Curiosidades

The Brazilian state of São Paulo has modified regulations governing the ICMS (local business tax) value added tax through last October’s Decree No. 47.278. Transport to or from other states of paper waste or cuttings, metal scrap, glass waste and fragments or residue of plastics, rubber or textiles is now …

A proposal that would require electronics retailers to set up recycling schemes for discarded televisions and computer monitors, the first proposed law of its kind in the USA, has been introduced by a Los Angeles city official. Concerned about toxic waste from discarded TVs and monitors, Los Angeles City Council …

The UK’s first comprehensive look at the local nuisance effects of living close to a landfill site has been published by the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The study (by Cambridge Econometrics, EFTEC & WRc) looked at over half a million sales of houses situated near …

Sacramento, USA – An Oakland lawmaker wants to give parents an extra incentive to get their youngsters potty trained: a quarter-cent tax on disposable diapers to promote recycling. Associated Press reports that Democratic Sen. Don Perata said “In California, we face staggering population growth that will only add to our …

The WEEE Directive, and its sister Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), has been placed on the Public Register of Council Documents of the European Union. EU Member States are now obliged to implement the regulations by 13th August 2004. UK has until September 2005 to introduce take-back …

Japan’s regulations on the country’s waste disposal system have been tightened and dumping of industrial waste has become a social issue. Meanwhile, landfill operators are facing increasing operating costs, as well as growing opposition from residents throughout the country. Because of this the number of new landfill sites has decreased …

EU Waste Incineration Directive 2000/87/EC has introduced stringent operating conditions and sets minimum technical requirements for waste incineration and co-incineration. The requirements of the Directive have been developed to reflect the ability of incineration plants to more cost effectively achieve high standards of emission control in comparison to the 1980s. …

The European Commission is currently drafting a new proposal on eco-design of end use equipment. EurActive reports that many stakeholders are doubting the usefulness of this proposal. In November 2002, DG Entreprise launched a consultation on a framework directive on the eco-design of end use equipment (i.e equipment that is …

The Toronto Star reports on the potential use of a local economic instrument to halt the export of waste for disposal. US federal law and international treaties may keep Michigan from banning trash from Canada and other states, but a burial fee on all trash might achieve the same goal, …

Here is an interesting item from the Indian Financial Express, raising the question of environmental benefits vs risks to public health or vested interests. India’s domestic glass manufacturers and the liquor industry are divided over the recycling of liquor bottles by distilleries. Led by Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry …