UK – how trees might not be green in carbon offsetting debate
It may have become the penance of choice for the environmentally conscious individual, but planting trees to offset carbon emissions could contribute to global warming if they are planted outside the tropics, scientists believe. The Guardian reports that they argue that most forests do not have any overall effect on …
Mais »Taiwan – vehicles required to add biodiesel from 2008
Starting next year, drivers in Taiwan will be required to add biodiesel in addition to gasoline to their vehicles to reduce air pollution, following revision of the Energy Administration Law by a committee of the Legislative Yuan. The China Post reports that economics Minister Steve R. L. Chen said Taoyuan …
Mais »USA – LA to study plastic bags and their alternatives
In a move aimed at lessening pollution in the city, Los Angeles officials decided Tuesday to investigate alternatives to plastic bags, including possibly banning plastic bags in the city altogether. The Daily Bruin reports that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will conduct a study to look into …
Mais »UK – packaging – unwrapped
This is a long piece from New Scientist, but interesting if you want to learn how to landfill less the 5 kg household waste per family per year! I LOST 2 pounds the week I gave up packaging. Among aisles and aisles of neatly wrapped goods almost everything at my …
Mais »A Questão dos Pneus Reciclados
Os pneus europeus, identificados tecnicamente como sendo as melhores matrizes para o reuso ou reutilização através dos modernos processos de remoldagem, ainda não tiveram o reconhecimento pelo movimento ambientalista brasileiro, de modo especial àquele que se tem dedicado aos projetos e implantação de sistemas de reciclagem, reutilização e aproveitamento de …
Mais »Asfalto ecológico
Somente dois das centenas de milhares de quilômetros asfaltados de nossas rodovias são diferentes dos outros. São ecológicos, feitos a partir de pneus reciclados. Esse é o mote para comentar um dos grandes problemas ambientais modernos – a reutilização de pneus e câmaras de ar velhos. Em uma experiência inédita …
Mais »Scotland – review of kerbside recycling schemes identify factors delivering high recyclate recovery
Scottish local authorities have made significant progress in increasing recycling rates, and achieving the 25% by 2006 target. However one important factor to achieve 40% and beyond, will be the need to improve the recovery rates from kerbside recycling collections. Remade Scotland have published the results of an investigation into …
Mais »Italy – apple paper invention set to bring benefits
Italian inventor Alberto Volcan has created a type of paper made from apples and through regional funding has expanded to other office products as well. While the engineer from northern Italy has already supplied regional offices with 60,000 envelopes and 7,000 notepads made out of his apple-paper, the Italian news …
Mais »USA – San Francisco garbage & recycling trucks go green
Even garbage in San Francisco is going green – with the announcement that the city‘‘s entire fleet of garbage and recycling trucks are running on alternative fuel. CBS reports that as of March 19, more than 400 garbage collection vehicles were running on alternative fuels, according to Norcal Waste System …
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