News from 5 November 2004 on edie

Environmental packaging fund launched

Environment Minister Elliot Morley launched an £8 million fund to stimulate innovative packaging design this week.

Flood management foundation course launched

The Environment Agency has launched a new Foundation Degree course in Rivers and Coastal Engineering to help meet the growing need for flood management engineers and address the widespread skills shortage in the engineering profession.

Chemical industries need to gain public trust through going green

There is a lack of trust and general negative perception towards the chemical industries which can only truly be overcome through a 'greening' of chemical processes and products, delegates at the second annual Green Chemistry and the Consumer symposium in London were told this week.

End of life ships reclassified as toxic waste to end scrapping in developing world

The practice of sending ships to under equipped yards in the developing world for scrapping was dealt a serious blow this week when an international convention ruled that end-of-life ships should be considered as toxic waste and as such, be banned from export under the terms of the Basel Convention.

New planning rules to help manage pollution in new developments

Planning Minister Keith Hill released new planning guidance to advise on pollution control matters this week.

Companies are failing to disclose key social and environmental risks

Company boards are failing to disclose the risks posed by social and environmental issues to their financial investors, according to a report out this week.

Greenpeace calls for clean up of Bhopal site

Greenpeace have called for full corporate responsibility to be taken for the clean up of the contaminated former Union Carbide site in Bhopal, India. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the disaster.

Asbestos claims could reach £20 billion in future UK cases

The UK should brace itself for a surge in asbestos related diseases which could cost the country up to £20 billion, research by the Actuarial Profession has claimed.

Kok stands firm on environment

Environmental policy will not be withdrawn from the Lisbon agenda, despite mounting pressure put on the Dutch ex-Prime Minister Wim Kok's report.

Regulated businesses will see only minor increase in fees

The Environment Agency has praised its own efficiency measures and risk based approach to regulation as the main reason for charges to regulated businesses being kept so low this year.

Morley calls for greater PFI role in waste management

Environment Minister Elliot Morley highlighted the increasingly important role of the private sector in providing more effective and efficient waste solutions , this week.

Hazardous waste decision postponed another month

The end date for assessing whether waste from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) should be classed as hazardous or non-hazardous waste has been extended by a month.

Day: 5 November 2004