NEWS ROUND-UP
EU Commission disappoints lobby
groups by not strengthening RoHS
I
n what has been described as that are working hard to achieve be relegated to Europe’s new
‘a surprise move’ the European green design,” said Jerker chemicals policy, REaCh.
Commission has rejected calls Ligthart at ChemSec, a non- “the REaCh process is
for a strengthened Reduction of profit organisation. still in its infancy. It is highly
hazardous Substances (RohS) “the current Directive has uncertain if and how REaCh
Advice forum
Directive that environmental been the leading legislative will address these hazardous
groups said would have set policy for phasing out six of the chemicals in their electronics
for councils'
targets for phasing out additional most dangerous chemical groups uses,” said Lisette van Vliet
hazardous substances in used in electronics,” added of the health & Environment
recycling woes
electronic products. Ligthart. alliance. “RohS has to a large
“the proposed rejection of the Commission has instead degree helped set a global
W
RaP (waStE & both nGOs and progressive suggested not to add additional standard for the electronics
Resources action companies' support for additional substances in the RohS industry and is well understood
Programme), the government’s substance bans has done a great Directive and that any further by the relevant supply-chains,”
waste advisor, has launched disservice to those companies work on chemical restrictions she added.
an advice forum for local
authorities which is intended to
Committee on Climate Change calls
help them deal with lower prices
for recyclable materials.
Despite weaker markets for all new coal plants to include CCS
for some products, wRaP
research has shown there is however Liberal Democrat
still demand for many high L
ORD tuRnER’S
Committee on Climate shadow energy and climate
quality recyclable materials. Change has recommended that change secretary, Steve webb
although it is clear from new coal plants are not built in warned that the turner report
the information coming the uK unless they can capture “risks giving the green light to
from local authorities that all of their emissions by the early years of new dirty coal-fired
commodity prices are under 2020s. power plants which could
pressure, wRaP’s online according to Greenpeace, if completely undermine Britain’s
market knowledge portal and accepted by the government, the position on climate change.
advice forum is aimed to help proposal would kill controversial “It is simply too high a risk
local authorities through the plans by German energy giant, to allow new coal plants like
downturn. Eon, to build a coal-fired power water. Eon’s investors and the Kingsnorth on the basis of the
while demand for some station at Kingsnorth in Kent. company’s executives will read promise that its carbon emissions
lower quality recycled John Sauven of Greenpeace the turner report with sweaty will be captured at some point
materials, such as those said: “assuming the government palms, as their coal plans don’t in the future. the uK needs to
which are mixed with other accepts the advice of its own even come close to satisfying the make dramatic strides on energy
materials like plastic trays, climate change committee, new standards the committee is efficiency, supporting renewables
tubs, pots and film, has Kingsnorth is dead in the demanding.” and reducing our dependence on
dropped; wRaP said there is
still capacity and demand for
De Montfort Uni starts £1.6m holographic
other high quality recyclables
such as plastic bottles and
research into low cost energy efficient lighting
glass.
the Environment agency
has also set out guidance for D
E MOntfORt university light-emitting diodes for lighting Professor Richardson said:
(DMu) has begun a within buildings. "the units will cost far less to
operators to help minimise research project valued at £1.6m according to DMu, these produce than traditional elements
the impacts of this downturn, developing holographic lighting hOEs will be incorporated into currently available in the lighting
should they need to store units that are expected to bring edge-lit devices to produce a industry.”
waste in the short to medium savings in money and energy. flat, uniform light source that the research is being funded
term until markets recover. the project is led by can be swivelled or rotated by the government’s technology
nFor details, visit www. professor of modern holography, for architectural and building Strategy Board as a technology
wrap.org and www. Martin Richardson, and will lighting, and so potentially offer programme collaborative
environment-agency.gov.uk investigate holographic optical a revolutionary new form of low- research and development
element’s (hOEs) illuminated by cost, energy-efficient lighting. project.
SuStainable SolutionS December/January 2009 
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