Curiosidades

More than 50 per cent of Australia‘‘s packaging materials are recovered through recycling. The Australian Beverage Industry Environment Council (BIEC) reports that a recent analysis for the National Packaging Covenant Industry Association (NPCIA) of available 2003 data shows 51 per cent of all packaging materials in Australia are recovered. This …

A high-tech revolution in Melbourne‘‘s waste disposal system could help the environment – and add to household costs. The Age reports that dumping rubbish in Melbourne‘‘s tips is set to be cut drastically under a new plan for the city‘‘s waste. But experts have warned that more environmentally friendly garbage …

A discussion paper from the Australia Institute, disseminated by Ecorecycle Victoria suggests that total wasteful consumption in Australia amounts to over A$10.5 billion dollars annually spent on goods and services that are never or hardly ever used. Types of wasting behaviour are identified, and typical patterns of consumption highlighted in …

Dr Sarah Liao, the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has announced the immediate implementation of a territory-wide programme on source separation of domestic waste at the kick-off ceremony of the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Festival recently, following a successful trial in …

In Britain the novelty of microchips in rubbish bins seems to be a cause for concern, according to this piece from the Guardian. Though he foresaw many ways in which Big Brother might watch us, even George Orwell never imagined that the authorities would keep a keen eye on your …

A new £284 million initiative to help businesses manage resources more efficiently and cut waste has been launched by Environment Minister Elliot Morley. The Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme recycles revenue generated through increases in Landfill Tax to fund a range of free services and targeted support for …

Britain‘‘s first household battery recycling plant has opened in the English Midlands, operating company G&P Batteries said. The plant, which cost £250,000 (US$481,000), will recycle alkaline and zinc carbon batteries, commonly used in household products such as portable radios and childrens‘‘ toys. G&P said the UK generates 30,000 tonnes of …

Toyota emerges as industry leader U.S. automakers received nearly failing grades in the use of recyclable, safe plastics in vehicles, according to a report released by the Michigan, US-based Ecology Center, in collaboration with Clean Production Action. The six top-selling automakers in the U.S. were graded on their commitment to …

Swiss cars could soon be running on a fuel based on agricultural waste, thanks to a project promoting essEnce5 – a mixture of bio-ethanol and petrol. The government – which favours the use of cleaner fuels – has decided not to tax the bio-ethanol produced in the project, called etha+. …

A parrot and a palm pilot With a sprinkling of holy water, a priest blessed thousands of palm seedlings in a ceremony in Bogota‘‘s main park, sealing an unusual Palm Sunday pact between the Roman Catholic Church and environmentalists to save a critically endangered parrot. Thousands of miles away, 22 …