Day: 25 November 2004

Mayor issues first ever direction to waste authority

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has issued a direction for the first time since his election in 2000 to ensure that London's waste management is improving.

UK could be stretched to meet 2004 recycling targets

The UK faces a tough challenge if it is to meet recycling and recovery targets by the end of this year, Producer Responsibility scheme Valpak warned this week.

Environmental crime pays in biodiversity rich countries

Less than one percent of environmental crimes in ecologically important areas result in punishments or sanctions, a shock study released by Conservation International (CI) has revealed.

Mandelson must not bow to big business and undermine fair trade

Peter Mandelson was branded a "corporate puppet" by European NGOs protesting outside his office on his first day as EU Commissioner for Trade this week.

Madagascar grants to conserve island and boost infrastructure

Ten grants totalling over US $2.8 million have been pledged to support conservation and sustainable development in Madagascar by the MacArthur Foundation.

Toxic factory farms could slip through reporting loophole

Factory farms in the US could become exempt from reporting toxic chemical releases, despite pressing scientific evidence that they pose a threat to public health.

Ireland launches helpline to raise recycling awareness

A telephone information line offering waste management advice to all residents of Ireland has been launched this week by Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche.

Business model will track waste and help industry meet EU targets

A system to help the waste sector meet its targets by tracking recycling levels and identifying best practice has been launched as part of a joint initiative by the industry.

UK business briefs: Recycling support, Carton recycling up, Biofuel potential for farmers, hazardous waste guide, Soundscape website, ADAS appointment, Water contract

London Remade and London CRN have joined forces to deliver a £1.8 million business support programme called "enhance", for enterprises working in or aspiring to join London's recycling sector. The new service, funded by the London Development Agency, aims to provide a complimentary one-stop resource for information and advice around developing and growing organisations. Businesses and social enterprises working in design, manufacture, re-use, reprocessing and refurbishment are being encouraged to make the most of the services on offer.

International business briefs: IUCN sets agenda, National Park funds, Spotless Brisbane, Bhopal anniversary, EPA water guidelines, Eco-friendly Christmas shopping

The newly elected president of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), Valli Moosa, announced this week that global warming, along with the lack of protected marine zones, were key environmental issues that needed a place of priority on the world's green agenda. Mr Moosa, a former South African environment minister and anti-apartheid activist was picked as president for a four-year term at the IUCN's third World Conservation Congress in Bangkok. He also stated that there was an urgent need to protected certain areas in the oceans and high seas, pointing out that 12% of the land's total surface was under conservation, as opposed to just 1% of the ocean.

European business briefs: GM threat from US, France gets thermonuclear reactor, EEB’s cadium warning, Spanish offshore wind farm, WEEE changes waste, Candle health scare

Europe's attempts to stay GM-free could be thwarted by plans to allow the contamination of human food crops with biotech or GM experimental crops, which were published this week by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The proposal could be accepted in a couple of months, reducing the legal liability on biotech companies and acting as a major disincentive for them to control GM field tests. Contamination is therefore likely to increase. It is impossible to test for the presence of experimental GM food crops in foods imported from or processed in the US, because over two-thirds of US experimental GM crops contain genes classified as confidential which therefore can't be detected. Adrian Bebb of Friends of the Earth Europe stated: "Because of the secrecy behind experiments in the United States, no one - not food companies, not even governments - will be able to test food products or food imports for contamination because they won't know what to test for. This will leave consumers worldwide exposed to new risks from genetically modified foods."

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