Politics
Eurofer welcomes raw materials case against China at WTO
| The US has launched a trade enforcement action against China at the WTO concerning China’s export duties on several different raw materials. The EU intervened in this WTO challenge, a move that has been welcomed by the European Steel Association (EUROFER).
Waste disposal rate up in California in 2015
| The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has said that the waste disposal rate in the state increased in 2015.
Chinese overcapacities affect more than just steel
| The European Commission is considering a deal for the steel sector in exchange for granting China the coveted Market Economy Status (MES). According to European Aluminium, this approach ignores the enormous Chinese overcapacities in industries like aluminium and creates unfair distortions on the EU market.
Canada must embrace circular economy to maintain its position as leader in recycling
| Mary Ann Yule, president of HP Canada, has said that Canada will need to embrace circular economy if it wants to maintain its position as the leader in recycling.
Singapore’s NEA to implement mandatory packaging requirements to reduce waste in 3-5 years
| Singapore's Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said that the country's National Environment Agency will implement mandatory packaging requirements within the coming three to five years in a bid to reduce packaging waste.
British businesses urged to adopt circular economy principals
| Ian Cheshire, chairman of U.K.-based retailer Debenhams P.L.C. and Business in the Community environment leadership team, has said that British businesses must address environmental challenges and adopt circular economy principals.
War of words over illegal dump sites in Hong Kong
| A war of words has broken out between the Hong Kong government and U.S.-based Basel Action Network over claims by the government that the watchdog had failed to alert the environmental protection department of a number of toxic e-waste sites in the New Territories.
Reward schemes could help increase waste recycling rates in UK
| UK's recycling reward scheme Greenredeem has found that encouraging rewards-based behaviour change schemes is the only way to increase recycling rates in the country following Brexit.
Falling prices for scrap materials prompt closure of recycling centers in California
| Mike Oldfield, an official at California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), said that over 300 of the 2,100 recycling centers in the state have been closed in the last year and a half owing to falling prices for scrap materials. rePLanet, the state's biggest private operator, closed 191 centers in past January alone.
Fake clothing recycling bins in the UK
| Local and national charities are being cheated out of income by ambitious criminal who have started leaving fake clothes banks in towns and cities.
No need to ban plastics, recycling must be encouraged
| The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association has asked the country's Perak state government to reconsider its decision on banning the use of plastic bags and polystyrene containers. The MPMA has urged the government to educate the public on waste management and anti-littering instead of banning plastics.
BIR expresses concern over Brexit impact on trade
| The Bureau of International Recycling expresses concern with regards to the UK leaving the European Union.
Slovenia inching towards circular economy
| Slovenia is gradually moving towards circular economy. The country's capital Ljubljana, which holds the coveted title of European Green Capital 2016, is hosting many activities promoting sustainable development.
65% of plastics recycling professionals vote to remain in the EU
| Recoup, the plastics recycling member based organisation, asked visitors and exhibitors and Plastics Recycling Expo (held last week in Telford), whether the UK should remain or brexit from the EU by recycling their empty plastic drink bottles through the voting bins.
