Pure Environmental’s new professional graduate program will introduce young scientists and engineers to opportunities within the waste industry.
The waste and resource recovery industry has an opportunity to impact emissions reductions and waste diversion, but reaching national and state targets is not going to happen by default.
Dr Karlis Baltpurvins, Chief Executive Officer for Pure Environmental, says the industry has an opportunity to achieve great things. However, if the same people keep doing the same thing, it will deliver the same result.
That is why Pure Environmental has launched a professional graduate program to induct young scientists and engineers into the waste industry. The 12-month program focuses on the circular economy and will include five placements at various Pure Environmental operations facilities.
“If we truly want to innovate and do things differently and find circular economy outcomes, we need to continually build a pipeline for new talent and develop those people. It’s vital for our industry to attract the next generation.”
The program aims to give graduates a holistic understanding of how different facets of the business work together.
At the end of 12 months, the graduates will be offered a role in the business in a area that is matched to their skills and interests. They will also present a project incorporating learnings from their placements to Pure Environmental’s national team.
Two graduates began the program in April and have entrenched themselves in the industry, attending seminars and conferences. Karlis says they are encouraged to help Pure Environmental innovate and think outside the box.
“We often look at things the same way because we’ve been exposed to them longer. By bringing in someone fresh and giving them a broader understanding of how the company fits together, we’re hoping they will see things through a different lens,” Karlis says.
Karlis has a PhD in chemistry and is regarded as a leading expert in the industry. He’s invested in nurturing and developing talent. Otherwise, the industry remains stagnant.
“It is essential that all industry participants put aside valuable time to mentor our junior staff to develop the leaders of the future,” he says. “We know diversity and recognising new ideas makes us stronger. The graduates will learn the technical aspects of our business and be supported to innovate.”
The graduate program attracted more than 100 quality applications. A pleasant surprise for Karlis, who admits waste is not typically high on the radar of top performing graduates.
He believes the high level of interest in the program is because of the company’s focus on circular and sustainable outcomes and the increasing awareness of both in the broader community.
There is a focus on encouraging the graduates and Pure Environmental’s team to take a broader look at circularity, not just within the confines of the business.
“We don’t have to offer the full circle ourselves,” Karlis says. “We have a talented technical team who can look at every waste stream we bring in, break down the physical and chemical components and determine what we can separate or purify to be a valuable feedstock for another process.
“By understanding the concept of a circular economy and gaining insight into different feedstocks used by different manufacturers, I’m hoping our developing graduates can find more opportunities.”
Program applicants’ academic achievements were not the only factors considered. Real-world and work experience also played a role.
Mehelet Abraha, one of the two graduates in the first intake, was attracted to the program because of its diversity of rotations and insight into the business. Her first rotation was at Wacol, a waste processing treatment and resource recovery facility in greater Brisbane. The facility is licensed to receive a range of hazardous liquid, solid and packaged chemical wastes.
As an environmentally conscious scientist, Mehelet says the promise of sustainable resource use, innovative technology and the opportunity to reshape material consumption patterns is appealing.
For Richard Pope, the opportunity to investigate important projects so early in the program was unexpected, but it was one he relishes. He’s been working at the Jackson facility, which services various waste streams originating predominantly from coal seam gas production and related industries.
“The potential to explore a new industry and develop my abilities as a scientist was a primary factor that drove me to the Pure Environmental graduate program,” he says.
“Not only am I able to expand my abilities, but I have the chance to do so with an established and recognised company that cares about its impact on the environment and its people.”
The graduate program has been so well received it will continue into 2025.
“From a business perspective, we are receiving excellent feedback,” Karlis says. “The graduates are very clever but are also very capable of using their chemistry and technical background to apply what they’re learning.”
For more information, visit: www.purenv.com.au
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