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The European Commission has adopted a Communication called “Towards a Thematic Strategy on Waste Prevention and Recycling”. This launches a broad consultation exercise on the EU’s future policy in this area. It invites stakeholders to comment on the policy options set out in the Communication. These options include issues like: …

Associated Press reports that Hong Kongers littered country parks with 460 tons of rubbish last month, when SARS fears prompted thousands of residents to go out to the scenic areas for fresh air. Some 1.4 million people visited the territory’s 23 country parks in April, when Hong Kong’s SARS outbreak …

Spaniards are recycling 50 per cent more glass containers than four years ago, or almost 400,000 tonnes a year, industry organisation Ecovidrio said. “Increasing awareness and growth in the infrastructure necessary for recycling are the main motors,” said Ecovidrio, a non-profit body which is made up of glass manufacturers, recyclers …

Pregnant women living near incinerators or crematoriums may have had a higher risk of having a child with birth defects, according to the recently published (Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health) findings of a British research team. Reuters reports that scientists at the University of Newcastle said they uncovered a …

In recent years, Hong Kong has been testing out various waste recovery systems in order to identify the modes that are the most cost-effective and will best suit local needs. Such systems include placement of waste separation bins at public venues and public/private housing estates to encourage public participation. A …

This is the message from a survey commissioned by the provincial Resource Recovery Fund Board in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Association of Municipal Recycling Corodinators (AMRC) reports that the purpose of the survey, conducted last November, was to assess public opinions concerning the enhancement of existing waste management programmes and …

Indiana piles up a mountain of used tyres every year and spends a mountain of cash trying to get rid of them. The Indianapolis Star reports that now, five schools in the state will become the proving ground for a novel experiment in recycling — grinding up the tyres into …

The streets of Naples and the surrounding towns were piled high with rubbish after waste disposal centres announced that they had reached maximum capacity. The UK Guardian reports that officials were preparing to transport rubbish to the north amid fears that the Naples mafia was planning to cash in on …

Clean, cheap way to recover valuable metals from industrial wastes is a world first for Birmingham, UK research team Bacteria could soon have a major role to play in recycling precious metals from spent automotive catalysts and other industrial wastes. Scientists at the University of Birmingham have made a patent …

Interactive resource allows wood waste producers access to details of over 400 collection and recycling facilities The UK’s rapidly growing wood recycling industry now has an important new resource literally at its fingertips – an interactive web-based map to help producers of wood waste to identify collection and recycling services …