England is recycling more household waste than ever before, Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, confirmed. Mrs Beckett confirmed that England is poised to meet its national recycling and composting target of 17 per cent in 2003/04. Mrs Beckett‘‘s comments today come as Defra release …
Mais »Japan – school lunch milk cartons recycled in Masuda City
The Board of Education of Masuda City, Shimane Prefecture in western Japan, has launched a project to recycle milk cartons from school lunches at elementary and junior high schools in the city. Japan for Sustainability reports that the project, started in September 2004, aims to raise schoolchildren‘‘s awareness about the …
Mais »What are “covered electronic wastes”?
The Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 designated certain electronic products as being covered by a fee and payment system to encourage the proper recycling of the products when they become waste. As of July 1, 2004, “covered electronic devices” and “covered electronic wastes” include televisions and computer monitors that …
Mais »Why should waste electronics be recycled?
Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals, that can be recovered for recycling. Recycling your waste electronics saves resources and protects the Earth because new metals don‘‘t have to be mined. In addition, some electronic products contain high enough levels of certain materials, such as lead, that …
Mais »What is e-waste?
E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their “useful life.” Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled. Unfortunately, electronic discards is one of the fastest growing segments of our …
Mais »USA – draft report shows vinyl building products have comparable impacts to products made of competing materials
A draft report from the US. Green Building Council‘‘s (USGBC) PVC Task Group finds that the environmental and health impacts of vinyl used in building products are comparable to those of competing materials, according to the US Vinyl Institute. The Task Group, which for nearly two years studied vinyl and …
Mais »USA – Study highlights architects‘ widely diverging views on vinyl as a sustainable material
A new study indicates that architects working on sustainable design may have more misperceptions about vinyl than about any other building material. The study, “Paradoxes in Vinyl and Sustainable Design,” was conducted for the Design Futures Council, a U.S. think tank for the architecture and design community, by Greenway Consulting, …
Mais »Japan – NEC to use reinforced bioplastic for PC parts
Japan‘‘s NEC Corp. intend to use a new type of biodegradable plastic for their notebook personal computer parts. Japan for Sustainability report that this biodegradable plastic is made from polylactic acid with kenaf fiber as a reinforcing material. Conventional biodegradable plastics, or bioplastics, made from polylactic acid derived from corn …
Mais »US – recycling is up in Oregon, but so is waste generation
Officials suggest that residents take note of what they purchase, according to the StatemanJournal in Oregon. The people in charge of residents‘‘ garbage and recycling collection don‘‘t just want people to recycle more. They want them to buy less garbage. “If there is any improvement or emphasis … it should …
Mais »Incinerate the trash
In its dreams, Toronto imagined that it could dispose of its garbage problem with the wave of a magic wand. Under the city‘‘s waste plan, recycling, composting and other methods would divert 100 per cent of its garbage away from landfill by 2010, eliminating the need to truck it to …
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