Clear The Air News Blog Rotating Header Image

March 26th, 2013:

Technique produces hydrogen from landfill incinerator ash

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/energy-and-environment/news/technique-produces-hydrogen-from-landfill-incinerator-ash/1015879.article

Swedish researchers have created a way of turning ash from power stations run on landfill waste into hydrogen.

The heavy, grit-like bottom ash formed by burning rubbish is often used to cover landfills or as a construction material but gradually releases hydrogen when stored so is usually kept in the open so the gas can escape in order to avoid an explosion risk.

The scientists from Lund University have a developed a technique of dampening the bottom ash with water in an oxygen-free environment to rapidly release the hydrogen, which can then be collected and stored.

‘The ash can be used as a resource through recovery of hydrogen gas instead of being allowed to be released into the air as at present,’ said Aamir Ilyas, doctor of water resources engineering at Lund University and the developer of the technique.

‘A bonus is that this method removes the risk of hydrogen gas. It also reduces the strain on our landfill sites.’

The researchers estimate that use of this technique has the potential to generate 20 billion litres of hydrogen gas a year – 56 gigawatt-hours (GWh) worth of energy.

Hydrogen is most commonly produced from natural gas or other fossil fuels but a small proportion is now manufactured from gassifying biomass or electrolysing water.

Kenneth Persson, professor of water resources engineering and one of Ilyas’s supervisors at Lund suggested this method could contribute to the more environmentally friendly generation of hydrogen.

‘There will not be one universal solution that will be used to generate energy. We need to find a number of solutions,’ he said.

Read more: http://www.theengineer.co.uk/energy-and-environment/news/technique-produces-hydrogen-from-landfill-incinerator-ash/1015879.article#ixzz2OntOguKA

TAC discusses bus route rationalisation and phasing out heavily polluting diesel commercial vehicles

The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) was briefed today (March 26) on the Administration’s more comprehensive and vigorous approach in rationalising bus routes to better meet passenger demand, enhance bus operation efficiency, reduce pressure on fare increase, alleviate traffic congestion, and reduce roadside emissions, noting that this is a policy initiative announced in the Policy Address in January 2013.

“In view of the need for and benefits of rationalising bus services from both transport and environmental perspectives, the TAC supports the Government and franchised bus companies to pursue route rationalisation measures with greater vigour and determination. Members welcome the new “area approach” as well as the enhancement in interchange arrangements in rationalising bus services,” the TAC Chairman, Mr Larry Kwok said.

TAC Members were also briefed on the Government’s proposal to phase out heavily polluting diesel commercial vehicles by an incentive-cum-regulatory approach and to limit the service life of newly registered diesel commercial vehicles at 15 years as announced in the 2013 Policy Address, in order to improve roadside air quality and protect public health.

Members noted that there are about 86 000 pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles in Hong Kong accounting for 66 per cent of the diesel commercial vehicle fleet. These vehicles together emit about 90 per cent of respirable suspended particulates and 63 per cent of nitrogen oxides from all diesel commercial vehicles.

“Members welcome the Government’s plan to phase out heavily polluting diesel commercial vehicles by an incentive-cum-regulatory approach,” Mr Kwok said.

Ends/Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:24

The truth about Phoenix Project trash incinerator

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Port-au-Prince, HAITI, March 24 2013 – A foreign company that hopes to set up a “trash-to-electricity” incinerator in Haiti has misled the Haitian public, and perhaps Haitian authorities, with what appear to be false claims and deliberate attempts to avoid answering key questions raised in a January 22 article by the investigative journalism partnership Haiti Grassroots Watch.

Read more

http://bit.ly/HaitiTrashTruth

http://www.haitigrassrootwatch.org

Scientists in Finland Invent Biodegradable Diapers Made from Recycled Cardboard

http://www.inhabitots.com/scientists-in-finland-invent-biodegradable-diapers-made-from-recycled-cardboard/

VTT Technical Research Center, Finland, cardboard recycling, paper recycling, cardboard and paper used for nonwoven products, biodegradable nonwoven products, nonwovens made of polyester, cardboard pulp raw material for nonwoven products, diapers, sanitary towels, cleaning cloths, nonwovens from wood raw materials, reuse of cardboard and paper, cardboard cellulose, carbamate technology, foam-forming technology

Europe generates around 60 million tons of recyclable paper annually, 40% of which is made up of cardboard. VTT Technical Research Centre based in Finland has figured out how to use recycled cardboard and paper to make hygiene and nonwoven homecare products like diapers, sanitary towels and cleaning cloths. Around 1.9 million such nonwoven products were produced in Europe in 2011, and those numbers are only growing, which tells you how popular this green innovation is in the marketplace.

VTT Technical Research Center, Finland, cardboard recycling, paper recycling, cardboard and paper used for nonwoven products, biodegradable nonwoven products, nonwovens made of polyester, cardboard pulp raw material for nonwoven products, diapers, sanitary towels, cleaning cloths, nonwovens from wood raw materials, reuse of cardboard and paper, cardboard cellulose, carbamate technology, foam-forming technology

Nonwovens have traditionally been made with biologically non-degradable raw materials, such as polyester. That’s why when your baby’s diaper ends up in the landfill, it will stay there almost indefinitely. And up until now, biodegradable nonwovens have been slow to enter the market because of prohibitive production costs.

This new process developed by VTT means that biodegradable nonwovens will be much more competitive in price compared with plastic-based products. The manufacturing costs of cardboard-based nonwovens are around 20% lower than nonwovens produced from wood raw materials. “This means new business opportunities should open up fairly rapidly, since the technology for manufacturing nonwovens from recycled materials is already in place,” says Ali Harlin, Research Professor at VTT.

The method developed by VTT could also mean extended possibilities for the reuse of cardboard, which is more cost-effective to use as a raw material than paper. The biggest hurdle to reusing cardboard as a raw material for nonwovens is making sure it is clear of lignin and hemicellulose. VTT used several fiber-processing methods to obtain pure cellulose from recycled cardboard. And to dissolve the pulp, they used their patented carbamate technology, which is safer and more environmentally friendly than the traditional viscose process. Furthermore, they were able to produce the nonwovens with a foam-forming technology that uses little water.

This exciting new development by VTT could mean a lucrative new use for recycled cardboard and paper and at the same time, help keep non-biodegradable nonwovens out of the landfill.

Acute changes in lung function associated with proximity to a steel plant: A randomized study

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412013000342

Evaluating municipal solid waste management performance in regions with strong seasonal variability

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X13000915

Assessing environmental impacts of municipal solid waste of Johor by analytical hierarchy process

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344913000049

Transitions of municipal solid waste management. Part I: Scenarios of Swiss waste glass-packaging disposal

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344913000402

A globall survey of returns handled by original supply chain actors

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344913000384

Environment Hong Kong 2012 published / 《香港環境保護2012》現已出版

親愛的讀者:
Dear reader,

我們誠邀你分享環境局及環境保護署共同編寫的《香港環境保護2012》。報告以「綠色優質生活」為主題,講述我們在2011年改善香港環境的進展和未來的挑戰。

報告現上載於我們的網頁,請到以下網址瀏覽
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/misc/ehk12/index.html.

如有任何建議或意見,請不吝賜教。

環境局常任秘書長/環境保護署署長
高級環境保護主任 麥成達 代行

We are pleased to share with you the “Environment Hong Kong 2012” jointly published by the Environment Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department. The report, with the theme “Green and Quality Lifestyle”, outlines the progress made in improving the Hong Kong’s environment in 2011 and the challenges ahead.

Please visit our webpage at http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/misc/ehk12/index.html.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Regards,
ST Mak
Senior Environmental Protection Officer
for Permanent Secretary for the Environment / Director of Environmental Protection