Curiosidades

A long-standing case over Germany‘‘s mandatory return scheme for used cans and bottles was dropped by the Commission after changes were introduced in the system to make it compatible with EU internal trade rules. Euractiv reports that the Commission closed an infringement procedure against Germany‘‘s mandatory deposit system for used …

There‘‘s an old joke about the number of people it takes to change a light bulb. But because the newer energy-efficient kinds contain tiny amounts of mercury, the hard part is getting rid of them when they burn out, reports ENN citing Reuters. Mercury is poisonous, but it‘‘s also a …

Hong Kong‘‘s first environmental levy, aimed at making consumers pay 50 HK cents for a plastic bag, will kick off with a bill to the Legislative Council next month, according to a government source. The HK Standard reports that the government will table the tax bill in Legco as the …

working group set by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment has prepared its proposal for a national waste policy. This proposal for nationwide strategic plan for waste treatment and waste prevention principles, goals and the government‘‘s steering plans is going to be approved by the Council of State. The goals …

Plasterboard manufacturers in Great Britain have signed up to an agreement that is set to bring a significant reduction in the amount of waste plasterboard sent to landfill. The voluntary agreement was initiated and brokered by the Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA) which, in Great Britain, represents Knauf Drywall, British …

"We are telling people to start collecting their organic wastes for collection the week of April 2," Peel Region director of waste Andrew Pollock said as the Region launched its green bin organic composting program, a key plank of its waste reduction strategy. The Region has delivered green bins on …

San Francisco‘‘s Board of Supervisors were due to consider passing an ordinance that would require large supermarkets and pharmacies in the city to replace non-biodegradable plastic bags with reusable or recyclable bags, a move that would make San Francisco the first city in the US to introduce such a ban. …

A good example from the Star Tribune of the problems when good motives clash with poor systems design. Every day at lunchtime in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District, students diligently separate food waste from other garbage. Leftover pizza goes in one bin, plastic forks and foam plates in another, empty …

San Francisco‘‘s city council has voted to become the first US city to ban plastic bags from large supermarkets to help promote recycling. Reuters reports that under the legislation approved by the city‘‘s Board of Supervisors, large supermarkets and drugstores will not be allowed to offer plastic bags made from …

Neither the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nor the municipalities have a programme in place for recycling plastic waste, and the impediment to finding workable solutions may lie in the lack of financial viability for everything proposed so far. Stabroeknews.com reports that plastic bottles (PET), Styrofoam food boxes and plastic …