Geographies of Land, Home and Place
Geographies of Land, Home and Place brings together our expertise in understanding the places and land systems on which we live, how we are housed and the social geographies of inclusion and belonging.
The TRASH project is an action research project that will test and trial novel co-designed interventions in Multi-Unit Developments across Melbourne and Sydney. These interventions will be developed with residents and stakeholders to improve waste outcomes.
Project dates: 2026 - 2029
Recycling rates from apartments are low internationally, and they are being left aside in waste policy and program initiatives in Australia. Given that Australia has 2.62 million apartment residents, and this number is rising, there is a need to address this policy and research gap. This project will engage some 12,000 households, local government and waste management organisations to co-design and embed recycling and waste reduction across 60 Multi-Unit Developments (MUDs). The results will then be shared nationally in an interactive Portal, hosting creative campaign materials, models for practice change via co-design guides, best-practice case studies, quick reference guides, and an on-call data-driven MUDs waste advisory service. The project partners will promote the Portal and resources nationally within and beyond the project, including through a national MUDs Waste Advisory Group. Expected benefits for Australia include environmental and social benefits resulting from reduction of waste to landfill. This project could also provide economic and equity benefits given that 40% of apartments are occupied by lower-income households, and landfill reduction saves households substantially in reducing landfill levy charges. This project will assist with building a sustainable and resilient nation and contribute to the transition to a resource-efficient net zero future for all Australians, in line with National Waste Policy and National Plastics Plans.
CUR Researchers
- Dr Bhavna Middha (Chief Investigator, CI)
Partnering researchers
- Professor Ralph Horne (Lead Chief Investigator - LCI), RMIT University
- Dr Nicole Cook (CI), University of Wollongong
- Ninna Larsen (Partner Investigator – PI), Reground Pty Ltd
- Professor Alison Browne (PI), The University of Manchester, UK
- Liz Horsefield (PI), ReLondon
Partnering organisations
City of Melbourne, City of Glen Eira, City of Maribyrnong, Southern Cross Recycling Group Pty Ltd, APR Kerbside Pty Ltd
Funding body
Australian Research Council
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