management
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3 R’s):
Sorting and Separating Waste:
Composting and Dealing with Organic Waste:
Using Waste for Energy:
Handling Hazardous Waste:
3 Effective Waste Reduction Strategies for Businesses
Strategy 1 – Measure business waste
Even if the bins are different sizes, just note down their sizes, estimate how full they are, and how often they get emptied.
For instance, you might have a regular-sized bin that’s half full and gets emptied once a week, which equals 120 litres of waste per week.
Once you gather this info, you’ll know how much waste your business makes in a certain period.
Strategy 2 – Assess the 3Rs and Lifecycle of Products and Services
Figure out what you can do to:
- Reduce: Can you avoid making or making less waste by changing how your business gets products or operates?
- Reuse: Can another local business use the waste materials you make?
- Recycle: Which materials can be recycled? Find local places that collect recyclable stuff.
Understand Your Waste and Recycling Contracts
You should get the best waste collection deal for the materials you recycle. Start by talking to your current waste service provider, who might be a private company or the local council.
Also, consider how your contract affects your recycling. For example, if your recycling gets picked up every two weeks, make sure your recycling bin is big enough for two weeks’ worth or change your contract to weekly pickups.
Think about what your current contract offers and how it impacts your recycling. Remember, your waste or recycling contract is a legal document, so you may need legal advice.
Strategy 3 – Implement Material Collection Systems at Business Premises
Different businesses make different kinds of stuff that can be recycled. The bins that get emptied into the collection truck, like wheelie bins and big bins, might be different from the ones used to collect stuff at your business.
For example, if you have separate services for paper or cardboard collection, then you’ll need to separate them from other recyclable materials, preferably where they’re made. Make sure cleaners and sometimes clients know how to separate things.
If your business shares bins with other businesses in a shopping area, talk to them to make sure everyone is sorting waste properly. You can also use signs to help your business set up a sound recycling system.
National Waste Policy Action Plan
The National Waste Policy Action Plan of 2019 set goals and actions to put the 2018 National Waste Policy into action.
These goals and actions help guide Australia’s efforts until 2030 and beyond.
They include:
- Stopping the export of waste plastic, paper, glass, and tyres starting from the second half of 2020.
- Decreasing the total waste each person makes in Australia by 10% by 2030.
- Making sure 80% of all waste gets recycled by 2030.
- Using more recycled materials in government and industry.
- Getting rid of problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025.
- Cutting in half the amount of organic waste sent to landfills by 2030.
- Providing detailed and up-to-date information for everyone to make better decisions about what they buy and how they invest.
This plan works with other waste management and circular economy plans made by states, territories, local governments, businesses, and industries.
In October 2022, ministers talked about the progress made in improving waste management and recycling under the National Waste Policy Action Plan.
They agreed that we need to be active about producing less waste. They decided to design products better and make production more efficient. The plan will be updated in the coming year to make Australia’s efforts stronger towards reaching our renewable energy target by 2030.
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ACORE Statement on Treasury’s Safe Harbor Guidance
Statement from American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) President and CEO Ray Long on Treasury’s Safe Harbor Guidance:
“The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is deeply concerned that today’s Treasury guidance on the long-standing ‘beginning of construction’ safe harbor significantly undermines its proven effectiveness, is inconsistent with the law, and creates unnecessary uncertainty for renewable energy development in the United States.
“For over a decade, the safe harbor provisions have served as clear, accountable rules of the road – helping to reduce compliance burdens, foster private investment, and ensure taxpayer protections. These guardrails have been integral to delivering affordable, reliable American clean energy while maintaining transparency and adherence to the rule of law. This was recognized in the One Big Beautiful Act, which codified the safe harbor rules, now changed by this action.
“We need to build more power generation now, and that includes renewable energy. The U.S. will need roughly 118 gigawatts (the equivalent of 12 New York Cities) of new power generation in the next four years to prevent price spikes and potential shortages. Only a limited set of technologies – solar, wind, batteries, and some natural gas – can be built at that scale in that timeframe.”
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ABOUT ACORE
For over 20 years, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) has been the nation’s leading voice on the issues most essential to clean energy expansion. ACORE unites finance, policy, and technology to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. For more information, please visit http://www.acore.org.
Media Contacts:
Stephanie Genco
Senior Vice President, Communications
American Council on Renewable Energy
genco@acore.org
The post ACORE Statement on Treasury’s Safe Harbor Guidance appeared first on ACORE.
https://acore.org/news/acore-statement-on-treasurys-safe-harbor-guidance/
Frequent power outages, unreliable grid connection, sky-high electricity bills, and to top it off, your solar panels are exporting excess energy back to the grid, for a very low feed-in-tariff.
Do all these scenarios sound familiar? Your answer might be yes!
These challenges have become increasingly common across Australia, encouraging more and more homeowners to consider solar battery storage systems.
Why? Because they want to take control of their energy, store surplus solar power, and reduce reliance on the grid.
But then again, people often get perplexed, and their biggest question remains: Should I get a Solar Battery Storage System in Australia?
Well, the answer can be yes in many cases, such as a battery can offer energy independence, ensure better bill savings, and provide peace of mind during unexpected power outages, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
There are circumstances where a battery may not be necessary or even cost-effective.
In this guide, we’ll break down when it makes sense and all the pros and cons you need to know before making the investment.
In this blog post:
Why You Need Battery Storage Now?
According to data, Australia has surpassed 3.9 million rooftop solar installations, generating more than 37 GW of PV capacity, which is about 20% of electricity in the National Electricity Market in 2024 and early 2025.
Undoubtedly, the country’s strong renewable energy targets, sustainability goals, and the clean‑energy revolution have brought solar power affordability, but the next step in self‑reliance is battery storage.
Data from The Guardian says that 1 in 5 new solar installs in 2025 now includes a home battery, versus 1 in 20 just a few years ago, representing a significant leap in adoption.
Moreover, the recent launch of the Cheaper Home Batteries program has driven this uptake even further, with over 11,500 battery units installed in just the first three weeks from July 1, and around 1,000 installations per day.
Overall, the Australian energy market is evolving rapidly. Average household battery size has climbed to about 17 kWh from 10–12 kWh previously.
Hence, the experts are assuming that 10 GW of new battery capacity will be added over the next five years, competing with Australia’s current coal‑fired capacity.
What Am I Missing Out on Without Solar Batteries?
Honestly? You’re missing out on the best part of going solar.
Renewable sources of energy like solar, hydro, and wind make us feel empowered. For example, solar batteries lower your electricity bills, minimize grid dependency, and also help to reduce your carbon footprint.
But here’s the catch! Without battery storage, you’re only halfway there!
The true magic of solar power isn’t just in producing clean energy; it’s storing and using it efficiently.
A solar battery lets you store excess energy and use it when the sun goes down or the grid goes out. It’s the key to real energy independence. Therefore, ultimately, getting a battery is what makes your solar system truly yours.
Here’s a list of what you’re missing out on without a solar battery:
- Energy Independence
- Maximized Savings
- Better Return on Investment ROI
- Lower Carbon Footprint
- Peace of Mind
Batteries help you to stay powered even during blackouts or grid failures. With energy storage, you don’t have to think of fuel price volatility and supply-demand disruption in the Australian energy market.
Adding a solar battery to your solar PV system allows you to use your own stored energy at night instead of repurchasing it at high rates. It also reduces grid pressure during peak hours, restoring grid stability.
Tired of Australian low feed-in-tariff rates?
Make full use of your solar system by storing excess power at a low price rather than exporting it. Solar panel and battery systems can be a powerful duo for Australian households.
Despite the steady growth in solar, wind, and hydro, fossil fuels still dominate the grid. Fossil fuels supplied approximately 64% of Australia’s total electricity generation, while coal alone accounted for around 45%.
These stats highlight why solar battery storage is so valuable. By storing surplus solar energy, homeowners can reduce their reliance on a grid that still runs on coal and gas.
Enjoy 24/7 uninterrupted power, no matter what’s happening outside.
Besides powering urban homes and businesses, batteries also provide reliable power backup for off-grid living at night when your solar panel can’t produce, ensuring peace of mind.
What Size Solar Battery Do I Need?
While choosing the battery size, it isn’t just about picking the biggest one you can afford; it’s about matching your household’s energy consumption pattern. There is no one-size battery that will make financial or functional sense for everyone.
Nevertheless, if you have an average family of four with no exceptional power demands, you may get by with a 10kWh to 12kWh battery bank as a ready-to-roll backup system.
Well, this is just an estimation, as we have no idea of your power needs, because selecting a battery is highly subjective to the household in question.
With that being said, you can get a good idea of how much power you use on average by analyzing your electric bill copy. Also, keeping track of which appliances you use the most and which ones require the most power will help you.
So, to figure out the ideal battery size for your home, you need to consider three most important things:
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Your Daily Energy Usage
Check your electricity bill for your average daily consumption (in kWh). Most Australian homes use between 15 to 25 kWh per day.
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Your Solar System Output
How much excess solar energy are you generating during the day? That’s the power you’ll store to use later rather than exporting.
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Your Nighttime Power Usage
A battery is most useful at night or during grid outages. So, estimate how much power you typically use after sunset. However, by using a battery, you can also get the freedom of living off the grid.
Sizing Up: The Ideal Home Battery for Aussies!
- For small households and light usage, a 5 kWh battery will be suitable.
- For average Australian households, adding a 10 kWh battery would be enough.
- Large homes and high-energy users will need a 13 to 15 kWh system.
- For full independence, off-grid living, or blackout protection, you may require a larger battery size of 20+ kWh.
Want help calculating your exact needs? Just drop your daily usage and solar output, and we’ll do the math for you! Cyanergy is here to help!
Sizing Up: The Ideal Home Battery for Aussies!
- For small households and light usage, a 5 kWh battery will be suitable.
- For average Australian households, adding a 10 kWh battery would be enough.
- Large homes and high-energy users will need a 13 to 15 kWh system.
- For full independence, off-grid living, or blackout protection, you may require a larger battery size of 20+ kWh.
Want help calculating your exact needs? Just drop your daily usage and solar output, and we’ll do the math for you! Cyanergy is here to help!
How Much Do Solar Batteries Cost?
Previously, you would have to pay between $3000 and $3600 for the battery alone, plus the cost of installation, for every kWh of solar battery storage.
However, you can currently expect to pay between $1200 and $1400 for each kWh of solar battery storage. That is a price reduction of approximately 52%, and things will only get better from here.
Does that imply solar batteries are cheap now? Not really, but the cost is well justified by the pros of having a battery storage system.
Also, while paying for solar batteries, you have to consider many other factors like the type of battery, your solar panel system configurations and compatibility, brand, and installation partner.
These will significantly influence the price range of battery storage.
Is a Solar Battery Worth It | Pros and Cons at a Glance
It’s okay to feel a little overwhelmed while deciding to invest your hard-earned money in a battery.
So, here we’ve listed the pros and cons of having a solar battery to help you in the decision-making process.
Benefits of Solar Battery Storage
- Solar batteries help you become self-sustaining.
- You don’t have to care about power outages anymore
- In the event of any natural disaster, you will still have a power source
- Battery prices are dropping significantly as we speak
- During peak hours, grid electricity prices increase due to high demand; you can avoid paying a high price and use your battery. It’s essentially free energy, as solar generates energy from the sun.
- Reduced carbon footprint as the battery stores energy from a renewable source.
Advantages of battery for the grid and national energy system:
- Batteries support Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). In 2025, consumers get financial bonuses (AUD 250‑400) for joining, plus grid benefits via distributed dispatchable power.
- Grid‑scale batteries like Victoria Big Battery or Hornsdale Power Reserve are increasing system resilience by storing large amounts of renewable energy and reducing blackout risk.
Drawbacks of Solar Battery Storage
- One of the biggest barriers is that solar batteries have a high upfront cost, which makes installation harder for residents.
- Home batteries require physical space, proper ventilation, and can’t always be placed just anywhere, especially in smaller homes or apartments.
- Most batteries, like lithium-ion batteries, last 5 to 15 years, meaning they may need replacement during your solar system’s lifetime.
- While many systems are low-maintenance, some may require software updates, monitoring, or even professional servicing over time.
- Battery production involves mining and processing materials like lithium or lead, which raise environmental and ethical concerns.
Should You Buy a Solar Battery?: Here’s the Final Call!
You should consider buying a solar battery if several key factors align with your situation.
First, it’s a strong financial move if you live in a state where federal and state incentives can significantly reduce the upfront cost. This can make the investment far more affordable.
A solar battery can be especially worthwhile if you value having backup power during outages, lowering your electricity bills, and gaining a measure of energy independence from the grid.
Additionally, you should be comfortable with taking a few extra steps to get the most value out of your system, such as joining a virtual power plant (VPP), which allows your battery to participate in grid services in exchange for modest returns.
Finally, it’s worth noting that rebates decline annually, and early adopters get the most value.
Takeaway Thoughts
Installing a solar battery in Australia in mid‑2025 offers substantial financial, environmental, and energy‑security benefits, especially if you qualify for multiple subsidies and have good solar capacity.
With rebates shrinking after 2025 and demand surging, early movers stand to benefit most.
By helping balance the grid and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, home battery adoption contributes significantly to Australia’s national goals of 82% renewable energy by 2030.
It’s not just about savings; it’s about being part of a smarter, cleaner, more resilient electricity future for Australia.
Looking for CEC-accredited local installers?
Contact us today for any of your solar needs. We’d be happy to assist!
Your Solution Is Just a Click Away
The post Should I Get a Solar Battery Storage System? appeared first on Cyanergy.
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