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This report provides an analysis of low cost small-scale incinerators used to dispose of health care waste in developing countries, specifically sharps waste (used and possibly infected syringes and needles). The report includes a situation analysis, a “best practices” guide to small-scale incineration, a screening level health risk assessment for …

Leachate pumping systems should be checked frequently and inspected minimally, once a year and, ideally, every six months. Familiarity with the operation of the station and comparison of carefully kept records will greatly ease the troubleshooting of such systems and will often catch problems before expensive catastrophic failures. Check the …

Millions of tons of obsolete electronic goods or “e-waste” are piling up worldwide leaking hazardous chemicals into the environment. The question of what to do with them was one subject discussed in Geneva this week at the World Summit on the Information Society. Swissinfo reports that the fear is that …

Scientists have found a productive way to dispose of waste caused in the recycling of paper by using it to make building materials. “Ten tonnes of waste paper, when recycled, may create two tonnes of fibrous clay/limestone residue bound up with two tonnes of water. An Australian online news agency …

Plastic bottles filled with urine are becoming a common sight along the highways, particularly at freeway interchanges, reports the Tri-City Herald in Washington State, USA. From March 4 to Nov. 27, 2002, one Adams County highway cleanup crew picked up 2,666 jugs of urine and 67 bags with human excrement …

In Mejorada del Campo, Spain – Justo Gallego has been building what he calls a cathedral, single-handedly, for the last 40 years. Huddled in two old coats by a bonfire in the nave, his face grubby and his cheeks hollow, the 78-year-old former monk says the end is in sight. …

A new website on waste management issues in Malta was launched yesterday to increase education among school children and to communicate new principles of waste management, WasteServ’s Strategy Head Chris Ciantar announced. The new website, www.progettskart.com, has two aims. One is to facilitate communication with those involved in waste management, …

The European Commission adopted on December 3 its first review of environment policy, the aim of which is to assess the progress and/or problems encountered since 2001 and to highlight current priority issues in the EU and national environmental policies. EIS reports that the Review emphasises the need to speed …

The amount of material being composted in the UK increased 100% between 1999/00 and 2001/02 according to The Composting Association’s latest survey of the composting industry. The State of Composting in the UK 2001/2 indicated that 1.66 million tonnes (Mt) of material was processed at 218 composting facilities. The State …

Local authorities in the UK have access to new funding to help them communicate their recycling and waste minimisation messages. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is launching its new Local Communications Fund on December 8th to provide direct support for local communications initiatives throughout England. Under DEFRA’s Waste …