News from 25 November 2008 on edie

Europeans pilot waste reduction scheme

Cities and regions across Europe are acting to highlight the problem of waste this week as part of a pilot initiative to reduce rubbish.

CIRIA to draw up contam land data guidance

A leading construction industry organisation plans to draw up guidance to make it easier to assess contamination on brownfield sites.

Benn: Govt and EA must team up on flood prevention

Government and the Environment Agency will have to work together to solve the problems posed by flooding and coastal erosion - and the likelihood that they will get worse as a result of climate change.

New organic waste guidelines in the pipeline

New guidelines are being drawn up to assess the risks of setting up composting sites and organic waste treatment facilities.

EPA: Water infrastructure still a challenge

More than 2,000 water bodies have been cleaned up, thousands of acres have been added to wetlands and 85 contaminated brownfield sites have been made ready for reuse as a result of the US Environmental Protection Agency's activities in 2008.

Data centres asked to cut energy

British companies are being urged to adopt the energy-saving measures outlined in the newly-published EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres in an effort to address the IT industry's contribution to climate change.

Bank passes $2bn mark for green building finance

A major banking and insurance firm has announced that it has lent more than $2bn for green building projects.

County gives thumbs down to fluoridation

County councillors have rejected proposals for one of the south coast's largest cities to add fluoride to its drinking water.

£4.3m Mersey Gateway clean-up begins

Work is under way to demolish an unused industrial estate and clean up acres of land contaminated with chemicals as part of a major regeneration scheme.

EEA warns against ‘business as usual’

The energy sector is still responsible for 80% of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions and renewable sources only accounted for 8.6% of final energy use in 2005, according to the continent's environmental watchdog.

Water firms given 40% efficiency target

Water companies will be expected to increase water efficiency savings by 40% from 2010 under targets announced by the industry watchdog.

Day: 25 November 2008