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Chinese lawmakers call for urgent action against influx of foreign garbage The BBC Monitoring Service reports on an item from Xinhua (the New China News Agency) which may be of interest. While China is playing a greater role in the world’s manufacturing sector, some senior lawmakers and officials here have …

Bicycling recycling in China Ryoukan, a non-governmental organization in Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture, Japan has just launched a free bicycle rental service at the start of the month for people needing a bike for a short time. Asia Intelligence Wire reports that the bicycles used in the service–called Charippa–are recycled ones …

Analysis of the EU Eco-Industries, their Employment and Export Potential The environment directorate-general has published a report by ECOTEC Research & Consulting Limited which has collated available environmental expenditure data on the market for goods and services produced by eco-industries in both the EU-15 and the Candidate Countries, as the …

The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resources Board (ARB) has accepted a proposal to ban the outdoor burning of household garbage at home by January 1, 2004. Burning of vegetation will still be allowed under this ban. The US EPA has determined that burning waste products at home is one …

The Japanese newspaper Daily Yomiuri reports that, a year after the enactment of a recycling law governing the disposal of four electrical home appliances, efforts needed to ensure the programme’s success have become clear. The law, under which television sets, air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines must be recycled, came …

Nickel-cadmium batteries in Germany – new study favours ban Rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries account for about 400 tons of the highly toxic heavy metal cadmium discharged into the environment in Germany every year. The most significant cause is that the present take-back systems for used batteries are apparently inadequate. A mere …

China drafts law to control pollution China is planning environmental regulations which will include waste-related topics. The Xinhua news agency reports that China will legislate to encourage clean production and control pollution brought about by its rapid economic expansion. The draft clean production law, tabled to the NPC Standing Committee …

Scottish sustainability indicators published Twenty-four sustainable development indicators have been published by the Scottish government as part of a new framework policy for sustainability. The document recommends a special focus on energy, resource use and transport. Indicators, some including time-specific targets, include greenhouse gas emissions, tonnes of waste landfilled and …

Resources Balance 2001: Green Dot is helping to reduce harmful greenhouse gases By recycling around 2.3 million tonnes of lightweight packaging (aluminium, plastics, composites and tinplate), the German packaging waste recovery system – DSD – has succeeded in saving a good 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in Germany in the …

American consumers are throwing away a record 100 billion beverage bottles and cans a year. Litter and waste problems have prompted legislators in 15 states and Puerto Rico to propose refundable deposits on a wide range of beverages, from soft drinks and beer to the increasingly popular bottled waters, juices, …