Waste

More information about waste.

Zero Waste Week starts

Zero Waste Week starts

Zero waste organisations have been spreading to many nations over the last 10 years. Now we’ve been asking the UK population just how much they care about waste.

Pacific conservation resurgence

Pacific conservation resurgence

At last, the Pacific is being reconverted from a plastic waste dump into the original coral island ecosystem we all know it deserves to be. Wake up, the rest of Oceania, and take part in the big oceanscape they are planning in the western ocean.

Reviving cap-and-trade to reduce corporate garbage production

Reviving cap-and-trade to reduce corporate garbage production

Although often overlooked, among the most obvious problems of carbon emissions and constant pollution is the prime environmental concern of garbage build-up.

Remediating the Hudson River

Remediating the Hudson River

Remediation of the Hudson River. The Hudson has had to endure almost 200 years of human garbage, chemical and sewage pollution.

Unused electrical appliances wasting 1.3 billion a year

Unused electrical appliances wasting 1.3 billion a year

Every year around £1.3 billion is wasted in the UK by gadgets, appliances and other electric products that are plugged in but not being used, says a new report.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch plastic particle content up 100-fold

Great Pacific Garbage Patch plastic particle content up 100-fold

Plastic particle content has increased 100-fold in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch since the 1970s. Plastic content in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre off the California coast is causing changes to sea creatures like sea skaters, who are laying their eggs on discarded plastic rubbish.

Call for more research into nuclear disasters

Call for more research into nuclear disasters

A team of American nuclear waste experts are calling for more research into what happens during extreme conditions like the Fukushima disaster.

New fishing quotas may help lower discards

New fishing quotas may help lower discards

New UK trials have made the first attempt in leading the way on putting a stop to the thousands of tonnes of discarded bycatch, dead fish, that are completely wasted and thrown back into the sea every single day across the EU.

High toxins at school near e-waste recycling site

High toxins at school near e-waste recycling site

Dangerous pollutants found at African school, market and church, near a salvage site, recycling electronic waste from Europe and North America.

Nuclear waste from Cold War-era is here to stay

Nuclear waste from Cold War-era is here to stay

Cold War-era nuclear waste last forever. Now the U.S. Dept. of Energy is struggling to deal with the fallout. The bulk of the deadly waste was generated during the Cold War era arms race, as the superpowers developed and stockpiled ever-deadlier nuclear weapons and technologies.

Food Waste - Our Dirty Little Secret

Food Waste - Our Dirty Little Secret

The amount of food that is wasted in the so-called 'civilized' world has reached staggering numbers in recent decades at an enormous cost to the environment, while efforts to redirect food waste are still in the early developmental stages.

$6.7 billion of medical spend wasted in one year says study

$6.7 billion of medical spend wasted in one year says study

With paying for healthcare a hot political topic in the USA, a study that found enormous amounts of money was wasted on branded drugs and pointless tests may have big implications. A staggering $6.7 billion of US medical spending in just one year is wasted on tests that aren't needed and expensive branded drugs according to new research.

Eco Swim by Aqua Green eco friendly swimsuits

Eco Swim by Aqua Green eco friendly swimsuits

This 4th generation, family-owned business is stationed in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania and is committed to a number of progressive, eco-friendly initiatives, as well as to manufacturing in the US. They are doing this by using recycled materials for their swimsuits, as well as taking extra steps in their production process to reduce waste.

Bacteria transform landfill methane

Bacteria transform landfill methane

Biofilters can convert around a fifth of the wasted methane from old landfill sites into less harmful gases says new research. Methane has a much greater impact on global warming per amount of gas than carbon dioxide and landfills account for 12% of global anthropogenic methane emissions.

Fish feeding on plastic in ocean's 'Garbage Patch'

Fish feeding on plastic in ocean's 'Garbage Patch'

A team of American researchers have travelled to the Pacific Ocean's dirtiest waters to find that nine per cent of the fish there are eating our waste in the form of tiny specs of plastic. The garbage patch is known more correctly as North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, 1,000 miles off the Californian coast, and it was discovered that fish are eating 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year.

Using wasted power to power our machines

Using wasted power to power our machines

Electricity can be generated by harnessing the wasted effort of industrial machines reducing emissions and saving money say a Finnish team. The team at Aalto University have used the technique on construction and mining machines, agricultural machines and material handling machines, capturing lost energy to use instead of fuel.

E-waste pollution puts workers at risk

E-waste pollution puts workers at risk

The health of those toiling in e-waste workshops in China is at serious threat from the pollution produced - so says a new study looking at the air samples from the Chinese e-waste 'capital' of Taizhou. The research, published in Environmental Research Letters, shows high levels of inflammation and dangerous oxidants, in lung samples exposed to pollutants from the e-waste complex.

'Green deal' is ''too expensive'' for UK homeowners

'Green deal' is ''too expensive'' for UK homeowners

Flagship project of UK energy strategy might fall at the first hurdle. Energy secretary Chris Huhne stood in the Commons this month to explain how loans of £10,000 would help plug the gap of up to three billion pounds worth of wasted energy each year by installing new insulation, boilers and double glazing in houses across the country.

Film Review: The Clean Bin Project

Film Review: The Clean Bin Project

A review of the film, ''The Clean Bin Project,'' which will be shown at this year's Projecting Change festival on May 27, 2011. The Clean Bin Project shines a light on the dirty under belly of garbage. How to reduce our production of this all consuming waste will become one of the critical questions of our age.

UK firms illegally dumping e-waste in Africa

UK firms illegally dumping e-waste in Africa

Undercover investigation uncovers a secret trade in the UK's unwanted computers and mobile phones. Instead of recycling old computers, PCs, printers, telephones, mobile phones and stereos, waste management companies are accused of selling the goods to countries like Nigeria and Ghana.

The TerraCycle Program Eliminates Waste and Promotes Recycling

The TerraCycle Program Eliminates Waste and Promotes Recycling

To encourage the recycling and re-use of previously non-recyclable waste, the TerraCycle program collects and converts this waste into new products and materials. Many of the collection programs are free and focus on waste that is not recyclable via traditional methods.

EPA boosts research into E-waste solution

EPA boosts research into E-waste solution

The EPA is putting its weight behind a UN University led effort to get a grip on the issue of e-waste. The $2.5 million grant announced today should help the UNU's StEP program to achieve ambitious goals to research, monitor and improve the electronic waste processing chain.

Banned PCBs polluting West Africa may be from 'illegal dumps'

Banned PCBs polluting West Africa may be from 'illegal dumps'

The role of West Africa as the world's toxic waste dump has been highlighted by the discovery of excessive levels of dangerous PCBs, along the region's coast. The study, in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, suggests that the source of these banned chemicals may well be illegal waste dumps and huge ship graveyards - left by companies seeking to exploit lax enforcement of environmental regulations in the area.

Scotland to weigh carbon factor of its rubbish

Scotland to weigh carbon factor of its rubbish

Scotland will be the first country in the world to measure its waste and recycling not just by weight but by its carbon footprint. Instead of simply weighing what is recycled and what ends up in the tip the new carbon metric will factor in how much carbon was used in producing the rubbish and how much will be saved by recycling it thanks to Zero Waste Scotland.

From garbage tip to wildlife haven - new theory for Everglades tree islands

From garbage tip to wildlife haven - new theory for Everglades tree islands

Human waste-tips some 5,000 years ago helped to build south Florida's tree-islands, new research being presented at today's American Geophysical Union's Chapman Conference shows. As the waste piled up, the ground became raised enough for trees to colonize - and then stabilize - these island wildlife sanctuaries in the Everglades' Shark River Slough.

Can green gloop make nuclear waste safe?

Can green gloop make nuclear waste safe?

Nuclear power not only poses risks from catastrophic failure, its waste products pose health risks for millions of years. But a special type of green rust may help in keeping that hazard locked up longer, if a scientist from the University of Copenhagen is right. That could help future generations avoid the dangers of long-lived neptunium dumps.

The environmental impact of the disposal of waste in large scale pig production

The environmental impact of the disposal of waste in large scale pig production

Investigations indicate that large amounts of pig waste do not cause acid rain. Pig breeding is big business, but in order to make money the producer must have a large number of pigs. One of the problems is that a large number of pigs produces a large amount of waste. Filed under environmental issue: waste/business.

A warming beer! Scientists look for biofuels in brew waste

A warming beer! Scientists look for biofuels in brew waste

Microbes in brewery waste already saves brewers millions by producing methane and now scientists want to put these miniature workers to work on other useful tasks. Cornell scientists have been working with Anheuser-Busch Inbev, which brews Budweiser, to see if microbes which currently produce methane as they break down brewery waste can be put to other uses.

UK project gets the fat out of VAT

UK project gets the fat out of VAT

Volunteer group encourages turning waste oil into vehicle fuel. An novel new project in Birmingham sees residents hitting back at the recent VAT rise by turning waste fat into vehicle fuel. The 'Grease Lightening' scheme is working with a disadvantaged Birmingham community to encourage them to recycle their fat, oil and grease.

Ski-park incinerator proves sustainability doesn't mean sacrifice

Ski-park incinerator proves sustainability doesn't mean sacrifice

Copenhagen incinerator doubles as ski-park. A waste management plant planned for Copenhagen in 2016 will generate enough heat and electricity for 140,000 homes and will have an added bonus - it'll be covered by an urban ski park. The new plant will replace the existing 40 year old incinerator, taking waste from five municipalities in its area.

EU e-waste: UK least likely to recycle large household appliances

EU e-waste: UK least likely to recycle large household appliances

Europe's e-waste targets are becoming more ambitious. Electronic devices contain toxic metals which can cause health problems when incorrectly disposed of - not to mention the impact it has on the environment. The European Parliament is therefore looking to tackle the growing amount of e-waste we generate from discarded computers, mobile phones and other appliances or electronic devices.

Dubai waste problem sparks PAYT debate

Dubai waste problem sparks PAYT debate

Environmentalists call for incentivisation in Dubai. Dubai's growing garbage problem has started a debate among the country's officials and environmentalists, some of whom are eager to see a pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) scheme implemented. Each person in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) generates around 2.5kg of waste per day.

Big names commit to waste initiatives

Big names commit to waste initiatives

Retailers and construction firms sign up to waste reduction initiatives. A number of the UK's most well-known companies have signed up to schemes designed to reduce waste to landfill and increase UK recycling rates. Associated British Foods, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Kraft Foods, Premier Foods and Proctor & Gamble are the latest big names to join the second phase of the Courtauld Commitment, a voluntary government-run scheme.

Filtration of kitchen waste water for horticultural use

Filtration of kitchen waste water for horticultural use

Indian project to investigate cheap filtration process for waste kitchen water for use in horticulture. Water is a precious and necessary commodity. It is essential to sustain life and its regular supply is something that we take for granted. In the so-called developed world the days are long gone when every drop had to be carried from a well. In this present age very few of us are without a piped water supply and by the nature of our lifestyle, millions of gallons of wastewater are literally poured down the drain every day.

40% of food produced worldwide is wasted

40% of food produced worldwide is wasted

Hunger can be tackled by more targeted aid and by investing in innovative projects. Four out of ten kilos of food produced worldwide is wasted before being consumed, a new report by the Worldwatch Institute recently revealed. In its State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet, the non-profit says that African farmers, who make up 80% of the continent's population, need to be supported by more targeted and substantial aid.

Investing green: Clear potential for waste-to-energy technologies

Investing green: Clear potential for waste-to-energy technologies

A report into the waste management and recovery industry has identified clear potential for waste-to-energy technologies within the UK and energy-hungry developing countries. But while the scarcity of metals and energy is driving the sector forward, legislation, regulations and lack of finance are still posing challenges to the sector.

Unsafe disposal of water waste in Pennsylvania

Unsafe disposal of water waste in Pennsylvania

The state of Pennsylvania is in the midst of controversy since last week when it was discovered that the liquid that gushes from its gas wells is only partially treated for substances that could be environmentally harmful, then dumped into rivers and streams from which communities get their drinking water. This creates water that is salty to taste and harmful to health.

Pacific ''Plastic Debris'' area not as big as previously estimated

Pacific ''Plastic Debris'' area not as big as previously estimated

There is a large amount of plastic rubbish floating in the oceans but the claims about the Great Garbage Patch in the middle of the Pacific between North America and Japan are exaggerated according to research by Oregon State University.

New York commits to waste plan

New York commits to waste plan

For the first time in over a generation, the city of New York has finalised a solid waste management plan. The plan, entitled 'Beyond Waste: A Sustainable Materials Management Strategy for New York', sets a 20 year goal of reducing waste from 4.1 to 0.6 pounds of waste per person per day.

Ugandan townsmen turn waste problem into fuel

Ugandan townsmen turn waste problem into fuel

Ugandan pair use pyrolysis to tackle town's waste problem. Two men from Kampala, Uganda, have perfected a technique of turning rubbish into a versatile fuel, helping to tackle the town's escalating waste problem.

The Importance of Composting: Help Eliminate Organic Waste, Fertilize Soil

The Importance of Composting: Help Eliminate Organic Waste, Fertilize Soil

How composting can help to eliminate organic waste, fertilize the soil, save money and reduce pollution. Back in grade school, composting was often one of the topics that came up in Science class, especially when recycling was the main point of discussion.

Poor organization spoils European Week for Waste Reduction

Poor organization spoils European Week for Waste Reduction

Launched with a barrage of Batucamob, the European Week for Waste Reduction is a good idea frittered away by poor organization. The second European Week for Waste runs from 20th to 28th November 2010 to raise awareness of the waste reduction strategies of the EU and individual member states.

America Recycles Day - Tackling a growing mountain of waste

America Recycles Day - Tackling a growing mountain of waste

'I Recycle, Do You?' is this year's theme for America Recycles Day, held on 15 November: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that America currently recycles around 32 percent of its waste, which is equivalent to saving the greenhouse gas emitted by 39.6 million cars.

Naples waste dump crisis escalates

Naples waste dump crisis escalates

Tensions mount as Naples' waste crisis continues. The Italian government has held emergency crisis talks after riots broke out in Naples over plans to build a rubbish dump in a national park near Mount Vesuvius.