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.
March, 2013:
Scientists in Finland Invent Biodegradable Diapers Made from Recycled Cardboard
http://www.inhabitots.com/scientists-in-finland-invent-biodegradable-diapers-made-from-recycled-cardboard/
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.
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.
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
Web Broadcast – 45746
http://video.webcasts.com/events/pmny001/viewer/index.jsp?eventid=45746&adid=enl
Please complete this form to register for the Waste Management World Webcast:
Accelerating Biofuels: Waste Gasification to Aviation and Transport Fuels in the UK and US/Canada
May 7, 2013
10 AM EDT, 9 AM CDT, 7 AM PDT, 3 PM BST, 2 PM GMT
Numerous trial projects have been successful in converting municipal solid waste into a useable, second generation biofuel. Commercialization is now in full swing with the UK, US and Canada leading the way in these projects.
British Airways has partnered with Solena Fuels to convert 500,000 tonnes of waste into 50,000 tonnes of aviation fuel per year in the UK. Across the Atlantic, Enerkem has three commercial scale waste to fuel plants in development in the US/Canada. The company’s Quebec demonstration plant has been producing cellulosic ethanol since Spring 2012.
This webcast aims to address the regulatory drivers of waste to fuels and address the practical and technical challenges of the process, as well as provide an update to projects in the US/Canada and Europe.
Incinerator up in smoke after 8 year battle
By Mike Wilkinson
Gloucestershire’s £500 million incinerator plan went up in smoke last night after councillors unanimously threw it out.
An eight year battle to scrap the controversial plant was victorious last night.
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Bye bye incinerator… it’s been thrown out
- And both sides were in disbelief.
Campaigner Sue Oppenheimer, who has led some 4,000 objectors, was hugged and cheered at Kingsholm Stadium as she revelled in the news that all 18 Gloucestershire county councillors voted against the plan by waste firm Urbaser Balfour Beatty.
Council chiefs were left reeling at the all-out verdict with waste champion Stan Waddington, who was nowhere to be seen at last night’s meeting, today expressing his disappointment.
Now attentions will inevitably turn to the multi-million pound contract, touted to be up to £15million, which was signed prematurely by Gloucestershire County Council bosses with Urbaser Balfour Beatty (UBB) before planning permission was given.
Cllr Waddington said: “Obviously, I am disappointed with the decision.
“The county council is committed to delivering an alternative to landfill and we understand that UBB is reviewing the best way forward.”
Javier Peiro, project direct for UBB, also expressed his disappointment – but has confirmed he is considering appealing the decision as well as re-entering talks with the council.
The 11-hour meeting was left on a knife edge as the final blow to the burner was made. An onslaught of attacks throughout the day left officers scrambling to defend the beleaguered plans. But then Liberal Democrat councillor Dennis Andrewartha turned the screw as he proposed its refusal. Then the final nail in the coffin came late last night when councillors delivered their damning verdict.
Our reporter Mike Wilkinson reported live from the meeting and captured reaction to the decision in a series of videos:
Read more: http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Incinerator-smoke-8-year-battle/story-18492144-detail/story.html#ixzz2Onuv7PnX
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