Day: 14 January 2005

UK gets final warning over urban waste water treatment

The UK received a final written warning from the European Commission this week over its non-compliance with the 1991 Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.

Tsunami reconstruction efforts urged to remain sustainable

Governments are being urged to maintain environmentally sustainable principles in the efforts to support and rebuild the communities devastated by the tsunami disaster.

eBay joins drive to get Americans recycling

American citizens are being urged to recycle their electric and electronic waste in a campaign being headed by internet auction house, eBay.

All clear issued after floods devastate North West

The Environment Agency has issued an all clear for all areas in the North West of England after heavy wind and rain lashed the area, causing extreme flooding and causing millions of pounds worth of damage.

Italy’s planned smoking ban prompts rebellion from bar-owners

Italy's proposed ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, due to come into force this week, has met with resistance from bar and restaurant owners who say they will refuse to police it.

Ofgem introduces incentives and penalties scheme to avoid powercuts

The National Grid Company (NGC) could be fined up to £12 million a year if it allows major powercuts such as the ones that occurred in the south-east and the West Midlands in 2003, to happen again.

Harman calls for greater community power in environmental sentencing

Solicitor General Harriet Harman QC MP has called for significant changes to the law to allow communities affected by pollution a greater role in legal proceedings against polluters, as well as a more flexible range of penalties for courts to impose on those found guilty of environmental crime.

Groups warn of dioxin danger in New York Harbour

New York Harbour and Newark Bay could be flooded with dioxin contamination if a dredging and blasting plan to open the area to larger ships goes ahead, a coalition of green groups has warned.

EEF trashes government waste policies

Manufacturers' organisation, EEF, has attacked the Government's industrial waste policies in a report which describes them as "confused and fragmented", and "lacking in strategic vision".

Audit office gives approval to Millennium Dome’s regeneration deal

The National Audit Office (NAO) has given its approval to a regeneration deal for the Millennium Dome and surrounding areas between English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Ltd and the Anschutz Entertainment Group, saying that English Partnerships had "learnt lessons from the first sale process".

More EU industrial pollution guides agreed

A forum chaired by the European Commission under the EU's IPPC industrial pollution directive has agreed three new guidelines, known as "brefs", on how to apply best available techniques (BAT) in specific fields. Under the directive thousands of industrial installations must apply BAT for environmental protection by October 2007. Any new plants built now must already do so.

Sustainability must be in hearts and minds of government

Sustainability urgently needs to be put at the heart of all government policies, a report by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) has stated.

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