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Waste Solutions NewsNew waste management solutions are constantly appearing and evolving. During the project, this section presented news from partners as well as news provided by users of the site, related to innovative research and practices in waste management and avoidance, as well as important events and developments. You can still use our Links pages, which contain helpful tools and organisations, as well as a listing of conferences that appeared in Waste Solutions News!
ICLEI offers a news service here, providing information on waste as well as general topics such as urban governance, water and sustainable procurement.
Ways to stay in touchUntil the end of March 2006, services were offered on this website. You could subscribe to the Waste Solutions Update, receiving a monthly e-newsletter with waste management and avoidance news.
In addition, it was possible to subscribe to the Waste Solutions forum, which offered the opportunity to discuss with colleagues and announce your own news. Waste Solutions seeks new funding
Since 2003, the Waste Solutions web centre has been funded by the European Commission. This funding ended in March 2006 and we have decided with great regret that, without funding, we cannot maintain the services on this site. The site will remain online yet we will not be adding new content or publishing e-newsletters until we have secured new funding. As www.wastesolutions.org is a popular and well-used site among wastemanagement professionals, we ask any parties interested in funding the continuation of this web centre to contact us at: wastesolutions@iclei.org
Thanks for your support and best wishes for your future waste management activities! |
Environmental Council reaffirms waste priorities of Environmental Action Plan
The prevention and recycling of waste is one of the seven thematic strategies of the European Union's Sixth Environmental Action Plan, which runs until 2012. On 21 December 2005, the European Commission adopted the Communication 'Taking sustainable use of resources forward: a thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste', which was discussed by EU environment ministers in the Environment Council of 9 March 2006. Ministers welcomed the strategy and affirmed three major objectives - full implementation of existing legislation; life-cycle thinking in waste policy; and promotion of waste prevention. The next Environment Council takes place in Luxembourg on 26-27 June 2006 and will take these issues forward. | WRAP funds plasterboard recycling trials
Plasterboard waste is the focus of a trial scheme funded by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Plasterboard is a high sulphate waste and since July 2005, the EU Landfill Directive has reclassified as a non-hazardous non-inert waste – such wastes can only be landfilled in special circumstances. The trial scheme aims to show that plasterboard can be recovered and recycled for reuse, with the potential that 30,000 tonnes of waste plasterboard per annum could be recycled. The trials run until October 2006 and include local awareness-raising activities. Expected results include a model for other local governments to follow and information materials on plasterboard recycling. More information is available at: www.wrap.org.uk | Biowaste management on the ORBIT agenda
From 13-15 September 2006, Weimar, Germany, will host ORBIT 2006, on the theme of 'Biowaste Management - from local to global'. With focus on the use of biomass resource and organic materials in traditional waste management methods such as composting as well as renewable energies. Scientific, political and professional sectors from across Europe will be represented. For more information, see: www.orbit2006.de |
Cologne to host international waste management trade fair
Entsorga-Enteco is an international trade fair for waste management and environmental technologies, taking place from 24-27 October 2006 in the German city of Cologne. Producers, providers, decision-makers and experts from around the world are invited to exhibit and participate in this event, which covers a range of issues, including waste management and recycling, incineration and renewable energies. For more information, visit: www.entsorga-enteco.com | Recycling part of major event in Bilbao
The Second Iberian Congress on the future of recycling will comprise part of PROMA 2006, the International Environmental Exhibition taking place in Bilbao, Spain, from 3-6 October 2006.
Over 8000 people visited PROMA 2004 and exhibitors and participants can find out more on how to attend at: www.bilbaoexhibitioncentre.com | WRAP leads UK's biggest battery collection
Last month, the UK's biggest ever household battery collection was launched by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). The collection programme incorporates a range of local authorities and NGOs and covers 350,000 households during its trial period. These households will receive information and collection containers for batteries, and is a response to statistics showing that around 600 million UK household batteries are sent to landfill each year. For more information, visit: www.wrap.org.uk | Internationalisation of waste industry under Maltese microscope
From 21-23 June 2006, Waste Management 2006 will reconvene in Malta, following the successful meeting in Rhodes in 2004. The meeting will discuss information exchanges between scientific experts and identify the problems and opportunities faced for waste management professionals in the coming years. Conference information is available from the website: www.wessex.ac.uk |
Letsrecycle.com goes live this summer!
From 31 May - 1 June 2006, letsrecycle.com will hold a live outdoor event highlighting recycling technologies and featuring debates on important new waste management legislation, such as the directives on electronic waste and the revised Waste Strategy for the UK. The event aims to present the very latest news and innovations, and serves as an information event for professionals, with an exhibition in addition to a packed conference programme. For more information, visit: www.letsrecycle.com/live |
Take part in International Clean Up of contaminated lands
International Clean Up (ICU) 2006 takes place in Birmingham, UK, from 16-18 May 2006. The exhibition and conference tackles the challenge of contaminated land, and acts as the forum for suppliers for the UK market to present products and services to industry professionals. More information is available at: www.et-expo.co.uk | International conference on plastic recycling
The 9th International Conference on Recycling of Plastics will take place from 6-7 June 2006 in Bad Neuenahr, Germany. The conference will assess legislation and directives, issues surrounding processing and applications for all types of polymeric materials. For further information, visit the website: www.bvse.de |
Brighton to build estate from waste tyres
The city of Brighton, UK, aims to build a new housing estate from waste tyres. The 'Earthship' houses will be the first of their kind in Europe, and will emit virtually zero CO2 emissions, meaning they will be free of utility bills. The houses will heat and cool themselves, make use of solar and wind power, harvest rainwater and treat domestic waste. This small-scale project will recycle 15,000 tyres - a small but significant number in a country that burns around 40 million tyres a year! The buildings can also be used as offices or community spaces, and if planning permission is granted, Brighton will open the doors of its new eco-homes in 2007. For further information please visit: www.earthship.co.uk | APPRICOD seeks to demolish unsustainable waste management practices
As part of the European Commission-funded Life project 'APPRICOD' (Assessing the Potential for Plastic Recycling in the Construction and Demolition Activities), project partners, including ACR+ and IBGE-BIM will hold a European workshop in Brussels, Belgium, on 24 April 2006, titled 'Towards Sustainable Plastic Construction and Demolition Waste Management in Europe'. The workshop will study plastics use and recovery, the opportunities and constraints for recycling, the views of key stakeholders, and perspectives on the future needs of the industry. The event will attract actors from a range of related industries and you can find more information at: www.appricod.org | Recycling Guide added to Waste Solutions Links
The Recycling Guide is a British website highlighting the importance of recycling, providing advice on how people can recycle at home, in schools and how to recycle different materials. The guide also has a useful tips section and is extremely user-friendly. Visit the website: www.recycling-guide.org.uk or look in the Waste Solutions links pages. Feel free to email us and recommend your favourite waste management links! | London event aims to deliver waste solutions
On 9 May 2006, waste management professional from around the UK and Europe will gather in London to discuss revised waste treatment and disposal targets in the UK. The conference will address the slow speed of recycling implementation in the UK and seeks to provide practical information and good practice experience to assist professionals in meeting their targets. For more information, visit: www.imeche.org | Czech Republic protests over new EU refuse laws
The Czech Republic has complained that European Union plans to relax rules on refuse disposal will lead to 'dumping' in poorer Member States. The Czech Republic has been swamped by German waste, imported for cheaper disposal and now only allows disposal imports for recycling. However, the Czechs argue that EU proposals to deny Member States the right to refuse waste imports for burning - discussed at the 9 March 2006 EU Council meeting on the Environment - could lead to 'eco-dumping', adding to the problem of 20,000 tonnes of illegally dumped German waste already in the country. | International biomass conference in Germany
Kassel, Germany, will host Enbio 2006, an International Trade Fair and Conference for Biomass Energy from 5-7 May 2006. The English and German- language event will cover themes including biofuels, cooling systems, financing, wood energies, and be attended by over 500 industry representatives. Further information is available from: www.enbio.de | Research on manufacturing from secondary combustibles
The production and application of secondary combustibles is a vital part of waste management planning within the public sector and for private waste management enterprises. However, there is often uncertainty as to what is a secondary combustible - by no means all fuels made out of waste are secondary combustibles, which can be used directly at power plants or cement works as subsidiaries of primary combustibles. However, a breakthrough was made through "proximal infrared spectroscopy", which lowers the levels of chlorine necessary for burning and ensures a high-class secondary combustible is produced. For more information, visit the website: www.abfallforum.de | ACR+ proposals for new Waste Framework Directive
ACR+, the Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling and sustainable waste management recently published a memorandum in response to European Commission’s proposal for a new Waste Framework Directive. ACR+ calls for specific European support to assist local authorities who are promoting waste prevention and greater support for the recycling sector. Further, ACR+ suggest the European definition of reuse should be clarified and the fundamental principles of producers’ responsibility should be included within the Waste Framework Directive. The ACR+ network gathers 80 cities and regions from over 20 countries to exchange information and experiences on waste management and recovery. For more information on this memorandum and the organisation, visit: www.acrr.org
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