Archive for August, 2007
Clean Up The World Campaign
The third weekend of September is dedicated to inspire action across the globe to clean, fix and conserve environment. In conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme, it brings together 35 million volunteers in about 120 countries who participate in a range of activities aimed at cleaning up their local environment.
World Ozone Day
World Ozone day is celebrated each year on 16th September and is also known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly on in 1995 to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on substances depleting the ozone layer which was signed in 1987 for furthering cooperation in dealing with this environmental threat. It was in 1985 at the Vienna Convention that countries came together to protect the ozone layer from various ozone depleting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, methyl bromide and methyl chloroform etc. Hence, this day draws focussed attention and action towards this aggravating environmental problem. It reiterates our commitment towards restoring the ozone hole through progressive reduction of ozone depleting substances for a healthy environment.
Handling E-Waste
E-waste or electronic waste includes electrical and electronic equipment like phones, computers, consumer electronic products like ovens, floppies, printer cartridges, toasters, TVs, toys, batteries and other discarded electronic items etc. It has components that are toxic and non biodegradable like lead, mercury, carbon, silicon.
Green Electronics Ranking: Motivating Companies to Go Green
Greenpeace launched its Green Electronics Guide Rankings in August 2006 which included world’s 14 leading mobile and computer manufacturers. There is a rise in awareness about global environmental problems and companies are trying to do their bit and act more responsibly. Especially when it comes to e-waste, there are companies which have started recycling their waste instead of dumping their waste in countries with lower environmental standards and working conditions. They have also reduced usage of toxic chemicals in their production process which would make recycling more safe and easy.
RoHS: Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive
RoHS is a directive for Restriction of Hazardous Substances that was adopted by European Union in February 2003 and took effect from July 1, 2006. Having close linkages with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE); it restricts the usage of 6 hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. RoHS applies to all goods that are in Europe, manufactured or imported. But, the European Union members can have their own enforcement and implementation policies.
Controversy Over Greenpeace Green Electronic Rankings
Guide to Green Electronics is a ranking of 14 top mobile and PC companies that was released by Greenpeace. It is focused at drawing attention towards rising e-waste in the developing world. In spite of a sense of motivation that the Greenpeace campaign on Green Electronic Rankings has generated; there is another point of view that has been presented by many critics.
Manifold Benefits of Using Plastic to Make Roads
Plastic management hasn’t come easy to the world; it is still a public hazard both in the developing as well as developed economies. The rapid increase in population, industrialization has led to an increase in the amount of non biodegradable waste like flyash, plastics etc. It has especially become a big nuisance in the urban areas. The main cause of this is the growing litter menace is that plastic bags are increasingly used in the urban areas to carry materials, and the disposal is also in large quantities. Read more
Plastics Manufacture, Sale and Usage Rules, 1999, India
Plastic and Waste Management Issues:
It is estimated that approximately 4-5 % post-consumer plastics waste by weight of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is generated in India. The plastics waste generation is more i.e. 6-9 % in USA, Europe and other developed countries due to their consumption habits. As per data available on MSW, approximately, 4000-5000 tonnes per day post-consumer plastic waste is generated, however, pre-consumer waste or scrap is directly utilized in the industry itself.
The plastic waste constitutes two major categories of plastics: Read more
Views on Recycling
Recycling is defined as reprocessing of materials to render them useful by creating new products. Recycling is one of the key components of waste management that helps in preventing wastage of useful materials, saves energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production. It is an effort that maximizes value of the new products and reduces environmental disturbances.
Paper Recycling and its Benefits
Paper forms higher portion of waste as compared to any other material. Hence, recycling paper can turn out to be extremely beneficial in terms of the cumulative effect of saving trees. Paper recycling means to reprocess waste paper to make a usable paper product. But, paper can be recycled a finite number of times only as its fibers become weaker with recycling and require to be mixed with some virgin pulp. This is also known as downcycling. There are no specific standards set for the percentage of virgin pulp or post consumer paper to be present in the recycled paper and the percentage may vary 10:90 and vice versa. Though, the rest of the material can be used in the form of compost or biogas.
