Japan - goat rental weeding project

Mikuni Construction Co. in Kitakyusyu City, southern Japan, announced that it would be launching a new service to rent goats for weeding grass starting in April 2010. This unique weeding method does not require any machinery, and is drawing attention as an environmentally friendly technique.

Japan for Sustainability reports that, having first heard about weeding with goats from his business associate, Katsuhiko Sera, the president of the company, has been investigating the approach for 3 years in an effort to devise a viable business model. He bought five goats in May 2009, and by tethering the goats with a cable, about 500 square meters of grass can be grazed over the course of a week. A trial "rent-a-goat" began in August 2009, but will be fully launched in March 2010.

Goats eat various types of weed. They eat all aboveground stems and leaves, and prefer to graze on slops, which people often find it difficult to weed. Furthermore, weeded material does not require disposal when using this method and the goat dung produced simply decomposes and is returned to the soil.

In addition to renting goats, the company plans to provide its own weeding service by increasing the number of goats, and to manufacture cheese and other products from goat milk. Mr. Sera hopes that his rental goat service will serve not only as a new tool to maintain urban green spaces, but will also assist the comfort of local residents.

Technorati Tags: goat rental waste minimisation waste prevention Japan garden+waste

USA - Americans wastes 40 per cent of its food

A new study claims that Americans throw out about 40% of all their food, and food waste per person in the US has increased 50 per cent since 1974, according to LiveScience .

The study, conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and published in the journal PLoS ONE , calculated the difference between the US food supply and what's actually eaten by using a model of human metabolism and known body weights.

The new numbers are up significantly from a report last year by an international group that estimated that up to 30 per cent of food -- worth about US$48.3 billion -- is wasted each year in the United States. Those calculations and others like it were typically based on interviews with people and inspections of garbage, which the NIDDK believes underestimates the waste.

Food waste also contributes to excess consumption of freshwater and fossil fuels which, along with methane and carbon dioxide emissions from decomposing food, impacts global climate change.

Despite all the waste, many Americans are still going hungry. A recent report by the Department of Agriculture found the number of U.S. homes lacking "food security," meaning their eating habits were disrupted for lack of money, rose from 4.7 million in 2007 to 6.7 million last year.

About 1 billion people worldwide don't have enough to eat, according to the World Food Programme .

Full journal here

Technorati Tags: food waste waste minimisation waste prevention USA food poverty

MyZeroWaste: One decision can reduce your waste by 10%

Read this while twittering around:

This week I had three different types of cheese in the fridge and being bored one grey afternoon I thought I’d do a little experiment by weighing their plastic packaging.

*The ‘darkest green’ pack (not the one sporting the most mould you understand) comes from Budgens. All their own label deli cheeses are wrapped in clingfilm. The total packaging weight was, well, it didn’t register on my scales, so we’ll call it 1 gm for sake of argument.

*The ‘light green’ pack was from Lidls. Wrapped in ‘traditional’ (funny what becomes traditional as times change) waxed plastic, the total packaging weight was 3 gms.

*The ‘lighter shade of pale’ was from the Co-Op. This posh ‘cracked black pepper’ cheese, comes in rigid posh packaging and weighs a hefty 10 gms.


You can see from this example how simple it is to reduce your landfill waste further even when you’re standing in the shop. Even if you’ve forgotten your reusable container for the deli, you can still do your bit for the environment by making a wise choice. By choosing the Budgens pre wrapped deli cheese over the Co-Op posh cheese, we’ve reduced cheese packaging by ten per cent. When you’re counting the grammes you put into landfill and the amount of space it takes up in your dustbin each week, it makes a difference!

Full story here

Technorati Tags: packaging waste minimisation waste prevention

UK- ''Zero Waste Places Standard'

More details have emerged of the 'Zero Waste Places Standard', a new Defra-backed accreditation which aims to encourage local authorities to improve the sustainability of their waste management beyond meeting national recycling targets.

The standard was unveiled by environment secretary Hilary Benn on October 13th as part of a raft of 'zero waste' measures (see letsrecycle.com story) and as such has a focus on waste reduction.

Councils will be encouraged to apply for the standard to receive recognition of their success in areas such as recycling and waste reduction through a particular initiative, and it will also aim to motivate them to improve their performance further. In a similar way to the original 'Zero Waste Places' initiative, which aims to showcase best practice in sustainable waste management, the standard can be awarded to anything from a street to an entire community.

The standard is being run by the Defra-funded BREW Centre for Local Authorities and, the centre's national co-ordinator, Helen Bird, explained: "The accreditation will give recognition to those councils who are doing really well, as well as providing the accreditation it also motivates people to do more and get involved," she added.

The announcement of the second set of showcase 'zero waste places' were unveiled in October:

• London Borough of Hackney - a resident of the Follingham Court estate near Hoxton Square has set up a 'Carbon Club', working with the council to reduce both emissions and waste, and actions will include installing a community composting facility, vertical grow growing, community food growing with raised bed, food rescue pack from Love Food Hate Waste, Zero Waste Bin and more.

• Bishops Castle in Shropshire - the project will focus on waste reduction, with measures including enhancing the town's community recycling facility and working with the farmers market to increase composting, with the overall aim of reducing waste to landfill by 6% over the next two years;

• Dorchester-on-Thames in Oxfordshire - the initiative will focus on waste reduction for materials which cannot be recycled by households, and will also look to work with schools and businesses to reduce residual waste;

• London Borough of Lambeth - the Brixton 'Low Carbon Zone' will be extended to include residents and businesses within the Coldharbour ward, including running waste audits and installing 'Recycle on the Go' facilities;

• London Borough of Newham - supporting market traders and shops at Queens Market in their efforts to reduce waste, with the target of diverting 375 tonnes from landfill over a three month period;

• Suffolk county council - seven streets will look to reduce their collective waste by 50% and will be offered advice and guidance on how to minimise and recycling more waste.
Commenting on the choice of places, the environment secretary, Hilary Benn, said: "These six areas will provide innovative and often easy ways for people to get involved in cutting their waste. I look forward to seeing the projects, and how can all learn from them."

For more go here

Technorati Tags: zero waste waste minimisation waste prevention BREW DEFRA Zero Waste Place Hackney Follingham Court vertical+growing

Australia - Bottled water BANNED!

Australian state New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees has announced an immediate ban on all departments and agencies buying bottled water, including supplies for water coolers. It was the first step in a Government campaign to reduce significantly the consumption of bottled water in the community, Mr Rees said.

In a double blow for the bottled water industry, the sleepy Southern Highlands hamlet of Bundanoon voted to ban bottled water, just hours after the NSW Government announced its boycott. "These plastic bottles are everywhere," Mr Rees told reporters yesterday."It's not just the direct plastic bottle that causes the physical reality in our local environment."Bear this in mind.

You take a 600ml plastic bottle, 200ml of oil has gone into its production."That's leaving aside the C02 that comes from transporting it around the place."Bottled water has been banned in ministerial offices at Governor Macquarie Tower in Sydney's CBD since Mr Rees became Premier last year. At a community meeting last night, Bundanoon locals overwhelmingly supported Australia's first ban on commercially bottled water, already agreed to by businesses in the town. Local businessman and Bundy on Tap organiser Huw Kingston said almost 400 people turned up to the Bundanoon Memorial Hall, with only two casting dissenting votes. The Age reports that the voluntary ban has been triggered by concerns about the carbon footprint associated with bottling and transporting the water. Free water fountains will be installed in the NSW village, south-west of Sydney, to replace the bottled water. "It was the biggest ever turnout in the community here at Bundanoon - it's overwhelming support," Mr Kingston said. "We can now continue with our route of making Bundanoon Australia's first bottled water-free town. We can go forward with the strength of the community and the businesses right behind us."

Australians spent about $500 million on bottled water in 2008, a 10 per cent increase on 2007. "It's all about common sense," Do Something! director Jon Dee said. "When you reduce the usage of bottled water you're not just saving the environment, you're also saving your wallet at the same time. "It makes total sense whether you're a government department or whether you're a company, whether it's in smaller bottles or the larger bottles that get delivered to offices. "Mr Dee said it made no sense for people to pay twice as much for a litre of bottled water than for a litre of petrol." The bottled water industry has managed to convince people that bottled water is somehow pure or better for you than water you drink out of the tap," he said. "But we have among the best tap water in the world."

But Geoff Parker, director of the Australasian Bottled Water Institute, which represents the industry, said he was disappointed by the bans. Both restricted consumer choice, he said."The environmental footprint of one bottle of water of locally produced water would be much smaller than a tin of canned tomatoes imported from overseas, some imported cheese, or French champagne," he said."I think we need to keep it in perspective."

Technorati Tags: bottle water waste minimisation waste prevention New South Wales
plastic+bottles

Planning is underway for the Better Haringey Green Fair 2009 which will take place on Saturday 13 June 2009 at Ducketts Common (opposite Turnpike Lane tube station).

What happens on the day?
*Better Haringey Awards - The fair will host the awards for the very first time to reward great environmental practice in the borough. Nominate now with great prizes to be won. For more information visit the Better Haringey Awards page.
*Live on stage entertainment - Powered by a pollution free PA system.
*Solar cinema - Including the first Haringey showing of 'The Age of Stupid'.
*Basketball Tournament - An opportunity for all ages and levels to get involved and play basketball, and learn a little about staying healthy.
*A range of environmentally themed information stalls - Ever wanted to know how to grow your own salad, or what happens to your recycling? Maybe you are keen to reduce your energy bills or want to learn how you can help implement the Greenest Borough Strategy? You can find that all here.
*Give or take area - If you have any clutter that you think someone else can put to good use bring it along. You may also find exactly what you've been looking for.
*Refreshments - A range of delicious refreshments will be available on the day for you to try.
Children's activity zone - Children can enjoy a range of activities including workshops and games.

Residents can: *Volunteer at the event

Businesses can: *Sponsor the event, *Have a stall at the event

Associations and Organisations can: *Have a stall at the event

If you would like more information about the event or about how you can get involved this year, please email the Better Haringey Team at better.haringey@haringey.gov.uk or call on 020 8489 2243

Technorati Tags: Green fair haringey give or take Better Haringey Turnpike Lane

Europe- 11 North Sea islands seek zero waste

Eleven North Sea islands have signed up to become living laboratories for a waste-free environment.

The islands from six countries will follow a "cradle-to-cradle" philosophy, which calls for using renewable energy and products made from materials that can be endlessly reused or organically decomposed. Associated Press reports that innovations will include electric vehicles, a desalination system for drinking water that removes salt in a usable form, and purification of household water - including human waste. Technical universities from around northern Europe will try out new solutions for small-scale energy production, transportation and water management, with the aim of making the islands nearly self-sustaining by 2030, project managers said.

The EU is donating ?3.5 million ($4.5 million) for the first four-year phase. Islands from Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Britain will take part. The Cradle to Cradle Island project will be overseen by officials of the northern Dutch province of Friesland.The islands have a total of nearly 50,000 residents, but those numbers swell with visitors during the summer. Some of the islands see the project as a way of attracting more tourists. Among other proposed ideas, new buildings will use paint on the internal walls containing micro-organisms that clean the air, and cement on the external walls that removes particulates from the atmosphere, he said. Different islands will experiment with various elements of sustainability. Several islands of Britain's Shetlands, a group of 100 islands north of Scotland, will tap the energy from waves off its west coast and tidal streams between the islands.

The Dutch islands of Texel and Ameland, largely comprised of dunes and bicycle paths, will get a network of electric motor scooters and recharging posts. A Dutch water research company, Wetsus, will experiment with a system to produce electricity by mixing salt water and fresh water.

Technorati Tags: zero waste waste prevention North Sea Europe cradle-to-cradle

UK - London, Free Compost from resident's kitchen waste

The London Borough of Haringey will be holding its first ever free compost give away. There will be a 15 tonne delivery made to Finsbury Park and from 10am-3pm residents can come and take as much or as little as they want. Bring your own containers - from buckets to bags…whatever you bring, we’ll fill it! Two compost advisors will be on hand to provide info to first time home composters and to those who are experiencing problems. There will also be children’s activities such as seedling planting and free face painting.

Technorati Tags: food waste waste prevention compost Haringey Better Haringey

USA - New York adds 5-cent deposit to water bottles

New York's new US$132 billion budget includes provisions for a "Bigger, Better Bottle Bill" that tacks on a 5-cent refundable deposit to bottles containing water and other non-carbonated beverages.


Greener Buildings reports that the state has had a 5-cent deposit on soda, beer and other carbonated beverages since 1982. Another key feature of the measure allows 80 per cent of unclaimed deposits on beverage bottles -- a projected US$115 million annually -- to go into the state's general fund. Previously all unredeemed deposits were kept by the beverage industry. Environmentalists cheered passage of the "Bigger Better Bottle Bill." Thirty groups that had campaigned for the expanded bill jointly issued a statement hailing the new law on April 3. "This is a huge victory not only for the environment, but for the people of New York," said Laura Haight, senior environmental associate with New York Public Interest Research Group, in the statement.Bottled water represents 70 percent of non-carbonated beverage sales in the state, and the discarded bottles are among the items most frequently found in litter cleanups in New York, according to the Container Recycling Institute."As a result of this law," Haight also said, "we will have noticeably cleaner communities and far more recycling. At the same time, the money from the public's unclaimed nickels will go to work for us, not for Coke and Pepsi."The 5-cent deposit on bottles of water and other non-carbonated drinks goes into effect June 1.


More information on New York's bottle bill and legislation in other states is available from the Bottle Bill Resource Guide:http://www.bottlebill.org/


Technorati Tags: bottle water waste minimisation waste prevention diapers Bigger, Better Bottle Bill

UK: Retailers exceed carrier bag reduction target

New figures released by WRAP show the UK’s leading high street and grocery retailers have exceeded a voluntary target to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008. Since 2006, retailers have delivered a 40% reduction in the environmental impact of carrier bags, as measured by the reduction in the amount of virgin plastic used. Retailers have achieved this by reducing the number of carrier bags issued by 26%, increasing recycled content used and reducing carrier bag weight. The target to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags was part of an agreement with UK Governments and industry in February 2007 which has been met in full by a reduction in bag numbers alone.

The data shows that initiatives by retailers to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags have resulted in a 23,000 tonne reduction in the weight of carrier bags issued. The total number of bags in circulation has reduced from 13.4 billion in 2006 to 9.9 billion in 2008, equivalent to a 26% reduction.

You may view the full text of WRAP’s press release


Technorati Tags: retailers waste minimisation waste prevention carrier bags UK

UK- Combat the credit crunch with real nappies

Following the huge success of last years event, the 13th annual Real Nappy Week will be taking place from 27th April until 3rd May 2009 across the UK. Since the start of October 2008 around 30,000 jobs cuts have been announced across all sectors of the UK. With parents worrying about money, the 2009 Real Nappy Week, run by the Real Nappy Campaign, will focus on how using real nappies can save families money.


Bec Thomas from the Real Nappy Campaign commented:
“As the financial crisis bites in the UK, families are increasingly opting to save money by using real nappies. Parents can save at least £500 by choosing real nappies over disposables and there are further savings to be made when nappies are passed down and used again.”


Technorati Tags: nappies waste minimisation waste prevention diapers real nappies cotton nappies Real Nappy Week