Waste

• [New] We are likely to see a new generation of nuclear power stations by 2060-2070 based on nuclear fusion, which is a radically different technology from splitting the atom (fission) and involves fusing two different atoms together to release energy, with far less radioactive waste.
• [New] Innovative Financial Initiatives for Africa will help close adaptation finance gaps, enhance access to existing finance and mobilize new public and private sector investment.
• [New] Fast Company cited companies measuring their progress on the circular economy as one of the seven ways the circular economy will grow in 2021.
• [New] Research from McKinsey & Company and C40 Cities points to waste management as one of four key pillars that cities can take action on to reduce nearly all of their emissions by 2030.
• [New] Supermarket chain Tesco has unveiled its new climate change manifesto, pledging to help customers adopt more sustainable diets, reduce food waste and ramp up its efforts to become a net-zero business by 2035.
• [New] Plastic-related greenhouse gas emissions may represent more than 1% of the global annual carbon budget and could represent up to 15% by 2050, if no action is taken.
• [New] More than 100 million tons of nonrenewable resources are used each year to produce clothing, and by 2050, the textile industry alone could account for a quarter of the global carbon budget.
• [New] Ireland has the opportunity to introduce systemic change in waste management through policy and planning to drive circular economy and climate action in Ireland.
• [New] Ireland has reached a plateau in relation to waste management; to further deliver the necessary waste prevention and circular economy ambitions will be a challenge.
• [New] The Knorr-to-Magnum manufacturer has committed to halve food waste in its direct operations - from factory to shelf - by 2025, achieving zero waste to landfill and ensuring no 'good food' is destroyed.
• [New] A production plant costing less than A$ 5 million could service the plastic waste produced by a population of around a quarter of a million, cleaning the environment of plastic and turning it into useful, valuable products that would also provide local jobs.
• [New] In addition to the solid radioactive wastes some countries (i.e. the United States of America and the Russian Federation) have accumulated large volumes of liquid wastes that will require specific management approaches.
• [New] Part of the spent fuel is sent for reprocessing outside the EU and it is expected that around 1100 m3 of radioactive waste from spent fuel reprocessing will be returned by 2030.
• [New] Approximately 98% of the radioactive waste is expected to be short-lived waste (LILW-SL in the French waste classification corresponds to the LLW waste class in GSG-193 waste classification) and only 2% of the total waste amount is expected to be classified as ILW.
• [New] Governments should set targets to reduce waste by 50% across the Arctic by 2040, fund a public data reporting system for waste management, and invest in infrastructure.
• [New] Food waste from Lidl's stores will be used to power a fleet of HGVs, reducing carbon emissions per truck by up to 93%.
• [New] As fresh water becomes increasingly scarce around the world, governments and companies will be looking for technologies to treat and reuse whatever water sources they have, even if it was once considered waste.
• [New] Bp and Aria Energy announced a project to capture methane from waste at three California dairy farms and process it into renewable natural gas (RNG), which will then be supplied as fuel for the U.S. transportation sector.
• As England's waste regulator, the Environment Agency will take action against people who do not follow their duty of care and so harm people and the environment.

Last updated: 11 April 2021