TABLE OF CONTENTS
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S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
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I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation |
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1 |
European electroscrap laws enter into force |
A major package of European Union laws on the management of electrical and electronic waste and hazardous substances in manufactured equipment entered into force with publication in the EU's official journal. |
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2 |
EU proposes ban on using arsenic to treat wood for consumer products |
The European Commission proposed a directive that would ban the use of arsenic in the treatment of wood in consumer applications. |
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3 |
Australia considering fee on plastic bags in the event industry plans fail to curb litter |
An options paper setting out how a mandatory levy on plastic bags could be introduced will be completed by Jun 2003. |
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II. Subject Area: Recycling and Green Energy |
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4 |
Soy-based biodiesel reliable in frigid cold |
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Centre for Diesel Reseach said that soy-based diodiesel has been dependable during this winter's arctic US temperatures, confirming recent data, and bolstering calls for its use as an alternative to foreign oil. |
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5 |
German "green" power output up 18 percent in 2002 |
Germany electricity industry association, VDEW, said power production from renewable energies rose 18 percent last year in Germany to 45 billion kilowatt hours. |
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6 |
Recyclers turn construction debris into needed products and services |
At construction sites throughout the US, debris like concrete blocks, lumber, plastics, paper, and dirt must be removed. A growing number of businesses throughout the country are specializing in reclaiming those materials so the debris isn't simply hauled off to a regional landfill for disposal. |
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7 |
US farm state senators renew ethanol mandate push |
A group of US farm state senators launched a new effort to pass legislation that would triple the nation's use of ethanol and renewable fuels to 5 billion gallons annually by 2012. |
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III. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
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8 |
UK food watchdog warns of mercury risk in tuna |
Britain's Food Standards Agency said pregnant women, breastfeeding women and those planning babies should limit their consumption of tuna because mercury found in the fish could present a health hazard. |
SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered: 17 Feb 2003 to 22 Feb 2003
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Item 1 |
European electroscrap laws enter into force |
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Summary |
A major package of European Union laws on the management of electrical and electronic waste and hazardous substances in manufactured equipment entered into force with publication in the EU's official journal. Implementation deadlines under the two laws extend over nearly six years. The first deadline is 13 Aug 2004, by which time EU member states must transpose both laws onto their own national statute books. Under the electrical and electronic waste law, authorities will then have a further year - until 13 Aug 2005 to introduce free take back of waste goods by final owners and to ensure that equipment producers are responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of all wastes. The next major deadline is 31 Dec 2006, by which time, 25 EU member states must have reached an average waste collection rate of four kilograms (8.8 pounds) per inhabitant annually. Under the hazardous substances in manufactured equipment law, manufacturers will have to cease using lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, or the brominated flame retardants PBDE and PBB, in products marketed from 1 Jul 2006. The final dated deadline in the new package is 31 Dec 2008. By then the European Union must have established new collection, recycling and recovery targets. These may include new targets for the re-use of whole appliances and for the treatment of medical devices. |
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Reference |
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Item 2 |
EU proposes ban on using arsenic to treat wood for consumer products |
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Summary |
The European Commission proposed a directive on 15 Jan 2003 that would ban the use of arsenic in the treatment of wood in consumer applications. The EU executive body said the ban, which would take effect as of 30 Jun 2004, was based on a risk assessment conducted by the EU's Scientific Committee for Toxicity, Ecotoxicity, and the Environment (CSTEE). The proposed directive would ban use of arsenic in:
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Reference |
International Environment Report, Vol 26, No. 3, page 118 |
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Item 3 |
Australia considering fee on plastic bags in the event industry plans fail to curb litter |
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Summary |
An options paper setting out how a mandatory levy on plastic bags could be introduced will be completed by Jun 2003. The options paper will also canvass other legislative options to cut plastic bag use and bag litter. Environment Minister David Kemp and his state and territory counterparts challenged retailers to achieve a 50-percent recycling rate for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bags and a 50-percent reduction in the use of HDPE plastic bags. Ministers say they expect retailers to make significant progress towards meeting these targets by the end of this year, with the effectiveness of industry actions likely to be a key determinant of whether a levy on bags is introduced. |
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Reference |
International Environment Report, Vol 26, No. 3, page 142 |
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Item 4 |
Soy-based biodiesel reliable in frigid cold |
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Summary |
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Centre for Diesel Research said that soy-based biodiesel has been dependable during this winter's arctic US temperatures, confirming recent data, and bolstering calls for its use as an alternative to foreign oil. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can be made from any fat or vegetable oil, about 90% of US biodiesel is made from soybean oil. The fuel works in any diesel engine with few or no modifications, and offers similar fuel economy, horsepower and torque to petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel also burns more cleanly than petroleum diesel. It is biodegradable, non-toxic and free of sulphur. Biodiesel proponents noted that the US EPA late last year released data showing use of B20 (a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel) could reduce emissions of total unburned hydrocarbons by 20% compared with petroleum diesel. The report also verified a 12% reduction of both carbon monoxide and particulate matter in use of B20. |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.org/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=19848 |
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Item 5 |
German "green" power output up 18 percent in 2002 |
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Summary |
Germany electricity industry association, VDEW, said power production from renewable energies rose 18 percent last year in Germany to 45 billion kilowatt hours. Green power in 2002 had accounted for 8 percent of total production in Europe's biggest power market. The fast growth is mainly due to the expansion of wind energy, which already makes up a third of renewables output, with hydropower continuing to account for the bigger share of around 50 percent of the total. |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.org/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=19876 |
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Item 6 |
Recyclers turn construction debris into needed products and services |
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Summary |
At construction sites throughout the US, debris like concrete blocks, lumber, plastics, paper, and dirt must be removed. A growing number of businesses throughout the country are specializing in reclaiming those materials so the debris isn't simply hauled off to a regional landfill for disposal. Almost everything that comes out of a construction site is recyclable. The recycling rate for recycling firms/facilities can be more than 80 percent. The State of California has taken a proactive approach to encouraging recycling, setting a goal for every city or county to recycle at least 50 percent of its waste. |
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Reference |
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Item 7 |
US farm state senators renew ethanol mandate push |
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Summary |
A group of US farm state senators launched a new effort to pass legislation that would triple the nation's use of ethanol and renewable fuels to 5 billion gallons annually by 2012. Ethanol, which is typically distilled from corn, is used as an additive for cleaner-burning motor fuels. It is also seen by some lawmakers as a way to stretch US oil supplies to slow increasing imports. The Senate bill would amend a section of the federal Clean Air Act and require US ethanol, biodiesel and renewable fuel use to grow from the current 1.7 billion gallons per year to 5 billion gallons by 2012. |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.org/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newid=19849 |
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Item 8 |
UK food watchdog warns of mercury risk in tuna |
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Summary |
Britain's Food Standards Agency said pregnant women, breastfeeding women and those planning babies should limit their consumption of tuna because mercury found in the fish could present a health hazard. The groups concerned are advised to eat no more than two medium-sized cans of tuna a week due to a low risk that mercury in them could harm an unborn child's developing nervous system. Mercury is released naturally into the environment through the earth's crust and oceans, and almost all of the fish consumed by humans contain trace amounts. |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.org/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=19875 |