HK's Updates: Council for Sustainable Development launches public engagement process on municipal solid waste charging (with video) (25 Sep 2013)

Council for Sustainable Development launches public engagement process on municipal solid waste charging (with video)
***********************************************************

The following is issued on behalf of the Council for Sustainable Development:

     The Council for Sustainable Development (the Council) today (September 25) launched a public engagement process titled "Waste Reduction by Waste Charging．How to Implement?". This process aims to encourage stakeholders and the general public to participate in the development of feasible mechanisms to implement municipal solid waste (MSW) charging, and to consider the difficulties involved and the related recycling facilities, with a view to reducing community waste at source and promoting the sustainable development of Hong Kong.

     The Chairman of the Council, Mr Bernard Chan, said that around 13,400 tonnes of waste is sent to the landfills each day, of which nearly 67 per cent is MSW, which includes waste from the domestic sector as well as the commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors. In the past 30 years, MSW in Hong Kong has increased by nearly 80 per cent while our population has only increased by 36 per cent.

     "The key to achieving sustainable waste management is waste producers, meaning you and me. Each of us needs to make some lifestyle and behavioural changes to reduce waste," said Mr Chan.

     He also stressed that the ultimate goal of waste charging is not cost recovery, but to establish behavioural changes in people's daily lives through economic incentives. The experience of other jurisdictions shows that MSW charging has been effective in inducing the necessary behavioural changes and encouraging active participation in waste prevention, reuse and recycling to achieve the ultimate objective of waste reduction at source.

     The Invitation for Response (IR) Document issued today provides background information on waste and related issues in Hong Kong, which forms the basis for discussion in the public engagement process. The issues for deliberation focus on four major areas:

* Charging mechanism - to explore different mechanisms in implementing quantity-based waste charging in Hong Kong;
* Coverage of charging scheme - to consider the implementation of charging scheme to all sectors in one go or to different sectors by phases;
* Charging level - to determine a charging level which can be widely accepted by the public and also be able to induce behavioural changes in achieving waste reduction; and
* Waste recycling - to seek views on how to support local waste recycling activities to meet community demand.

     Given that MSW charging covers a wide range of issues, the Council will organise a series of activities, including regional fora and roving exhibitions in the 18 districts, to allow the public and stakeholders to access the relevant information. In addition, more than 90 supporting organisations, including tertiary institutes, public authorities, research institutions, think tanks, green groups, non-governmental organisations, chambers of commerce and professional organisations, etc, have been engaged to help disseminate information about this public engagement process, as well as to create synergy and social cohesion to enhance publicity and participation.

     The IR Document can be downloaded from the Council's dedicated website (www.susdev.org.hk). Members of the public are encouraged to send views to the Council Secretariat (email:comments@susdev.org.hk; mail: Sustainable Development Division, Environment Bureau, 46/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong). The public engagement process will run for four months until January 24, 2014.

     MSW charging is an important measure in the Government's overall waste reduction initiatives. In addition, through the implementation of policies and legislation (e.g. various producer responsibility schemes); social mobilisation (e.g. Food Wise Hong Kong), support for the recycling industry and provision of recycling facilities, etc, the Government is contributing large resources to tackle the waste issue. Details are available in the "Hong Kong: Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022" (www.enb.gov.hk/en/files/WastePlan-E.pdf).

Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:31

NNNN

Press conference on launch of public engagement process on Municipal Solid Waste Charging

 Windows Media format

• Floor
• Cantonese
• Putonghua
• English

 Flash format

• Floor
• Cantonese
• Putonghua
• English

For more information: 

http://www.news.gov.hk/en/categories/environment/html/2013/09/20130925_134841.shtml

Source: http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201309/25/P201309250437.htm

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Publications: Solid Waste Management in Nepal: Current Status and Policy Recommendations by ADB (Aug 2013)

Solid Waste Management in Nepal: Current Status and Policy Recommendations

Date:	August 2013
Type:	Reports
Country:	Nepal
Subject:	Environment; Urban development
ISBN:	978-92-9254-232-0 (print), 978-92-9254-233-7 (web)
Price:	US$20.00 (hard copy)

Description

Managing solid waste is one of the major challenges in urbanization. A survey conducted in all 58 municipalities of Nepal in 2012 found that the average municipal solid waste generation was 317 grams per capita per day. This translates into 1,435 tons per day or 524,000 tons per year of municipal solid waste generation in Nepal. Many of these technically and financially constrained municipalities are still practicing roadside waste pickup from open piles and open dumping, creating major health risks.

Recommendations

The survey and other assessment undertaken under the technical assistance identified eight key policy recommendations for solid waste management (SWM) in Nepal:

• an appropriate policy and strategic framework needs to be developed, together with technical guidelines on key issues such as organic composting and landfill operations, to properly guide local bodies in effective SWM;
• reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) should be promoted. The survey identified great potential for resource recovery in Nepal, which could be realized with better public awareness and initiatives by local bodies and communities;
• strengthening the capacity of local bodies is essential, as they are mandated to provide SWM services to the citizens;
• enhancement of public participation and consultation would be effective in advancing SWM practices;
• costs for SWM need to be recovered, albeit partially at first, to provide better services. The public is generally willing to pay for services if the level of services is improved;
• current poor management practices such as open dumping and open burning should be stopped immediately to allow for more integrated SWM;
• public–private partnership offers opportunities for operational efficiency and cost effectiveness. The role of the private sector will be more important for complex tasks such as the operation of landfill sites, as municipalities are less experienced in these areas; and
• the management, updating, and dissemination of basic data will play an important role in improving planning by the local bodies and monitoring implementation progress.

Contents

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Municipal Solid Waste Generation and Composition
• Existing Solid Waste Management System
• Managerial Aspects of Solid Waste Management
• Nepal’s Solid Waste Management Status in the Region
• Key Policy Challenges and Recommendations
• Conclusions
• Appendixes

PURCHASE PUBLICATION

ADB Publishing

DOWNLOAD FOR FREE

English

For more information: 

http://www.adb.org/publications/solid-waste-management-nepal-current-status-and-policy-recommendations

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Taiwanese Updates: 環保署修正「廢棄物輸入輸出過境轉口管理辦法」部分公告事項，名稱並修正為「事業廢棄物輸入輸出管理辦法」(12 Sep 2013)

環保署修正「廢棄物輸入輸出過境轉口管理辦法」部分公告事項，名稱並修正為「事業廢棄物輸入輸出管理辦法」

提供單位：行政院環境保護署廢管處
發布日期：2013.09.12

行政院環境保護署為務實事業廢棄物輸入輸出管理，提昇相關申請審查作業效能，經全盤檢討後，修正「廢棄物輸入輸出過境轉口管理辦法」部分條文。         環保署說明，考量業者實際運作需求，及行政管理之必要性，將廢棄物輸入輸出規定進行通盤檢視，本次除將名稱修正為「事業廢棄物輸入輸出管理辦法」外，其餘修正重點如下：         一、專船運送且輸出至OECD國家、或輸出與我國簽署雙邊協定之國家，不受原首次輸出300公噸之限制；首次輸出後，應提出妥善處理報告，始得再次辦理輸出。         二、增訂切結書為廢棄物輸入、輸出申請之應備文件。         三、增訂檢附廢棄物檢測報告之除外規定。         四、修訂廢棄物輸入、輸出之許可文件期限，首次申請者為一年，再次申請者為三年。         五、修訂廢棄物專案申請程序及文件。         環保署表示，透過本次修正，將能有效提升廢棄物輸入出之妥善管理，另為利環保機關及相關業者進一步瞭解修正內容，環保署將於近期舉辦3場法規說明會，歡迎各界踴躍參加。本次修正條文詳細內容，可至環保署網站(http://ivy5.epa.gov.tw/epalaw/index.aspx）「最新環保法規」網頁查詢。

附加檔案：

事業廢棄物輸入輸出管理辦法.docx

Source: http://ivy5.epa.gov.tw/enews/fact_Newsdetail.asp?InputTime=1020912153056

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Study: FAO Assesses Food Waste Impacts on Land, Climate, Water and Biodiversity by FAO (11 Sep 2013)

FAO Assesses Food Waste Impacts on Land, Climate, Water and Biodiversity

11 September 2013: The Food and Agriculture of the UN (FAO) has released a study documenting the environmental impacts of global food wastage as well as its direct economic impacts, which it reports add up to $750 billion annually.

The study provides a global account of the environmental footprint of food wastage (both food loss and food waste) along the food supply chain, focusing on impacts on climate, water, land and biodiversity. It includes a tool-kit that documents how food loss and waste can be reduced. FAO stresses the moral issue of 870 million people going hungry while 1/3 of all food produced goes to waste.

The study indicates that food waste is responsible for 3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making food wastage rank as the third top emitter, after the US and China. It notes that 54% of wastage occurs during production, post-harvest handling and storage, and 46% of wastage occurs during processing, distribution and consumption, with production losses occurring most in developing countries, and consumption losses highest in high and middle income countries.

Hotspots of food wastage identified in the report are: wastage of cereals in Asia, with impacts on carbon, blue water and arable land; wastage of meat in high income regions and Latin America; fruit wastage with blue water impacts in Asia, Latin America, and Europe; and vegetables wastage in industrialized Asia, Europe, and South and South East Asia, with a high carbon footprint.

The study calls for reducing food wastage through better planning and addressing post-harvest loss, as well as by finding secondary markets and diverting excess food to livestock feed. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is a partner of the FAO in the Think Eat Save-Reduce Your Foodprint campaign. 

[UNEP Press Release] [FAO Press Release] [UN News] 

[Publication: Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts on Natural Resources] [UN Press Release]

For more information: 
http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/fao-assesses-food-waste-impacts-on-land-climate-water-and-biodiversity/214724/

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Publications: Towards Zero Waste in Industrial Networks: Policy Recommendations from the ZeroWIN Project by Claudia Luepschen, Ruediger Kuehr and Federico Magalini (11 Sep 2013)

Towards Zero Waste in Industrial Networks: Policy Recommendations from the ZeroWIN Project

INSTITUTE:

UNU-ISP

PUBLISHER:

United Nations University Press

VOLUME:

Policy Brief No. 6, 2013

TITLE:

Towards Zero Waste in Industrial Networks: Policy Recommendations from the ZeroWIN Project

AUTHORS:

by Claudia Luepschen, Ruediger Kuehr and Federico Magalini

PUB DATE:

2013•09•11

ISSN WEB:

1814-8026

ISBN 13:

978-92-808-3107-8

COPYRIGHT:

United Nations University

COPYRIGHT YEAR:

2013

 Download PDF: Towards Zero Waste in Industrial Networks: Policy (331.8 kB)

ZeroWIN (Towards Zero Waste in Industrial Networks) is a five-year project (2009–2014) under the European Commission’s Seventh Research Framework Programme. The ZeroWIN project has developed effective strategies for waste prevention through industrial networks. Ten industrial case studies in the automotive, construction, electronics and photovoltaic industries form the core of the project and exchange energy, water and materials in such a way that waste from one industry becomes raw material for another.

This policy brief suggests what can be done to advance the implementation of industrial networks in practice, based on first outcomes of the ZeroWIN project.

For more information:

http://unu.edu/publications/policy-briefs/towards-zero-waste-in-industrial-networks.html

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New Books: Waste and Recycling Theory and Empirics By Takayoshi Shinkuma, Shunsuke Managi (13 Sep 2013)

Waste and Recycling

Theory and Empirics

By Takayoshi Shinkuma, Shunsuke Managi

Routledge – 2013

Descriptions:

As "business as usual" has become the mantra of today's world, it's unlikely to see a decrease in hazardous waste generated from greater economic growth. Written by renowned experts, the book suggests a solution, supported by theoretical arguments to this waste problem. The book discusses how main problems for waste management can be addressed through appropriate policies adopted by governments in OECD countries.

The book also raises thoughtful questions on how household waste management services should be privatized and who should pay for the disposal and recycling costs. It attempts to answer these questions. The book considers several factors hindering the first-best optimal outcome and highlights two crucial ones. It elaborates further with models and the solutions on how to overcome these obstacles.

The book covers not only traditional resource economics and waste management, but also the recent problem of Electric waste (E-waste) and illustrates in details, how the environments of developing countries are inevitably polluted even with the Basel ban Amendment in place. The book proposes an alternative international trading regulation to address E-waste. This book will certainly appeal to industry decision-makers, policy makers and legislators.

Contents:

1. Introduction
2. The Industrial Waste Market 
3. Creating the Market for Household Waste and Extended Producer Responsibility 
4. First-best Economy: Comparisons between a Disposal Fee Policy and EPR-based Policies 
5. The Second-best Policy for Recycling Household Waste 
6. The Durability of Goods and the Right Recycling Policy for Household Waste 
7. International Trade of Waste and Environmental Pollution 
8. The Effects of Introducing EPR Policies in Developed Countries on International Trade, the Environment, and Social Welfare 
9. The Effectiveness of the Basel Convention 
10. The Policies Adopted in China and India and the International Trade Policy 
11. Conclusions

For more information: http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415702911/

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Vietnamese Updates: Regulation on retrieval and processing of waste products (16 Aug 2013)

Regulation on retrieval and processing of waste products
Thứ sáu, ngày 16 tháng 08 năm 2013 cập nhật lúc 05:11

From September 25^th, the manufacturing and importing businesses will have been responsible for setting up the sites tocollect waste products; receiving waste products sold by themselves to Vietnam market. It is defined in Decision No.50/2013/QD-TTg on retrieval and processing of waste products, which officially takes effect and has been approved byPrime Minister.

In addition, businesses must deal with consumers on how to transfer and receive the waste products, announce to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment about retrieval sites and processing facilities of waste products. The above information must be publicized on the information portal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the manufacturing or importing businesses. Manufacturing, importing businesses, consumers, retrieval and processing facilities of waste products receive preferential and supporting policies and in accordance with the laws of Vietnam.

According to this decision, the portfolio of waste products consist of various types of batteries, accumulators, compact electric bulbs,fluorescent electric bulbs, computers, printers, fax machines, scanners, cameras, video cameras; mobile phones, tablets, DVDs, VCDs,CDs, dangerous industrial chemicals, etc. will be retrieved and processed from January 1^st 2015.

Mai Chi

Source: 

http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=128909&Code=MLD4128909

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Events: “Challenges and Solutions to Plastic Recycling in Hong Kong” organized by FoE (HK) on 25 Jul 2013

活動名稱:	塑膠回收討論會
開始日期:	2013/07/25	開始時間:	18:30
結束日期:	2013/07/25	結束時間:	20:00
地點:	Friends of the Earth (HK) Office

近日，有關廢物棄罝之問題在社會引起激烈討論，有見及此，地球之友將

於2013年7月25日下午6時30分於本會會址就有關塑膠回收及廢物議題進行討論。

當日討論議程如下：

6:30 pm    背景簡介

6:45 pm    塑膠回收所面對的挑戰 (講者：楠豐國際有限公司林贇睿小姐)

7:30 pm    討論/問答環節

8:00 pm    討論會結束

(**討論會將以英語進行)

地址：香港北角屈臣道2號海景大廈A座13樓1301-02室

有與趣參加的朋友請電郵至foehk@foe.org.hk留位；名額有限，先到先得。

是次活動主要是提供一個平台予地球之友的會員、員工及其他有興趣人仕進行討論，並了解更多有關廢物管理相關的議題；活動講者所提供的資料並不代表香港地球之友的立場。請自備水杯或水瓶以享用我們提供的熱茶或熱水。

香港地球之友

*有關討論會及講者的詳細資料，請參閱電郵下半部份 (只有英文)

Come and hear Ms Stephanie Lam share her personal thoughts on the topic of “Challenges and Solutions to Plastic Recycling in Hong Kong”. 

One of the most controversial topics in Hong Kong today is WASTE DISPOSAL.  Spending $HK35m on a study by people that have not found a solution in the past 20 years is not a solution.  Throwing money at a problem does not achieve anything other than creating another report, which will join the dusty archives of previous reports.  This problem cannot be resolved by people with limited experience in this industry.  Do you know how other major countries deal with the problem of waste disposal and in particular the scrap plastic waste disposal?  A major part of the solution is recycling, via technology, marketing, logistics, management and common sense.  Can it be done?,  100% Yes!  Can we come up with a solution for HK? 

Stephanie Lam, BBA, HKU (Accounting & Finance) is the Managing Director of the global broking trading house for plastic recyclables, UNM International Ltd.  To ensure success Stephanie inspects all suppliers and customer operations personally, prior to entering into business transactions and has inspected more than 100 of these operations around the world.  It often includes walking among piles of smelly plastic scrap, but knowing that the product can be recycled and made into a renewable product and not discarded into landfill or incinerated to add more carbon into the atmosphere, Stephanie finds it rewarding and fulfilling.  She has thus dedicated her business career to achieve waste reduction..

For more information: http://www.foe.org.hk/c/event/event_page.asp?event_id=141#.Uev0H9KbdiI

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Chinese Updates: Recycling the answer to China's junk dilemma (20 Jul 2013)

Recycling the answer to China's junk dilemma

Xinhua, July 20, 2013

Experts on Friday called on the government and public to reduce, reuse and recycle as much waste as possible as official data showed more than one-third of the country's cities are besieged by garbage.

Official data show more than one-third of the country's cities are besieged by garbage. [File photo]

Only about 5 percent of about 1 billion tonnes of construction waste generated each year in the country is recycled or reused, said Wang Jiwei, Secretary General of the China Association of Resource Comprehensive Utilization, at an ecological forum held in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

"The public still need to enhance their awareness of the importance of reusing garbage," he said. "They should realize waste is just misplaced resources."

Also at the forum, Zheng Kangbin, senior economist at Asian Development Bank, said, "People should take into consideration cost, cash flow, security and technical suitability in ecologically friendly projects, and attract more investment."

China could also learn from advanced foreign experiences in risk control and policy stipulation, according to Zheng.

Eugene Chien, chairman of the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy, said drawing from the island's experience, it is important to introduce multiple policies and measures to reduce garbage from the source.

Citizens should be educated and trained on green consumption and garbage treatment, he said.

Household garbage classification for collection has long been a headache for recycling. Many big cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, pioneered garbage classification in 2000. Thirteen years later, though, the initiative has yet to get off the ground.

"With no precondition-garbage classification, following disposal methods -- landfill, burning and bio-degeneration -- will only be empty words," said Huang Xiaoshan, a grassroots garbage disposal campaigner who built a mini-trash treatment facility dubbed "Green House" in his suburban home community in Beijing.

"We should set up a low-cost garbage classification system, which clarifies the responsibilities of the government, the public and companies," Huang said.

A China Youth Daily report on Friday cited a government survey showing more than one-third of the country's cities are besieged by garbage, with dumped rubbish taking up 50,000 hectares of land.

Insufficient recycling has been blamed as a major reason behind the mounting garbage surrounding cities in a rapidly urbanizing China, according to the report.

The World Bank said in a report last year global cities face surging costs for garbage treatment as it predicted a sharp rise in the amount of rubbish generated by urban residents.

The report estimated the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) will rise from the current 1.3 billion tonnes per year to 2.2 billion tonnes annually in 2025, with much of the increase coming in fast growing cities in developing countries.

The report revealed that the amount of MSW is growing fastest in China, other parts of East Asia, parts of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Growth rates for MSW in these areas are similar to their rates for urbanization and increases in gross domestic product (GDP).

Wang Yi, an expert with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said at the forum that China will experience the hardest transitional period for environmental protection in the next ten years with accelerating urbanization and the country's continuing industrial development.

The interests of all parties -- companies, NGOs, individuals -- should be taken into consideration to recycle resources, and transitional strategies should be worked out, Wang said.

The Chinese government is intensifying its efforts on city garbage treatment as capacity falls short of demand amid fast urbanization, realizing the surging amount of garbage produced in cities affects the urban environment and social stability.

The country aims to offer non-hazardous treatment on more than 80 percent of household garbage nationwide by 2015.

Source: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2013-07/20/content_29480272_2.htm

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New Books: Waste and Recycling Theory and Empirics By Takayoshi Shinkuma, Shunsuke Managi (30 Jun 2013)

Waste and Recycling

Theory and Empirics

By Takayoshi Shinkuma, Shunsuke Managi

Published 30th June 2013 by Routledge

Descriptions:

As "business as usual" has become the mantra of today's world, it's unlikely to see a decrease in hazardous waste generated from greater economic growth. Written by renowned experts, the book suggests a solution, supported by theoretical arguments to this waste problem. The book discusses how main problems for waste management can be addressed through appropriate policies adopted by governments in OECD countries.

The book also raises thoughtful questions on how household waste management services should be privatized and who should pay for the disposal and recycling costs. It attempts to answer these questions. The book considers several factors hindering the first-best optimal outcome and highlights two crucial ones. It elaborates further with models and the solutions on how to overcome these obstacles.

The book covers not only traditional resource economics and waste management, but also the recent problem of Electric waste (E-waste) and illustrates in details, how the environments of developing countries are inevitably polluted even with the Basel ban Amendment in place. The book proposes an alternative international trading regulation to address E-waste. This book will certainly appeal to industry decision-makers, policy makers and legislators.

Contents:

@contents: 1. Introduction 2. The Industrial Waste Market 3. Creating the Market for Household Waste and Extended Producer Responsibility 4. First-best Economy: Comparisons between a Disposal Fee Policy and EPR-based Policies 5. The Second-best Policy for Recycling Household Waste 6. The Durability of Goods and the Right Recycling Policy for Household Waste 7. International Trade of Waste and Environmental Pollution 8. The Effects of Introducing EPR Policies in Developed Countries on International Trade, the Environment, and Social Welfare 9. The Effectiveness of the Basel Convention 10. The Policies Adopted in China and India and the International Trade Policy 11. Conclusions

For more information: http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415702911/

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Publications: Creating a Sustainable Food Future, Installment Two: Reducing Food Loss and Waste by Brian Lipinski, Craig Hanson, Richard Waite, Tim Searchinger, James Lomax, Lisa Kitinoja (Jun 2013)

Creating a Sustainable Food Future, Installment Two: Reducing Food Loss and Waste

Brian Lipinski, Craig Hanson, Richard Waite, Tim Searchinger, James Lomax, Lisa Kitinoja

Working Paper: June, 2013

About 24 percent of all calories currently produced for human consumption are lost or wasted. This paper examines the implications of this amount of loss and waste, profiles a number of approaches for reducing it, and puts forth five recommendations for how to move forward on this issue. “Reducing Food Loss and Waste” is the second installment in the series that forms the foundation of the “World Resources Report 2013-14: Creating a Sustainable Food Future.”

WRI working papers contain preliminary research, analysis, findings, and recommendations. They are circulated to stimulate timely discussion and critical feedback and to influence ongoing debate on emerging issues. Most working papers are eventually published in another form and their content may be revised.

Inquiries

• Brian Lipinski, Associateblipinski@wri.org+1 (202) 729-7797

Downloads

Full Text (PDF, 1.1 Mb)

Licensed under Creative Commons (more info).

Summary 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that 32 percent of all food produced in the world was lost or wasted in 2009. This estimate is based on weight. When converted into calories, global food loss and waste amounts to approximately 24 percent of all food produced. Essentially, one out of every four food calories intended for people is not ultimately consumed by them.

Food loss and waste have many negative economic and environmental impacts. Economically, they represent a wasted investment that can reduce farmers’ incomes and increase consumers’ expenses. Environmentally, food loss and waste inflict a host of impacts, including unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions and inefficiently used water and land, which in turn can lead to diminished natural ecosystems and the services they provide.

Big inefficiencies suggest big savings opportunities. We estimate that if the current rate of food loss and waste were cut in half―from 24 percent to 12 percent―by the year 2050, the world would need about 1,314 trillion kilocalories (kcal) less food per year than it would in the business-as-usual global food requirements scenario described in The Great Balancing Act, the first installment of this World Resources Report working paper series. That savings–1,314 trillion kcal–is roughly 22 percent of the 6,000 trillion kcal per year gap between food available today and that needed in 2050. Thus, reducing food loss and waste could be one of the leading global strategies for achieving a sustainable food future.

In this paper, we profile a subset of approaches to reducing food loss and waste that experts suggest are particularly practical and cost-effective, that could be implemented relatively quickly, and that could achieve quick gains. We also recommend a number of cross-cutting strategies to further galvanize commitment to reducing food loss and waste.

Reducing Food Loss and Waste is the second in a series of working papers that we’ll roll out over the course of a year. Each subsequent paper will take a detailed look at a potential solution that could help achieve a sustainable food future. These installments will set the foundation for and culminate in the World Resources Report 2013-2014: Creating a Sustainable Food Future. To learn more about the series and sign up to receive updates, visit the World Resources Report website.

For more information: http://www.wri.org/publication/reducing-food-loss-and-waste

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Indian Updates: Country generates over 15000 tonne plastic waster per day (7 Jun 2013)

Country generates over 15000 tonne plastic waster per day

Manjiri Damle, TNN | Jun 7, 2013, 10.51 PM IST


PUNE: The total quantum of plastic waste generated in the country is estimated to be about 15,342.46 tonne per day. The total plastic waste, which is collected and recycled in the country, is estimated to be about 9205 tonne per day and about 6137 tonne per day of plastic waste remains uncollected.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has carried out a study through Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET), Ahmadabad on "Assessment and Quantification of Plastic Waste in 60 Cities".

According to the study plastic waste has also resulted in other problems like choking of drains by plastic carry bags which may lead to unhygienic environment and water borne diseases. Plastic waste can cause illness and possible death of animals that may feed on plastics from garbage bins. Non-biodegradable and impervious nature of plastics disposed on soil may arrest recharge of ground water aquifers. The study adds that presence of additives and plasticizers, fillers, flame retardants and pigments used in the plastic products which have potential to cause adverse health impact and ground water pollution.

The ministry of environment and forests has notified the Plastic (Waste Management and Handling) Rules, 2011. These rules, interalia, specify that plastic carry bags should have a minimum thickness of 40 microns; food stuffs cannot be packed in recycled plastics or compostable plastics; no carry bags shall be made available free of cost to consumers; and plastic material, in any form shall not be used in any package for packing gutkha, pan masala and tobacco in all forms.

Source: 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Country-generates-over-15000-tonne-plastic-waster-per-day/articleshow/20483329.cms

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