The environment in the news
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The Times of India: India using shunned waste plant technology
Nitin Sethi- March 04, 2007
NEW DELHI: In what could trigger a major health concern, municipal corporations of Delhi and Mumbai have signed MoUs to use incinerator-based waste disposal technologies now being phased out in Europe and the US for producing cancer-causing pollutants and heavy metals like lead and mercury.
Indian cities may put up banners speaking of 'recycle, reuse and reduce' waste, but Delhi and Mumbai have signed MoUs with Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd for a technology that seeks to produce energy by burning waste.
Apart from the health hazards that the technology may pose, 16 years ago an attempt to set up an incinerator plant at Delhi's Timarpur came a cropper. This was due to low "calorific" content of Indian waste which is picked clean for plastics. Even now, 60% plastics are removed, and with improving segregation, the waste may become even less fit for incineration.
In fact, the Delhi Master Plan Report on waste management (2020) says: "RDF is often an option when emission standards are lax and RDF is burned in conventional boilers with no special precautions for emissions."
There is also an ongoing case in Supreme Court on management of municipal solid waste, during the course of which two technical experts have also said that RDF must be supported by the ministry of new and renewable energy only on experimental basis.
The developed world has been trying hard to phase out these technologies because they promote waste generation and produce chemicals dangerous to public health.
Besides, the municipal corporations of Delhi and Mumbai, at least a dozen more cities in India have signed MoUs with IL&FS and other private companies to set up plants that convert municipal solid waste to energy. Studies in the West have shown incinerators to generate dangerous persistent organic pollutants. In India's case the technology — called Refused Derived Fuel — has not worked previously.
RDF's earlier variant, direct incineration was tried in Timparpur, Delhi, before and failed within a month of operation. The Delhi High Court had asked CAG to investigate the purchase. RDF is seen as advanced version of the direct incineration technology.
RDF uses waste turned into pellets after the removal of non-combustible materials such as glass and iron. This is then burnt under fixed conditions to produce energy. The burning of waste has to be strictly managed to reduce pollutants which are emitted by burning plastics.
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ABC News: China prepared to cut production for environment: Wen Jiabao
March 06, 2007
The Chinese Government says it is preparing to sacrifice some economic growth in order to protect the environment.
Premier Wen Jiabao says China must stop simply striving for economic growth and instead cut energy consumption.
He told the annual session of the National People's Congress that he expected GDP growth to drop from 10.7 per cent to 8 per cent.
"We must make conserving energy, decreasing energy consumption, protecting the environment and using land intensively the breakthrough point and main fulcrum for changing the pattern of economic growth," he said.
The Government recently announced it hopes to see 20 per cent of all China's energy come from renewable sources within 12 years.
The Premier also told delegates China must do more to reduce the growing gap between rich and poor and between wealthy cities and the underdeveloped countryside.
He also offered extra money for the under-funded health and education systems.
China's leaders are worried that these problems are leading to rising public anger and they say they want to build what they call a more harmonious society.
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REGIONAL OFFICE FOR AFRICA - NEWS UPDATE
06 March 2007
General Environment News
Fonds pour la recherche en environnement en Afrique de l'Ouest
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - L'Institut français de recherche pour le développement (IRD) va coordonner le Fonds de solidarité prioritaire (FSP) pour les études sur les interactions entre les écosystèmes, le climat et les sociétés d'Afrique de l'Ouest (RIPIECSA), a-t-on appris lundi à Bamako, de bonne source. Un atelier fondateur va identifier les questions partagées entre les scientifiques, d'une part et les décideurs et la Société civile, d'autre part. Il réunira des experts africains de plusieurs centres de recherche et d'application.
85 hippopotamuses driven to Congo's Lake Edward
Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) - Some 85 hippopotamuses have migrated to Lake Edward, some 45-km from Goma, in DR Congo's North-Kivu following large-scale poaching in their original habitat, according to a statement by the World Wildlife Fund for nature (WWF). A joint patrol by the DR Congo Armed Forces and the National Park wardens, was said to have located the animals with the support of the Congolese Wildlife Institute, ICCN. Meanwhile, the ICCN has accused the Mayi-mayi poachers and armed groups belonging to the Democratic Front for Rwandan Liberation of killing some 450 hippopotamuses last year.
Nigeria: World Bank Grants N8.2bn to Lagos Govt for Waste Management
ссылка скрыта (Lagos): The World Bank has granted a total of N8.2 billion ($63million) to tackle waste management under the Lagos Metropolitan Development Governance Project (MDGP). This came just as the state Ministry of Environment has formally handed over the Private Sector Participation (PSP) in refuse management to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). The state commissioner for environment, Mr. Tunji Bello while disclosing this to the press in Lagos Friday, said it was pertinent for the ministry to develop its capacity, stressing that this has made the World Bank to appreciate efforts of the ministry by assisting the project implementation in funding four loading transfer stations for Lagos. ссылка скрыта
Uganda: World Bank Funds Mbale Garbage Project
ссылка скрыта (Kampala): World Bank through the National Environment Management Authority will fund the establishment of a garbage composite site in Mbale Municipality. According to the municipal council secretary for health Bernard Wandera, the project, to be established at the municipal garbage dump site, is estimated to cost between $300,000 to 600,000. "The site will help get rid of the garbage that litters the town," Mr. Wandera said. Mr. Wandera said the project, the first of its kind in Mbale and the whole of eastern Uganda, would compose biodegradable garbage into manure that will be sold to farmers. He said the project would provide employment opportunities. The establishment of the project would be the first step towards reclaiming Mbale Municipality's lost glory as the cleanest town in east and central Africa. ссылка скрыта
South Africa: Venture Feeds Demand for Green Textiles
ссылка скрыта (Johannesburg)- The woeful state of SA's clothing and textiles industry has spurred some innovative ideas to boost exports. IN A bid to diversify its operations, JSE-listed clothing and textile operation Seardel has turned its eye to a green alternative. As concerns about climate change increase the demand for more sustainable alternatives to oil, there is a burgeoning market for environmentally friendly textiles, especially in Europe. Seardel has set up a company, Sustainable Fibre Solutions (SFS), to explore the cultivation and processing of natural fibres and their by-products. The crop of choice is an ancient African plant, kenaf -- a member of the hibiscus family -- that is drawing attention internationally for its vast potential in an array of applications. An alternative source to trees in the production of pulp for paper, kenaf is also preferable as a high-yielding and annually renewable source. But kenaf's application potential reaches way beyond the production of a green alternative to paper and pulp. The plant is also an alternative to synthetic fibre in the production of thermal and sound insulation, automotive components and bio-composite and compressed non-woven materials. Kenaf has been successfully cultivated in the US and parts of Asia for years. However, while it originated in Africa, modern cultivation of the plant is new to southern Africa. SFS is the first company to successfully cultivate kenaf in SA. ссылка скрыта
Nigeria: World Bank Grants N8.2bn to Lagos Govt for Waste Management
ссылка скрыта (Lagos): THE World Bank has granted a total of N8.2 billion ($63million) to tackle waste management under the Lagos Metropolitan Development Governance Project (MDGP). This came just as the state Ministry of Environment has formally handed over the Private Sector Participation (PSP) in refuse management to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). The state commissioner for environment, Mr. Tunji Bello while disclosing this to the press in Lagos said it was pertinent for the ministry to develop its capacity, stressing that this has made the World Bank to appreciate efforts of the ministry by assisting the project implementation in funding four loading transfer stations for Lagos. The money raised by the World Bank would enable LAWMA to acquire necessary equipment for the implementation of the project, embark on massive training of staff and adequate management of waste/refuse transfer stations. ссылка скрыта
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