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Australia – wasted: dope smokers in sin bin over contaminated recycling

Australia‘‘s marijuana smokers have created an unexpected problem for the country‘‘s recycling efforts: home-made bongs thrown into domestic recycling bins are contaminating material that could otherwise be reused. The Australian reports that just one bong, or water pipe, could stop hundreds or even thousands of PET plastic bottles from being …

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Recycled Plastic Products for Construction

Recycled plastic products for construction are usually made from post-consumer and post-industrial plastic waste from one of three main plastic materials: – Polyethylene; sourced from plastic bottles, bags and wrapping film. – Polystyrene; from sources such as CD cases, vending cups and food packaging. – PVC; from windows and industrial …

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Recycled Plastic as a Wood Alternative

Recycled plastic can be formed into planks, poles, sheets, sections that have a wood-like appearance, but with the added advantages of being durable, weatherproof, tough and maintenance free. Particularly suitable for structures and products that are exposed to wet or harsh (you had exposed twice) conditions, it is ideal for …

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Europe – European Court decision re-opens definition of waste debate

A recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgement has apparently rekindled the confusion regarding the definition of the recovery of waste, according to the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM). This decision relates to the status of slurry as a waste in Spain. In coming to its conclusions regarding Spain‘‘s …

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UK – agricultural waste plastics collection and recovery programme

Call for Expressions of Interest As a result of the new Agricultural Waste Regulations to be introduced in early 2006, 137,000 farms in England will have to find alternative means of disposing of non-natural waste. There is currently no integrated system in place to assist farmers once the new legislation …

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India – mercury-laden bio-waste segregation a must

The Central Pollution Control Board has written to all State Pollution Control Boards to make the segregation of mercury-contaminated bio-waste a condition for granting authorisation to the healthcare centres. The Hindu newspaper reports that new healthcare establishments will have to ensure the mercury-laden waste is properly segregated, treated and disposed …

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Malta – WasteServ launches waste minimisation and recycling message awareness project

WasteServ has started implementing an EU funded project worth EUR200,000 to train 20 job-seekers in raising awareness about waste minimisation and recycling. The trained job-seekers are now assisting in motivating householders to cooperate in waste management issues such as waste minimisation, the proper use of bring-in sites and civic amenity …

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UK – multi-million pound farm plastic recycling plant set to open

A multi-million pound farm plastic recycling facility is set to give a network of collection schemes taking waste plastic from farms an outlet for its waste. Letsrecycle.com report that the FarmPlas network is a nationwide scheme supporting farmers wishing to recycle plastic from their farms. The individual schemes, based all …

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How Biodiesel Works

Biodiesel runs in any unmodified diesel engine. There is no “engine conversion” typical of other alternative fuels. The diesel engine can run on biodiesel because it operates on the principle of compression ignition whereby air is compressed and then fuel is sprayed into the ultra-hot, ultra-pressured combustion chamber. Unlike gasoline …

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Biodiesel Benefits

1) Biodiesel runs in any conventional, unmodified diesel engine. No engine modifications are necessary to use biodiesel and there is no “engine conversion.” In other words, “you just pour it into the fuel tank.” 2) Biodiesel can be stored anywhere that petroleum diesel fuel is stored. All diesel fueling infrastructure …

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