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Major retailers have begun to make efforts to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags, through such measures as charging for the bags, discounting the price of the purchase if customers do not use a bag or by distributing free, reusable shopping bags. But, reports the Daily Yomiuri, retailers still …

The price of televisions and computers could soon jump as state and federal governments consider up-front recycling fees on expensive electrical equipment to reduce landfill. The Age newspaper reports that Victorian Environment Minister John Thwaites has backed the plan and said the up-front fee recycling approach could be applied to …

Tourism, as one of the world‘‘s largest economic sectors, places direct and indirect pressures on species and habitats and thereby threatens their conservation. In addition, it may disturb wildlife and increase pollution caused by transportation. These potential impacts on nature and biodiversity are reinforced by the fact that tourists tend …

Several months ago, residents of the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, were struggling with disposal of household waste. IPS Inter Press reports that the Municipal Technical Services (Services techniques municipaux, SETEMU) weren‘‘t able to deal with all the refuse — and health conditions in the city were deteriorating. Fast forward to June …

Seventeen local authorities across England will trial new food waste collection services to help determine the best way of diverting this waste from landfill. WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) is keen to establish the most convenient way for people to take part in this new service. The trials are …

Three Canadian firms are helping the federal government be more environmentally friendly after qualifying to provide the government with remanufactured office furniture. With a combined value of US$600,000, the Regional Master Standing Offers awarded to the three firms will help the government play a role in keeping office furniture out …

Plastic bottle recycling continues to go from strength to strength with 92% of UK local authorities now offering recycling collection facilities for plastic bottles, according to new research funded by WRAP and undertaken by Recoup (RECycling of Used Plastics). The findings of the UK Plastic Bottle Recycling Survey 2007 indicate …

Scientists at East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) have worked out a waste-recycle technology to turn plastic waste such as coke bottles into corrosion-proof substances for chemical-industry use. China.org cites the Shanghai Daily and reports that the technology, which has been awarded a national patent and won one …

Following the near-constant news of planned polyethylene bag bans from around America, Resource Recycling magazine reports that bag processors are launching a campaign to educate consumers about the importance of recycling the sacks. "Without a significant change in consumer behavior, this issue will continue forever," said Pete Grande, chief executive …

Sanitation officials in Naples are desperately opening temporary rubbish dumps this weekend as short-term relief from a refuse-collection crisis that has closed schools and sent angry Italian residents on to streets at night to set fire to hundreds of mounds of uncollected waste. The UK Observer reports that Neapolitans took …