The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) campaigners had tracking devices planted in televisions that were broken . . . → Read More: Britain was shipping its toxic e-waste to Africa]]> An immediate halt to electronic goods exports by their subcontractors has been ordered by one of the biggest recycling companies in Britain following an investigation that found at two of its sites toxic e-waste that was being sent to West Africa.

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) campaigners had tracking devices planted in televisions that were broken beyond repair which made them illegal to be exported under European rules. The rules require that all electronic goods be tested to ensure they work if they are used for export.

Two televisions that had been left at Merseyside based Environment Waste controls were purchased and tracked to Ghana and Nigeria. EIA findings will be part of a BBC 1 Panorama documentary this evening are saying that since no tests were made to the TV’s before being sent to Africa, then they were illegally exported.

A group of experts that advise Defra about packaging policy, the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) is preparing a report giving . . . → Read More: Still no UK waste packaging policy in place]]> Packaging was a key issue the government said it would address when they launched their review of the waste policy in 2010. There has been hardly any indication as to what direction the ministers will take.

A group of experts that advise Defra about packaging policy, the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) is preparing a report giving recommendations that will be released at the end of May and is expected to have a great deal of influence with the review.

Bob Lisney, committee chair says that the core of the report is tackling packaging waste and how far the UK has come in doing so. He says the UK is meeting the European packaging targets and for reducing packaging per person they are number one in the world.

But of course perception is one thing achievement another. The committee did say a significant problem with the perception of packaging. In the Defra’s waste review consultation 50% mentioned that retailer and packaging survey has found a public frustration with packaging.

In order to change this mentality the committee said it is important no to get complacent with regard to achievement and powering ahead as far as increasing the packaging and recycling rates.

The government has kept the packaging recycling targets for the most part the same for 2011 and 2012 and had attracted a considerable amount of criticism recently which has meant that the price currently paid for PRN’s is at rock bottom.

Overall the message is that there is not a problem with packaging waste but a large problem with perception issues. One key area or problem with perception is with plastics. Although they only account for a small amount of overall weight for the year with only 2.4 million tonnes the “waste stream” is over 65% of the packaged goods so it is very highly visible to the public.

It is thought there should be a step-change in collections by collecting all the bottles possible and a minimum of 50% of the local authorities collecting mixed plastics. The practices all over Europe need to be looked at and then choose something from all of them since no one is doing it all right.

In the future it seems that technology will become more . . . → Read More: Technological Progress Cuts Environmental Costs]]> It is easy to lament that modern technology is destroying the environment. Indeed, many modern conveniences come only at the expense of nature. Yet not all innovations are bad for the environment and things like conference call systems and wind farms are actually good for the planet.

In the future it seems that technology will become more and more of a friend to the environment. Governments and companies are investing huge amounts of money in green firms. In fact, many countries responded to the economic downturn by pumping money into companies that will help us live more sustainably. This kind of investment is necessary to carry these new programmes forward –technology costs a lot to develop, and sadly sustainable programmes don’t initially show a great deal of profitability. Thankfully, governments are willing to bankroll them and push them onto the market.

There are literally thousands of great technological innovations that have helped the environment in recent years. Some are very obviously good for the environments such as wind farms and city-wide bike systems managed by computer servers. Others are less so, yet still as important. Take conference calls for instance: great telecommunication advances have made them a viable alternative to meetings for many companies, this has allowed businesses to significantly cut the amount of travelling they do, thus helping to lower global emissions rates.

It is easy to see technology as the enemy in the battle to preserve our environment. Sometimes this is the case as uncontrolled innovation often leads to items which produce nothing but wealth. Nonetheless, there are hundreds of companies out there working to make the world a better place and doing so through state of the art science and technology. This gives great hope for the future; after all there is no telling what will be discovered in the coming years. Perhaps, they will find a way to curb emissions or generate power without fossil fuels. With innovation on the side of environmentalism, there is no telling what will be accomplished.

Councils say that the potential to be penalized is of great concern and that . . . → Read More: Local authorities face heavy recycling fines]]> Local authorities are about to face penalties of as much as £200 per tonne of waste over assembly targeted waste requirements.  The penalties are part of the new waste recycling measures intended to raise recycling to 70 per cent by the year 2025.

Councils say that the potential to be penalized is of great concern and that such penalties could have grave implications for already strapped councils. The ministers have responded by advising that the penalties are only a last resort and that there will be help for councils that appear to be missing the targets.  It is not forgotten, however, that 9 of 22 councils missed targets of just 40 per cent last year.  Those targets were not binding by law.

If the new statutory target were in place last year, those missing councils would have faced thousands and thousands of pounds for penalties.  The targets for 2012 to 2013 will be 52 per cent.

Ministers say that the penalties must be in place in order to keep up the momentum needed to become a recycling society.  Councils say that they are potential victims of their constituency and should not be held responsible for the citizens’ failure to recycle.

The minister’s point out that such would be a failure of leadership and if councils cannot get their constituents to comply, there is something wrong with their ability as leaders.  They say that some councils simply lack the will to work hard enough to achieve the targeted goals.

The Global Green Awards are known to be one of the most notable events for those in the eco world as they recognize the best campaigns targeted at promoting sustainability.  Outside of originality and creativity, . . . → Read More: The Green Awards is now accepting entries]]> The Green Awards is now accepting entries for its 5^th annual ceremony that honours creativity within the communications and sustainable marketing industries.

The Global Green Awards are known to be one of the most notable events for those in the eco world as they recognize the best campaigns targeted at promoting sustainability.  Outside of originality and creativity, entries are also judged based on how they contribute to society by following the Environmental Accreditation Scheme as defined by RSA.

This is the first year that the awards will be open to global entries in all categories.

There are sixteen categories in this year’s Green Awards to honour every discipline including public relations, advertising, direct marketing, and many more.  New categories are designed every year to encompass the growth of innovation within the communications market.

This year the new categories include Best Green Product Innovation, Best Green Use of Mobile Apps and Technologies, and Best Green Educational Project.

Other new add-ons to this year’s 2010 Green Awards include the creation of a ‘Steering Group’ in order to offer guidance and advice during the selection process.  Members of the group are professionals that work with environmental organizations, marketing, and communications.

UNEP Director of Communications and Steering Group member Satinder Bindra stated that it is important to make your voice heard in the hard market of environmental campaigns and thus those who participate need to be risk takers that offer the qualities of creativity and persistence.

Most of the judges are quite prominent such as Freya Williams the MD/Planner of Ogilvy Earth, Johan Eliasch the Special Representative of the PM of the UK, Cheryl Hicks the Special Advisor on sustainability for the WBSCD, and Nick Nuttal the Media Head for UNEP.

The review, which is set to be released next Thursday, . . . → Read More: Local Government recycling shake-up on the way]]> Local Government secretary, Eric Pickles, is looking at plans that will offer councils that axe fortnightly collections rewards.  The plan comes ahead of a new publication review of the waste policy as outlined by the Government by the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, which is due next week.

The review, which is set to be released next Thursday, is said to raise the prospect of adding fines and penalties against those who do not regularly recycle. Pickles is taking a close look at the new plans in order to reinforce his campaign to get councils to consider weekly collections instead of fortnightly collections.

The once a week trash collections law first came into place in 1875 in order to help reduce the effect of plagues such as cholera which claimed many lives across the UK.

The Labour Government, however, only encouraged councils to collect rubbish on alternate weeks in an effort to promote recycling.

The Tories were against this idea claiming that it increased the amount of maggots, rats, and fly’s in bids throughout the summer months.

Currently, about half of all local communities collect rubbish on a fortnightly regime with polls showing that about 75% of home owners are opposed to this system.

The cost of reinstating weekly rubbish collections across England is anticipated to be around £121m.

Pickles first offered councils cash in order to switch to weekly collections but is now thought to be looking to fund the cost from scrapping quangos and via the Local Government Finance Settlement.

David Casey stated that he has been impressed to see his company and other companies take a stand and purchase recycled products over new . . . → Read More: Offices are getting the eco friendly idea]]> At one time environmentally safe products were the exception to the norm, but now they are in demand across the UK, as business owners see that they have a responsibility to the environment.

David Casey stated that he has been impressed to see his company and other companies take a stand and purchase recycled products over new products in order to reduce their carbon footprint.

Casey is just one of the thousands of employees in the UK that has seen their employers take a stand and start reducing their regular rubbish output.  From choosing to purchase recyclable binders to using recyclable toner cartridges many UK businesses are looking for ways to be green conscious from within the office.

Bob Taylor of everythingoffice.co.uk stated that they sell everything that is in demand for office spaces and have noticed that lately the products that are selling in large quantities are those that are environmentally sound.  He added that manufacturers are now realizing they have an environmental responsibility and have in response started stocking more items.

As more businesses across the UK are starting to think past the bottom line and focus on what they own their environment it is probably only a matter of time until products that are not environmentally friendly start to disappear.

Taylor added that the company is proud to offer a full line of sustainable products to meet businesses needs and that other manufacturers of green products will continually appear on the scene to make it easier to be green conscious at work.

The local authority’s Municipal Journal . . . → Read More: South Oxfordshire is England’s best recycler]]> South Oxfordshire residents are being praised for making strong efforts in composting and recycling, contributing about 70% of household rubbish to the campaign.  This is thought to be the highest contribution across England.  The collection efforts are thought to have saved taxpayers about £355,000 and earned the area £850,000 in recycling credits.

The local authority’s Municipal Journal Awards commended the scheme and revealed that from June of 2009 to June of 2010 Verdant the region’s collector received 18,532 tonnes of dry recycling, 6,115 tonnes of food waste, and 7,434 tonnes of garden waste.  Add in the recycling banks and composting figures totalled up to 32,621 tonnes.

During the same year about 11,739 tonnes of waste went into the landfill bringing the overall recycling rate in the area up to 73%.  Even when you factor in the contamination rejection the amount still comes out to 68%.

In the previous year from 2008 to 2009 the council only recycled 21,753 tonnes and the council produced almost 28,000 tonnes of waste.  This brought the recycling rate to about 44%.  This means that total composting and recycling is increased by 48% and dry recycling is up by 24%.  Waste on the other hand is down by 60%.

An award for the best direct mail campaign was offered to the council to encourage residents to continue to offer their support to the scheme.