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UK – public support for pay-as-you-throw

The Local Government Association (LGA) has found that almost two-thirds of people would support a "pay-as-you-throw" system of collecting household waste. BBC Online reports that a poll of 1,028 people found 64% in favour of lower council tax and charges according to how much rubbish they put out, with recyclers …

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USA – home deconstruction proves cost competitive and yields reusable materials

The US EPA reports that a terrace house located in Philadelphia‘‘s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood was chosen for experimental deconstruction. Long perceived as having little value, old and condemned properties are proving to be a treasure trove of architectural elements and reusable building materials. In a bid to promote deconstruction as …

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USA – oyster roast to rebuilt coast: Virginia recycles shells in Chesapeake Bay

Clam and oyster shells from the Hampton Roads area of Southeast Virginia are finding their way back home to the Chesapeake Bay. The US EPA reports that, with the help of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and local volunteers, discarded shells from area restaurants are being returned to the Bay …

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Taiwan – EPA to require cooking oil waste checks in September

The China Post reports that the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration will require over 500 fast food chain stores and instant noodle manufacturers in September to report the amount of cooking oil waste left over from their operations as well as the method of their disposal in the government‘‘s effort to …

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Australia – confusing facts of the great nappy debate

Are biodegradable nappies really biodegradable? Is biodegradablity a good thing in a nappy? Faced with the stark choice between cloth nappies or commercial disposables, many mums have looked for a compromise. Biodegradable nappies seem to offer the convenience of a disposal with the social responsibility of a sustainable alternative. But …

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Turning Plastics to Biodegradable Plastic!

Bio-Batch technology is a process which enables the microorganisms in the environmentto metabolize the molecular structure of plastic films into an inert humus-like form that isharmless to the environment Link to full article

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UK – HSE advice on removing petrol from scrap vehicles

The UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have published a good practice guidance document The safe recovery of petrol from end-of-life vehicles, in association with the end-of-life vehicle (ELV) industry. It provides advice on the safe removal, storage and disposal of petrol from vehicles that are being disposed of in …

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World – the price of virtue, getting people to recycle more

Here is an article from The Economist (June 7, 2007) on how to get people recycling more-even if they do not particularly want to. Plastics here, newspapers there, bottles in that pile, tin cans over there. Across the rich world tonight a small army of worthy householders will pick through …

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UK – House of Lords to investigate waste reduction

The House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee has appointed a sub-committee, chaired by Lord O‘‘Neill of Clackmannan, to look at sustainable approaches to waste reduction. The inquiry will focus on the first level of the waste hierarchy, waste reduction, and will look into ways in which products and …

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