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The European Commission will next year make initial proposals towards establishing EU-wide waste prevention targets, a senior environment directorate official announced at an ASSURRE conference in Brussels recently. ENDS Daily reports that a policy paper on prevention targets would be published separately from three other proposals also due next year: …

The UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has issued a consultation document (deadline = February 3, 2003) on the treatment of catering waste containing meat in composting and biogas plants. The composting of kitchen waste is set to be allowed as long as it meets specific …

Canada’s Ministers of the Environment and Natural Resources congratulated the city of Iqaluit and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Friday as the capital city of the Nunavut Territory became the 100th Canadian municipal government to participate in a national effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – the Partners for Climate …

The US EPA will soon publish its proposed rule on Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators: Emission Guidelines: Federal Plan, in the Federal Register. The proposed rule, signed by Administrator Whitman on November 6, 2002, proposes a federal plan for existing commercial and industrial solid waste incinerators (CISWI) that were …

‘Rubbish trading’ is the Government’s latest response to Britain’s waste crisis. Local councils will now have to buy and sell permits among themselves if they want to dump rubbish. The UK newspaper the Independent reports that this will provide an incentive to cut waste councils send to landfill: Council A …

A one-year WRAP funded project aims to help increase glass recycling. BRE-led research will assess the recycling opportunities for non-contaminated, high-grade flat glass and non-contaminated timber and plastic profiles from the demolition and replacement window industries. In case you are not familiar with WRAP, the Waste & Resources Action Programme …

Coming hard on the heels of Biffa’s book Future Perfect, the US EPA are also casting their minds forward to 2020. Beyond RCRA: Prospects for Waste & Materials Management in the Year 2020 is a discussion paper which was developed jointly by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state …

Partnerships are crucial if eco-efficiency is to be a real business opportunity, combat increased waste and emissions and contribute towards sustainable development. That was a main message of Aiming for Eco-Efficiency in Resource Use, the third international conference of ASSURRE. “Eco-efficiency can only be achieved by diverse sectors working together …

Waste reduction presents opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at every stage of a product’s life cycle. This document from the US EPA’s WasteWise programme provides an overview of the climate change and waste link and highlights WasteWise partners that have achieved GHG reductions by reusing products, recycling, and …

New criteria for eco-labelled products have been approved by the European Commission. Mattresses The product group definition has been extended to the latex and polyurethane foams for use in bed mattresses when they constitute more than five per cent of its weight. The new criteria will be valid until 31 …