English

Europe – EU report on car recycling places UK among worst

An EU report into car recycling singles out Britain as one of the worst performing countries in Europe. Holland and Sweden were commended for having reached a target of recycling more than 85% of cars. Since January 2005 car owners have been obliged to take their vehicle to a registered …

Mais »

Australia – free energy efficient light bulbs for millions of households thanks to new greenhouse friendlyT abatement provider

An Australian company will assist millions of households replace inefficient light bulbs with free energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), after becoming a certified carbon abatement provider under the Australian Government‘‘s Greenhouse FriendlyT initiative. Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Malcolm Turnbull announced that Australian energy efficiency company …

Mais »

USA – new biobased biodegradable plastic hits market

New plant in Iowa will produce 50,000 tonnes pa. Mirel Natural Plastics, a family of high performance natural plastics that are biobased, sustainable and completely biodegradable will be produced by ADM and Metabolix Inc. the companies announced earlier this month. Industry Week reports that the companies formed a joint venture, …

Mais »

Taiwan – EPA to introduce recycling of food oil in September 2007

Starting in September, waste food oil will be collected along with other recyclables and made into biodiesel, Taiwan‘‘s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced. The Taipei Times reports that the programme has been established in conjunction with the Ministry of Economic Affairs‘‘ Green Country project, which mandates that all diesel …

Mais »

Pakistan – plastic bag ban yields 70 arrests

Resource Recycling reports that the City Nazim of Karachi, Pakistan has outlawed the sale or use of plastic bags less than 30 microns thick. The ban carries a penalty of three months in jail and/or a fine of $825 ($US), and is being aggressively enforced. Over 70 people have reportedly …

Mais »

Australia – finds a new power source: beer

We know who turned water into wine. Now, reports the Timesonline, Australian scientists are going a step further – they are turning wine and beer waste into water to generate electricity. Miracles aside, man still relies on a lengthy process to make alcoholic drinks that produces tens of millions of …

Mais »

USA – biodegradable polymers created from poultry feathers

According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 29 million tons of non-biodegradable plastic waste ends up in landfills each year. Justin Barone, associate professor of biological systems engineering at Virginia Tech, is investigating ways to create biodegradable plastics from agricultural byproducts such as poultry feathers and eggs …

Mais »

UK – new project launched to stimulate increased use of recycled content in UK magazine industry

WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has launched a major project designed give the UK Magazine industry a new impetus to extend its use of recycled content paper. It will provide a solid commercial and environmental case to accelerate take-up across the industry and encourage further investment in recycled magazine …

Mais »

USA – another inconvenient truth: Going green creating waste

The Arizona Republic reports that Americans are gaga for green, buying every eco-friendly product manufacturers and marketers can possibly conjure: the new forest-friendly sofas at Crate & Barrel, compostable sweeping towels at Target, kitchen countertops fashioned from recycled US$5 bills. But in dumpsters and landfills across the country, the green …

Mais »

UK – trial shows new extraction processes for additives will encourage WEEE plastics recycling

Separation and treatment to remove additives from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) can be more commercially and environmentally beneficial than landfill, incineration with energy recovery, export for recycling outside the UK or feedstock recycling options. These are the results of new research investigating the waste management options for mixed …

Mais »