ASPIRE (Advisory System for Processing, Innovation & Resource Exchange) has transitioned out of CSIRO’s Data61, the data and digital specialist arm of Australia’s national science agency, and is scaling its operations nationally to better manage the 67m tons of waste generated in Australia each year.
Developed in 2015 by researchers from CSIRO, ASPIRE is an online marketplace that intelligently matches businesses with potential remanufacturers, purchasers or recyclers to find new purposes for waste materials working towards the circular economy for Australia. Dr Melanie Ayre, research scientist at CSIRO’s Data61, said that since its launch, ASPIRE has diverted hundreds of different waste streams from landfill, including batteries, e-waste, metals, organics, polystyrene, ferric chloride and timber pallets.
“Almost 80% of Australia’s waste is generated through commercial, industrial, construction or demolition activities,” Dr Ayre said. “We developed ASPIRE in response to rising costs of waste management, and to redirect waste to more productive uses.”
Cameron McKenzie, ASPIRE’s newly appointed CEO, said the online marketplace has seen an impressive uptake amongst businesses, state governments and local councils in Victoria, but that a national network was pivotal in tackling the widespread waste crisis.
“Around 300 businesses are using ASPIRE, which has collectively saved $207,000 in waste disposal and material costs,” said McKenzie. “This has also resulted in the reduction of CO2 emissions and water through reuse and diversion from landfill. While we’ve had strong traction in Victoria, we’re scaling ASPIRE nationally to address the increasing need for a way to manage Australia’s growing waste and recycling issues.”
According to the 2018 National Waste Policy, a hypothetical 5% improvement in efficient use of materials across the Australian economy could benefit Australia’s GDP by as much as $24bn.
The ASPIRE marketplace combines CSIRO’s domain expertise in manufacturing with the deep technology capabilities of Data61.
ASPIRE was recently named as one of five start-ups awarded a place in the Swinburne Innovation Precinct’s Accelerator Program, an intensive program supporting start-ups to gain early traction in their markets. It was also named a semi-finalist in the 2019 Australian Technologies Competition and has received support from CSIRO’s ON Accelerator program.