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A series of commercial trials to assess the use of recycled PET plastic (rPET) in retail packaging is being funded by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme). Involving a number of the UK‘‘s leading brands and retailers, it is the first time that rPET will be used in such …

Seeking data for future regulation, the US government has told factory-style farms that generate huge amounts of animal waste they can escape potentially large fines if their air pollution is monitored. Associated Press reports that the offer by the Environmental Protection Agency is intended to produce the air-quality data needed …

San Francisco, which has long prided itself on environmentally friendly policies, is debating whether it should become the first U.S. city to tax grocery bags to encourage recycling. Reuters reports that the city‘‘s Department of the Environment will vote on whether to recommend a 17 cent fee on each bag, …

The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) announced that last Autumn it had provided a loan of 25 billion yen (about U.S.$22.5 million) to Recycle Peer Co., a newly established company specializing in construction waste recycling. Japan for Sustainability reports that the project is designated as one of the "Super Eco-Town …

Sapporo Breweries Ltd., Shimadzu Corp. and Hiroshima University have jointly developed the world‘‘s first technology that can efficiently generate hydrogen and methane from bread waste. Japan for Sustainability reports that their research group announced that their small-scale experimental system had run successfully for over 6 months. The National Institute of …