Summary

The EU executive body has proposed for the EU states to begin monitoring elements such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - a group of similar chemical characteristic compounds which are emitted by incomplete combustion - in an attempt to tackle a growing health problem due to exposure to heavy metal air pollution.

The proposed legislation would require systematic air quality monitoring by member states. The data collected would be used to draw up legislation restricting the release of heavy metals. In addition, member states would be required to meet certain target levels for particularly prevalent and dangerous pollutants such as PAHs. In particular, take cost-effective measures to meet the annual target of 1 ng/m³ for benzo-a-pyrene, a carcinogenic compound of the PAH family.

It is said that current ambient air concentrations of specific heavy metals result in about one death from cancer in a million.

Without the abatement measures, it is estimated that by 2010, more than 400 additional cases of lung cancer will be caused in the EU through inhalation of PAHs.

Summary

Methyl bromide, a highly toxic substance used to kill a variety of pests, such as insects, weeds and pathogens in agriculture and other applications, is blamed for the destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer.

As a result, parties to the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer adopted amendments to establish a phaseout schedule for methyl bromide in industrialized countries in 1997. Production and use of the substance will be completely phased out except for essential uses by 2005.

In addition, the 1997 Montreal amendments also included a ban on trade in methyl bromide with non-parties.

As a party to the Protocol, the US EPA recently published a direct final rule to prohibit the import and export of methyl bromide from or to a foreign state that is not a party to the 1992 Copenhagen amendments to the protocol in order to meet its obligations under the protocol and its associated amendments.

Summary

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other chlorine and bromine-containing substances have been shown to destroy the stratospheric ozone layer that protects the Earth from deadly exposure to UV radiation from the sun.

The US EPA has, in 1993, published regulations to establish a recycling programme for ozone-depleting refrigerants recovered during the maintenance, service, repair and disposal of air conditioning and refrigerant equipment.

It has recently made changes to those regulations. The changes include:

1. Modifying record-keeping requirements to allow certified recycling technicians to receive replacement credentials when the firm that certified them is no longer in business.
2. Restricting the sales of certain types of refrigerants to prevent technicians from installing the wrong type of refrigerant in motor vehicle air conditioners.
3. Changing the definition of "reclaim" to ensure that it excludes refrigerant material contaminated with water, chloride or other materials.

Summary

Clean Energy Systems, a small firm in Sacramento, California, said that it could make a greener power plant out of a rocket engine, by stripping carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas - out of the smokestack.

It separates nitrogen before combustion. The oxygen that remains is burned with fuel and water in a chamber modeled after a rocket engine. The output is a hot, high-pressure mix of steam and CO₂ that powers a turbine. As the gas stream turns too hot for the turbine, it is cooled down to 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit before hitting the turbine blades. The recovered CO₂ is sent down pipelines to be re-injected into oil and natural gas wells.

The rocket engine power plant runs at a 35% thermal efficiency, versus 55% for conventional gas-fired plants.

The firm hopes to run a demonstration plant next year.

Summary

Nonylphenols, an industrial chemical that is widely used in spermicides, cosmetics, detergents, resins, plastics and stabilizers in the polymer industry, is an endocrine disruptor that mimics or blocks the actions of natural hormones, particularly estrogen.

A study carried out by the University of London showed that nonylphenol was causing oysters to become hermaphrodites at levels 10 times below the 'safe' limit by the UK's Environment Agency.

Following the study showing that the cleaning agent poses possibly greater risks to the aquatic environment than previously thought, the Environment Agency is reconsidering its current environmental standards for nonylphenol allowed in water discharged through sewage although the chemical has been largely and effectively phased out of use because of its endocrine disrupting potential.

Summary

The UK's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published proposals to set new targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste for businesses.

The proposals include revisions to the business recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste for the next four years, from 1 January 2004.

Current business targets are 59% for overall recovery and 19% for material specific recycling. However under the proposed EU targets to be met by 31 December 2008, member states have to achieve minimum target of 60% for overall recovery of packaging waste and 55% for overall recycling. The minimum recycling targets for each material are: 60% for glass and paper / board; 50% for metals; 22.5% for plastics and 15% for wood.

Summary

New recommendations have been made by the Waste Watch, an organisation which promotes the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste, to increase plastics recycling in the UK and to curb the amount of waste being produced through the country's 4% annual growth rate.

Amongst the recommendations are:

• Increase plastic bottle collection - integrated into the multi-material kerbside collection schemes;
• Maximise recycling of plastics from commercial and industrial waste - to target recycling and collection of recyclables from the small to medium enterprises;
• Develop technologies for efficient recycling of plastics from cars and electronic equipment - it is suggested that a device to handle plastics after shredding should be developed;
• Develop a range of end markets for recycled plastics and to encourage the government to buy these materials; and
• Increase landfill tax, making it more cost effective to recycle more plastics.

Summary

A Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) will be the first of its kind to be set up in London and the first in the country that can handle glass.

It can separate kerbside waste into cans, newspapers, cardboard, plastics and glass, then compress the waste ready for re-processing. A magnetic belt separates the cans and metal waste, while computer recognition systems separate plastics and other materials. Each substance goes down different chutes ready for compression.

It is being developed in partnership with Cleanaway Limited and supported by a £1.5million grant from the London Recycling Fund.

The technology would mean that residents can meet all their recycling needs from their doorstep collections by placing all recyclables in one bin. The machine can then sort it without extra work for waste operatives.

Summary

In order to provide additional clean renewable energy resources to help fight smog and enhance air quality, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) will install solar power systems at five libraries.

The five systems will provide up to 95 kW of power and generate 148,000 kWh of green power each year, which is sufficient for 100 homes.

The new solar facilities will join other facilities in Los Angeles that generate solar electricity, including the Los Angeles Convention Center, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Neutrogena headquarters, California State University, and Whole Food Market stores.

The Solar Power programme is part of LADWP's 'Green LA' programme.