Day: 11 February 2000

Environmental Enforcement News

Recent prosecutions for environmental non-compliance include an acid gas release in Lancashire, Leigh Environmental's falsification of data and several cases involving pollution of water courses.

Renewables are no more natural, abundant or cheap than fossil fuels, report claims

Renewables are no more natural, abundant, better or cheaper than fossil fuels, according to the Greening Earth Society (GES).

US environmental spending declining, despite 2001 budget increases

Despite a 43% increase in spending to reduce global warming and the largest increase ever for the US EPA's operating budget, President Clinton's final budget shows that that US Government spending on the environment is shrinking, according to Friends of the Earth (FoE).

Draft guidelines on CHP exemptions from Climate Change Levy published

Following last year's announcement that "good quality" Combined Heat and Power (CHP) schemes will be exempt from the Climate Change Levy, the Government has published proposals for a CHP Quality Assurance (CHPQA) programme.

UK farmers prepared to work together to improve biodiversity

Farmers in southern England are increasingly prepared to co-operate in order to introduce measures designed to improve biodiversity, according to an Economic and Social Research Council study.

UK banking, food and retail lag behind utilities in environmental reporting

A survey of FTSE 100 companies has concluded that 37% are still failing to report on environmental performance and that among the companies that do issue reports, "significant omissions" make it impossible to assess their true environmental impacts.

UK’s worst polluter faces further shame as villagers are evacuated

A long-term investigation by ICI into the effects of its historical use of quarries near Runcorn, Cheshire for chemical dumping has confirmed that some nearby homes do test positive for hexachlorobutadience (HCBD).

Water UK says competition legislation is flawed

The UK water industry says competition between water companies will not create greater choice of suppliers and lower charges for customers and could harm the environment.

Biffa backs environmentalists’ call for compulsory recycling targets

One of the UK's largest waste management companies has criticised the Government's draft National Waste Strategy for over-reliance on incineration and accuses policy-makers of stifling innovation in environmental technology.

GERMANY: Waste composting will grow without harming incineration industry

Germany waste disposal trade association believes growth in the separation of biodegradable waste for composting and eventual re-use will not threaten the country's incineration sector.

Hungary to seek compensation from Romania over cyanide spill

An accident at the first gold mine to be commissioned in Romania since new regulations on mining were introduced in 1998 has led to serious cyanide contamination of the Tisza River.

White Paper on environmental liability to create a ‘change of attitude’

Years of work on how to apply the polluter pays principle to biodiversity protection has taken another step with the European Commission publishing its White Paper on Environmental Liability.

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