With rubbish piling up in the desert, the United Arab Emirates has found a new way to get rid of its trash -- incinerators that will turn it into electricity.

The&nbsp;UAE, one of the world's top oil exporters, is building the Gulf region's first&nbsp;waste-to-power&nbsp;plants to ease its chronic trash problem and, at the same time, its reliance on gas-fuelled electricity stations.

Green groups are unconvinced. They say advanced recycling, composting and changing habits amid grossly wasteful rates of consumption would be better for the environment, warning of pollution risks from the greenhouse gas-intensive incinerators too.

But engineer Nouf Wazir, from&nbsp;waste&nbsp;management&nbsp;company Bee'ah, argues they are a way to&nbsp;make&nbsp;use of refuse that cannot be recycled.

"Not everyone knows that&nbsp;waste&nbsp;has value," said Wazir, a senior engineer on the project. The Sharjah facility is expected to launch this year, burning more than 300,000 tonnes of&nbsp;waste&nbsp;per year to&nbsp;power&nbsp;up to 28,000 homes.

In the neighbouring emirate of Dubai, another plant is being developed at a cost of $1.2 billion, according to Hitachi Zosen Inova, one of the partner companies.

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When it is completed in 2024, the Dubai plant will be one of the largest in the world, capable of gobbling up 1.9 million tonnes of&nbsp;waste&nbsp;per year&nbsp;about 45 percent of the household&nbsp;waste&nbsp;currently produced in the emirate.

'People consume a lot'

As the&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;has mushroomed from a desert outpost to a thriving business hub,&nbsp;waste&nbsp;has multiplied.

So has&nbsp;power&nbsp;use, which has soared 750 percent since 1990 according to the International Energy Agency.

Now with about 10 million people, five times the population of 30 years ago, the wealthy&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;uses more electricity and creates more&nbsp;waste&nbsp;per head than almost any other country.

Authorities put&nbsp;waste&nbsp;production at 1.8 kilos (four pounds) per person per day.

In the&nbsp;UAE, "people consume a lot, and they throw away a lot", said Riad Bestani, founder of ECOsquare, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in eco-friendly&nbsp;waste&nbsp;management.

Landfills are strewn across the country. In Dubai alone, six cover an area of about 1.6 million square meters (395 acres), according to the municipality.

In the absence of other solutions, it estimates that landfills will occupy 5.8 million square meters of the emirate by 2041, an area the size of more than 800 football pitches.

Fees for landfills are "pretty much nonexistent, so it's quite cheap and easy to dump all materials into the desert", said Emma Barber, director of Dubai-based DGrade, which designs clothes and accessories from recycled plastic bottles.

The&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;has set about diversifying its electricity generation, more than 90 percent of which comes from gas-powered plants.

Last year, the&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;inaugurated the Arab world's first nuclear plant and, making use of its location in one of the world's hottest regions, it has significant solar&nbsp;power&nbsp;resources.&nbsp;

In the run-up to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, which started on Sunday, the&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;said it was targeting carbon neutrality by 2050.

'Separate, sort, recycle'

While supporters of the plants say the incinerators carry minimal pollution risks, activists say other approaches would be better for the environment.

According to Janek Vahk of Zero&nbsp;Waste&nbsp;Europe, incinerating rubbish may be "easier" than having space-consuming landfills, but it is far from green.

"The most beneficial for the climate (and) the environment would be recoverage" and composting, Vahk told AFP.

"But this is not really happening because... it's easier to simply&nbsp;burn&nbsp;it than to separate, sort and recycle."

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The Brussels-based NGO has called for a moratorium on new&nbsp;waste&nbsp;incinerators and the phasing-out of old ones by 2040, warning the electricity they produce is greenhouse-gas intensive -- even compared to fossil fuels.

Vahk argues that incineration is "more efficient" in colder Nordic countries when the heat produced is also harnessed, but not in hot deserts.

"If you only produce electricity, the greenhouse gases' intensity of this energy is very high," Vahk said, adding that incinerators are also "very expensive to build&nbsp;and they need to have continuous input to run."

Rami Shaar, co-founder of Washmen, a Dubai-based start-up that collects customers' laundry and recycling at the same time, said&nbsp;waste-to-electricity is not "necessarily&nbsp;green energy".

"It's a bit of a solution towards not extracting more oil but it doesn't solve the full problem," he said.&nbsp;

With rubbish piling up in the desert, the United Arab Emirates has found a new way to get rid of its trash -- incinerators that will turn it into electricity. The UAE, one of the world's top oil exporters, is building the Gulf region's first waste-to-power plants to ease its chronic trash problem and, at the same time, its reliance on gas-fuelled electricity stations.

With rubbish piling up in the desert, the United Arab Emirates has found a new way to get rid of its trash -- incinerators that will turn it into electricity. The UAE, one of the world's top oil exporters, is building the Gulf region's first waste-to-power plants to ease its chronic trash problem and, at the same time, its reliance on gas-fuelled electricity stations. Green groups are unconvinced. They say advanced recycling, composting and changing habits amid grossly wasteful rates of consumption would be better for the environment, warning of pollution risks from the greenhouse gas-intensive incinerators too. But engineer Nouf Wazir, from waste management company Bee'ah, argues they are a way to make use of refuse that cannot be recycled. "Not everyone knows that waste has value," said Wazir, a senior engineer on the project. The Sharjah facility is expected to launch this year, burning more than 300,000 tonnes of waste per year to power up to 28,000 homes. In the neighbouring emirate of Dubai, another plant is being developed at a cost of $1.2 billion, according to Hitachi Zosen Inova, one of the partner companies. Also read | Europe once again at epicentre of coronavirus pandemic: WHO When it is completed in 2024, the Dubai plant will be one of the largest in the world, capable of gobbling up 1.9 million tonnes of waste per year about 45 percent of the household waste currently produced in the emirate. 'People consume a lot' As the UAE has mushroomed from a desert outpost to a thriving business hub, waste has multiplied. So has power use, which has soared 750 percent since 1990 according to the International Energy Agency. Now with about 10 million people, five times the population of 30 years ago, the wealthy UAE uses more electricity and creates more waste per head than almost any other country. Authorities put waste production at 1.8 kilos (four pounds) per person per day. In the UAE, "people consume a lot, and they throw away a lot", said Riad Bestani, founder of ECOsquare, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in eco-friendly waste management. Landfills are strewn across the country. In Dubai alone, six cover an area of about 1.6 million square meters (395 acres), according to the municipality. In the absence of other solutions, it estimates that landfills will occupy 5.8 million square meters of the emirate by 2041, an area the size of more than 800 football pitches. Fees for landfills are "pretty much nonexistent, so it's quite cheap and easy to dump all materials into the desert", said Emma Barber, director of Dubai-based DGrade, which designs clothes and accessories from recycled plastic bottles. The UAE has set about diversifying its electricity generation, more than 90 percent of which comes from gas-powered plants. Last year, the UAE inaugurated the Arab world's first nuclear plant and, making use of its location in one of the world's hottest regions, it has significant solar power resources. In the run-up to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, which started on Sunday, the UAE said it was targeting carbon neutrality by 2050. 'Separate, sort, recycle' While supporters of the plants say the incinerators carry minimal pollution risks, activists say other approaches would be better for the environment. According to Janek Vahk of Zero Waste Europe, incinerating rubbish may be "easier" than having space-consuming landfills, but it is far from green. "The most beneficial for the climate (and) the environment would be recoverage" and composting, Vahk told AFP. "But this is not really happening because... it's easier to simply burn it than to separate, sort and recycle." Also read | UK PM Boris Johnson accused of 'hypocrisy' for using private jet after COP26 summit The Brussels-based NGO has called for a moratorium on new waste incinerators and the phasing-out of old ones by 2040, warning the electricity they produce is greenhouse-gas intensive -- even compared to fossil fuels. Vahk argues that incineration is "more efficient" in colder Nordic countries when the heat produced is also harnessed, but not in hot deserts. "If you only produce electricity, the greenhouse gases' intensity of this energy is very high," Vahk said, adding that incinerators are also "very expensive to build and they need to have continuous input to run." Rami Shaar, co-founder of Washmen, a Dubai-based start-up that collects customers' laundry and recycling at the same time, said waste-to-electricity is not "necessarily green energy". "It's a bit of a solution towards not extracting more oil but it doesn't solve the full problem," he said.

Oil-rich UAE to burn waste to make power

Despite the restrictions imposed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on the immersion of Durga idols and other religious material at public places, the Yamuna ghat at ITO, Delhi, was littered with waste on Saturday morning.

Speaking to ANI, Pradeep Kumar, a resident of the city, said that the people of the country should give primacy to cleanliness while celebrating festivals.

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"Though the festivals are linked with religious faith, people should also take heed of cleanliness," he stated.

"There should be an alternative disposal site for religious material and the municipal corporation should dispose of it properly.b But the rivers should not be polluted," he added.

Kumar further said that the various projects initiated by the government for cleaning rivers will not be useful unless people become aware and stop polluting the rivers.

Earlier on Wednesday, DPCC issued an order stating that idol immersion at public places can attract a fine of Rs 50,000.

It banned the immersion at public places including the Yamuna River or any other water body, ponds or ghats.

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The pollution control body directed the general public, Residents&nbsp;Welfare Associations (RWAs), and Pooja Samitis that the idol immersion ritual may be performed within the home premises in a bucket or a container.

It further stated that the worship material like flowers, decorating material (made of paper), etc. should be removed before immersion of idols and may be collected separately for disposal or in an environmental safe handing over to the door to door waste collection vehicle.

The Committee also directed municipal authorities and Delhi Police to ensure strict checks on the entry of vehicles or goods carriers entering into the national capital carrying prohibited idols as its cargo.&nbsp;

Despite the restrictions imposed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on the immersion of Durga idols and other religious material at public places, the Yamuna ghat at ITO, Delhi, was littered with waste on Saturday morning.

Despite the restrictions imposed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on the immersion of Durga idols and other religious material at public places, the Yamuna ghat at ITO, Delhi, was littered with waste on Saturday morning. Speaking to ANI, Pradeep Kumar, a resident of the city, said that the people of the country should give primacy to cleanliness while celebrating festivals. Also Read | US Development Finance Corporation chief to visit India to boost vaccine manufacturing "Though the festivals are linked with religious faith, people should also take heed of cleanliness," he stated. "There should be an alternative disposal site for religious material and the municipal corporation should dispose of it properly.b But the rivers should not be polluted," he added. Kumar further said that the various projects initiated by the government for cleaning rivers will not be useful unless people become aware and stop polluting the rivers. Earlier on Wednesday, DPCC issued an order stating that idol immersion at public places can attract a fine of Rs 50,000. It banned the immersion at public places including the Yamuna River or any other water body, ponds or ghats. Also Read | Climate financing area of worry, says India's finance minister Sitharaman The pollution control body directed the general public, Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs), and Pooja Samitis that the idol immersion ritual may be performed within the home premises in a bucket or a container. It further stated that the worship material like flowers, decorating material (made of paper), etc. should be removed before immersion of idols and may be collected separately for disposal or in an environmental safe handing over to the door to door waste collection vehicle. The Committee also directed municipal authorities and Delhi Police to ensure strict checks on the entry of vehicles or goods carriers entering into the national capital carrying prohibited idols as its cargo.

Yamuna river in India's national capital Delhi littered with waste despite curbs

Garbage can be reused in several ways, Sculptures, instruments, robots, costumes. Watch this report for more details.

Sculptures, instruments, robots, costumes- All made of garbage

Toxic&nbsp;substances emitted in Angola have turned a&nbsp;river&nbsp;red in the Democratic Republic of&nbsp;Congo, the environment minister said on Friday, warning of an "ecological catastrophe" as the pollution kills wildlife including&nbsp;hippos.&nbsp;

This "discolouration would be caused by a&nbsp;toxic&nbsp;substance spill by an Angolan factory specialising in industrial diamond mining,"&nbsp;DR&nbsp;Congo&nbsp;Enviroment Minister Eve Bazaiba said in a statement.

Polluted tributaries are feeding into the Kasai&nbsp;river&nbsp;in the west of the vast central African country.

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Local officials in the Kasai region said the dead bodies of&nbsp;hippos&nbsp;and fish had been found in the polluted waters, she said.

The Kasai feeds into the&nbsp;Congo&nbsp;River, the second longest African&nbsp;river&nbsp;after the&nbsp;Nile.

The situation is an "ecological catastrophe", for the local populations, said Bazaiba.

The discolouration was "on the brink of reaching Kinshasa" where over 10 million people live, she added.

So far the exact nature of the&nbsp;toxic&nbsp;substances polluting the waterways is unknown. A team of environment ministry experts has been rushed to the area to collect samples of&nbsp;river&nbsp;water.

Toxic substances emitted in Angola have turned a river red in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the environment minister said on Friday, warning of an "ecological catastrophe" as the pollution kills wildlife including hippos.

Toxic substances emitted in Angola have turned a river red in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the environment minister said on Friday, warning of an "ecological catastrophe" as the pollution kills wildlife including hippos. This "discolouration would be caused by a toxic substance spill by an Angolan factory specialising in industrial diamond mining," DR Congo Enviroment Minister Eve Bazaiba said in a statement. Polluted tributaries are feeding into the Kasai river in the west of the vast central African country. Also read | US issues new terrorism threat warning ahead of 9/11 anniversary Local officials in the Kasai region said the dead bodies of hippos and fish had been found in the polluted waters, she said. The Kasai feeds into the Congo River, the second longest African river after the Nile. The situation is an "ecological catastrophe", for the local populations, said Bazaiba. The discolouration was "on the brink of reaching Kinshasa" where over 10 million people live, she added. So far the exact nature of the toxic substances polluting the waterways is unknown. A team of environment ministry experts has been rushed to the area to collect samples of river water.

Hippos die as DR Congo river contaminated with 'toxic' waste

In an alarming situation, there was massive pollution at Patagonian lake with a pink industrial fluid, sparking controversy among officials.

The origin of the conflict was the permission granted to fisheries companies to dump waste in the Laguna de Corfo, 30 kilometres away from the Chubut town of Trelew.

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Federico Restrepo, a Colombian engineer, environmentalist and virologist and a local resident, told AFP, "The colouring is due to the preservative, sodium sulphide, an anti-bacterial agent which also contaminates the water table of the Chubut River and the water supply of cities in the region. The law orders the treatment of such liquids before being dumped".

Juan Micheloud, in charge of environmental control for the province, said, "An agreement was made with a company (transporting effluent from the fisheries) to dump liquids into the Laguna de Corfo. The pink colour does no harm and disappears in a few days".

In an alarming situation, there was massive pollution at Patagonian lake with a pink industrial fluid, sparking controversy among officials. The origin of the conflict was the permission granted to fisheries companies to dump waste in the Laguna de Corfo, 30 kilometres away from the Chubut town of Trelew.

In an alarming situation, there was massive pollution at Patagonian lake with a pink industrial fluid, sparking controversy among officials. The origin of the conflict was the permission granted to fisheries companies to dump waste in the Laguna de Corfo, 30 kilometres away from the Chubut town of Trelew. Also read | Stonehenge could lose world heritage status, here is why Federico Restrepo, a Colombian engineer, environmentalist and virologist and a local resident, told AFP, "The colouring is due to the preservative, sodium sulphide, an anti-bacterial agent which also contaminates the water table of the Chubut River and the water supply of cities in the region. The law orders the treatment of such liquids before being dumped". Juan Micheloud, in charge of environmental control for the province, said, "An agreement was made with a company (transporting effluent from the fisheries) to dump liquids into the Laguna de Corfo. The pink colour does no harm and disappears in a few days".

Industrial waste turns Patagonian lake completely pink in colour

Refusing to be treated as a garbage pit, Turkey is banning the import of most plastic waste in the country.

A recent investigation revealed that several items of garbage, being presumed to be British recycling, were left to be dumped on beaches and roadsides of Turkey.

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The investigation was conducted by Greenpeace, whose experts visited 10 sites in the southern city of Adana in March and found several British companies’ packaging in illegal waste mountains, beaches, roadsides and other locations.

Researchers found packaging from Tesco, Lidl, Marks &amp; Spencer, Asda, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Poundland, Spar, etc — all of which are British supermarkets — left in bags or simply dumped in the shape of small hills.

It has been revealed that the UK has been treating Turkey as a garbage pit and has been extensively exporting its waste to Turkey, even though the latter’s recycling rate is only 12 per cent. The export of plastic waste from the UK has increased towards Turkey since 2018 when China banned all imports.

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Turns out, the UK is not the only country mistreating Turkey as a dumping ground. Other European countries have also been exporting their plastic waste to Turkey, although the UK and EU have rules against exporting waste to countries that do not have a high recycling percentage.

Making sure nobody treats the country as a dumping ground anymore, the Turkish government has announced plans to ban the imports of plastic waste from all countries. The ban includes polythene plastic waste but excludes pet plastic bottles.

"People have been appalled to see images of UK household waste dumped and burned in Turkey. The UK government must put a stop to our plastic waste impacting other countries. We need a complete ban on all plastic waste exports and legislation to make UK companies reduce the amount of plastic they produce in the first place," Sam Chetan-Welsh, political campaigner at Greenpeace UK said.

Refusing to be treated as a garbage pit, Turkey is banning the import of most plastic waste in the country. A recent investigation revealed that several items of garbage, being presumed to be British recycling, were left to be dumped on beaches and roadsides of Turkey.

Refusing to be treated as a garbage pit, Turkey is banning the import of most plastic waste in the country. A recent investigation revealed that several items of garbage, being presumed to be British recycling, were left to be dumped on beaches and roadsides of Turkey. Also read | What if space junk and climate change become the same problem? The investigation was conducted by Greenpeace, whose experts visited 10 sites in the southern city of Adana in March and found several British companies’ packaging in illegal waste mountains, beaches, roadsides and other locations. Researchers found packaging from Tesco, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Asda, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Poundland, Spar, etc — all of which are British supermarkets — left in bags or simply dumped in the shape of small hills. It has been revealed that the UK has been treating Turkey as a garbage pit and has been extensively exporting its waste to Turkey, even though the latter’s recycling rate is only 12 per cent. The export of plastic waste from the UK has increased towards Turkey since 2018 when China banned all imports. Also read | Meet climate change's latest offering to Earth - 'Zombie wildfires' Turns out, the UK is not the only country mistreating Turkey as a dumping ground. Other European countries have also been exporting their plastic waste to Turkey, although the UK and EU have rules against exporting waste to countries that do not have a high recycling percentage. Making sure nobody treats the country as a dumping ground anymore, the Turkish government has announced plans to ban the imports of plastic waste from all countries. The ban includes polythene plastic waste but excludes pet plastic bottles. "People have been appalled to see images of UK household waste dumped and burned in Turkey. The UK government must put a stop to our plastic waste impacting other countries. We need a complete ban on all plastic waste exports and legislation to make UK companies reduce the amount of plastic they produce in the first place," Sam Chetan-Welsh, political campaigner at Greenpeace UK said.

Not a garbage pit: Turkey bans import of plastic waste after UK's increased export percentage

The western Balkans are home to some of Europe's wildest rivers and scenic and natural sides but trash islands are bringing the Balkan waste crisis to surface. WION brings you a report.

Islands of floating waste clog rivers in the Balkans

Hundreds of containers of household waste shipped from Italy to the northern African nation Tunisia.&nbsp;

These containers were supposed to be carrying plastic scraps for recycling, instead, they came up filled with rotten household waste.&nbsp;

Tunisia's law clearly says that such waste cannot be imported into the country.&nbsp;

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The Italian trash has triggered a storm as Tunisia's waste problem is massive and it struggles to dispose of its own waste.&nbsp;

A lot of waste in Tunisia finds itself in open air landfills.&nbsp;

The nation's environment minister was sacked and arrested and other people are also being questioned over accusations of importing hazardous waste.&nbsp;

<h2>Tunisia not the only exception</h2>

The global trade in waste is a murky business and illegal waste is the new money minter.&nbsp;

Organised criminal networks have jumped in and most of this waste finds itself in developing nations.&nbsp;

Shipments are often concealed as 'non-hazardous' and 'clean' plastic waste.&nbsp;

In most cases, port authorities don't even bother to check them twice.&nbsp;

In 2016, the plastic recycling market was valued at almost 35 billion dollars. By 2022, it is expected to become a 50 billion dollar industry.&nbsp;

And the big money attracting more and more criminal networks.&nbsp;

Most organised crime groups infiltrate the waste sector using their legitimate businesses as a front.&nbsp;

The garbage often ends up in developing nations that are not equipped to handle this.&nbsp;

The Interpol describes this as crime-driven pollution.

Now that Tunisia has raised a stink, West should understand that developing countries cannot be their dustbin.&nbsp;

Hundreds of containers of household waste shipped from Italy to the northern African nation Tunisia. These containers were supposed to be carrying plastic scraps for recycling, instead, they came up filled with rotten household waste.

Hundreds of containers of household waste shipped from Italy to the northern African nation Tunisia. These containers were supposed to be carrying plastic scraps for recycling, instead, they came up filled with rotten household waste. Tunisia's law clearly says that such waste cannot be imported into the country. Also read | China to fine restaurants for promoting overeating under anti-food waste campaign The Italian trash has triggered a storm as Tunisia's waste problem is massive and it struggles to dispose of its own waste. A lot of waste in Tunisia finds itself in open air landfills. The nation's environment minister was sacked and arrested and other people are also being questioned over accusations of importing hazardous waste. Tunisia not the only exception The global trade in waste is a murky business and illegal waste is the new money minter. Organised criminal networks have jumped in and most of this waste finds itself in developing nations. Shipments are often concealed as 'non-hazardous' and 'clean' plastic waste. In most cases, port authorities don't even bother to check them twice. In 2016, the plastic recycling market was valued at almost 35 billion dollars. By 2022, it is expected to become a 50 billion dollar industry. And the big money attracting more and more criminal networks. Most organised crime groups infiltrate the waste sector using their legitimate businesses as a front. The garbage often ends up in developing nations that are not equipped to handle this. The Interpol describes this as crime-driven pollution. Now that Tunisia has raised a stink, West should understand that developing countries cannot be their dustbin.

Tunisia acts after hazardous waste makes entry, other nations should follow suit

Crime-driven pollution is growing bigger by the day & world is now paying a price for garbage. After a waste scandal in Tunisia, the environment minister has been arrested - alongside more than 100 people. Palki Sharma Upadhyay brings you the story.

Gravitas: Organised crime wades into waste trade

Marcellina Akpojotor weaves past thumping sewing machines, and leaves a Lagos shop with a bag brimming with discarded fabric. The colourful pieces, which would typically be burned or thrown into the Nigerian city’s lagoon as waste, find a second life in the hands of the artist.

Akpojotor, 31, creates portraits using discarded pieces of ankara, a brightly coloured African fabric that is ubiquitous from the slums of Lagos to high-powered meetings in the capital, Abuja. She says the meaning of the cloth helped fuel her work.

“I was so inspired by those materials,” she said. “In this part of the world we use them to celebrate all kinds of festivity: burial, naming ceremony, wedding”.

Nigeria’s economy runs on oil, which pumps in billions of dollars, but its fashion, art and film are ascending, feeding national pride.

Ankara, inspired by Indonesian batik, was originally manufactured in the Netherlands, but became wildly popular in West Africa in the 1800s. Global fashion houses have used it for nearly a decade, and prices for African artwork have risen by 70% to 100% over the past 10 years, according to London auction house Bonhams.

<img alt="Nigerian art" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="56346d55-09a8-4dff-a09f-7ca076d0a17d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Nigerian%20art1.jpg" />

Akpojotor’s work combines art and fashion on canvas, complimented with acrylic paint. A sketch of a woman’s profile comes to life as she carefully adds tiny slivers of fabric to colour her skin, lips and clothing. Another canvas features a child playing, her form in bright swatches, casting a shadow.

“There’s a common ground between you and the work because it is fabric, it is something that you know,” she said.

She has sold pieces for as much as $25,000. Kehinde Afolabi, associate director of Lagos’s Rele Gallery, found Akpojotor on social media and first featured her pieces in 2017.

“You can’t find anybody doing similar art,” Afolbai said. “It is mind blowing, how somebody can take waste and create something out of it.”

Marcellina Akpojotor weaves past thumping sewing machines, and leaves a Lagos shop with a bag brimming with discarded fabric. The colourful pieces, which would typically be burned or thrown into the Nigerian city’s lagoon as waste, find a second life in the hands of the artist.

Marcellina Akpojotor weaves past thumping sewing machines, and leaves a Lagos shop with a bag brimming with discarded fabric. The colourful pieces, which would typically be burned or thrown into the Nigerian city’s lagoon as waste, find a second life in the hands of the artist. Akpojotor, 31, creates portraits using discarded pieces of ankara, a brightly coloured African fabric that is ubiquitous from the slums of Lagos to high-powered meetings in the capital, Abuja. She says the meaning of the cloth helped fuel her work. “I was so inspired by those materials,” she said. “In this part of the world we use them to celebrate all kinds of festivity: burial, naming ceremony, wedding”. Nigeria’s economy runs on oil, which pumps in billions of dollars, but its fashion, art and film are ascending, feeding national pride. Ankara, inspired by Indonesian batik, was originally manufactured in the Netherlands, but became wildly popular in West Africa in the 1800s. Global fashion houses have used it for nearly a decade, and prices for African artwork have risen by 70% to 100% over the past 10 years, according to London auction house Bonhams. Akpojotor’s work combines art and fashion on canvas, complimented with acrylic paint. A sketch of a woman’s profile comes to life as she carefully adds tiny slivers of fabric to colour her skin, lips and clothing. Another canvas features a child playing, her form in bright swatches, casting a shadow. “There’s a common ground between you and the work because it is fabric, it is something that you know,” she said. She has sold pieces for as much as $25,000. Kehinde Afolabi, associate director of Lagos’s Rele Gallery, found Akpojotor on social media and first featured her pieces in 2017. “You can’t find anybody doing similar art,” Afolbai said. “It is mind blowing, how somebody can take waste and create something out of it.”

Cut from the same cloth, Nigerian waste fabric becomes art

Sri Lanka has shipped back to Britain container-loads of waste that the government said was brought into the island in violation of international laws governing the shipping of hazardous material.

Sri Lanka returns 21 containers of illegal waste to Britain

India is already the world's highest waste generator.&nbsp;In fact, more than a tenth of the world's waste is generated in the country. Food excess makes up a majority of waste in India.

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The high waste generation is attributed to India's population of 1.3 billion.&nbsp;The country is projected to generate substantially more waste by 2050.

Also See:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/union-agriculture-minister-radha-mohan-singh-caught-urinating-in-public-17413">Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh defends himself after pic urinating in public goes viral</a>

However, India is among the world's lowest per capita waste generators and the ratio is much higher in developed nations.&nbsp;India's waste generation is set to double in 30 years.

Also See: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bengaluru-civic-bodies-say-no-to-plastic-and-plantain-leaf-165492">Bengaluru civic bodies say no to plastic and plantain leaf</a>

Food excess makes up a majority of waste in the country.&nbsp;

India is already the world's highest waste generator. In fact, more than a tenth of the world's waste is generated in the country. Food excess makes up a majority of waste in India.

India is already the world's highest waste generator. In fact, more than a tenth of the world's waste is generated in the country. Food excess makes up a majority of waste in India. Also See: Swachh Bharat' needs to be a reality for India to become a tourist hub The high waste generation is attributed to India's population of 1.3 billion. The country is projected to generate substantially more waste by 2050. Also See: Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh defends himself after pic urinating in public goes viral However, India is among the world's lowest per capita waste generators and the ratio is much higher in developed nations. India's waste generation is set to double in 30 years. Also See: Bengaluru civic bodies say no to plastic and plantain leaf Food excess makes up a majority of waste in the country.

India's waste generation likely to double in next 30 years: Study

Ambrose D’Mello is 52-year-old and has been on a silent protest since 2005. He is protesting against the sale of packaged drinking water. He carries a slate with him to communicate by writing on it using a small piece of a damp cloth. Watch this video to know more about D’Mello's fight.

This 52-year-old man is on a 'Silent Protest' to make 'Big Noise'

Have you ever thought what happens to the flowers that are used for offering prayers to the God or for decoration at the weddings? A flower once plucked becomes floral waste at the end of the day. To tackle this problem there is a solution to it. Watch the video to know about the solution.

International Flower Day: Flower, Waste & Compost - The Journey

The city of Bengaluru produces over 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day. While the city administration has attempted to impose no-plastic and segregation-at-source rules strictly, there is no 100 per cent adherence from the citizens and workers. But a juice cafe owner in the city is now proving that it is possible to go the zero-waste route.&nbsp;

Raja, a radio jockey, emcee, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed waste engineer runs the city's first zero-waste juice bar. The outlet has been drawing quite a buzz as Raja serves his special drinks in organic cups that are nothing but fruit shells and peels. This zero-waste cafe has completely done away with plastic and paper usage to promote sustainability.&nbsp;

"This is a 100 per cent zero-waste cafe. We have nothing that we throw out. We don’t use paper, plastic, carry bag, cups or straws since 2018. There is no dry waste at all. The only waste being generated is the fruit waste of which we do factory level segregation. We segregate the fruit waste at source into citrus, non-citrus. The citrus fruits are used to make bio-enzyme and the rest of it either gets composted or is used as cow feed. The seeds are used to make art-work, jewellery and rangolis. The whole idea was to repurpose everything that is thrown as waste" Raja tells WION. &nbsp;

Raja was inspired to transform his cafe into a zero-waste eatery when he saw the South African city of Cape Town go dry in 2018. Some studies had also predicted that Bengaluru could be the next city to follow.&nbsp;

"I realised that at my juice centre, we were using nearly 250ml of water to wash each glass. If I was selling 100 glasses of juice a day, it meant that I was flushing out 25 litres of water down the drain. I realised it was a criminal waste of water, especially when the whole world is facing a crisis. So I got thinking if we can do something better. Since I am an engineer, I realised if I do not engineer the process of saving something then there is no point in studying the course. I looked at the fruits and I saw that the smaller watermelons, when halved, could be used to serve the juice that was made from its pulp," he says.&nbsp;

Using fruit shells as cups has not only helped save water but also reduced waste and minimised labour time for his staff. The used shells are then supplied to cattle owners as fodder. Today, Raja uses fruits like watermelons, musk melons, sun melons, oranges, guavas, bananas and several other fruits to serve the juices.&nbsp;

"Now I have 22 different varieties of fruits and vegetables that I serve my juices in. I am the owner of India’s first juice bar to serve juices only in fruit shells. We don’t use glasses at all," says Raja, exuding pride.&nbsp;

Raja does not see this model just as a service to the society but believes that waste is wealth which can be monetised. He is currently working to build a network of juice centres that can segregate the waste supply it to farms and cattle owners.&nbsp;

"I see myself as a waste engineer because there is a lot to be monetised from waste. I hold workshops where we say you can make cash out of trash. I am planning to ask cattle owners to give me milk in exchange for the fodder as I have stopped using milk packets because it generates plastic waste. There is economy in waste" Raja concludes.&nbsp;

The city of Bengaluru produces over 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day. While the city administration has attempted to impose no-plastic and segregation-at-source rules strictly, there is no 100 per cent adherence from the citizens and workers.

The city of Bengaluru produces over 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day. While the city administration has attempted to impose no-plastic and segregation-at-source rules strictly, there is no 100 per cent adherence from the citizens and workers. But a juice cafe owner in the city is now proving that it is possible to go the zero-waste route. Raja, a radio jockey, emcee, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed waste engineer runs the city's first zero-waste juice bar. The outlet has been drawing quite a buzz as Raja serves his special drinks in organic cups that are nothing but fruit shells and peels. This zero-waste cafe has completely done away with plastic and paper usage to promote sustainability. "This is a 100 per cent zero-waste cafe. We have nothing that we throw out. We don’t use paper, plastic, carry bag, cups or straws since 2018. There is no dry waste at all. The only waste being generated is the fruit waste of which we do factory level segregation. We segregate the fruit waste at source into citrus, non-citrus. The citrus fruits are used to make bio-enzyme and the rest of it either gets composted or is used as cow feed. The seeds are used to make art-work, jewellery and rangolis. The whole idea was to repurpose everything that is thrown as waste" Raja tells WION. Raja was inspired to transform his cafe into a zero-waste eatery when he saw the South African city of Cape Town go dry in 2018. Some studies had also predicted that Bengaluru could be the next city to follow. "I realised that at my juice centre, we were using nearly 250ml of water to wash each glass. If I was selling 100 glasses of juice a day, it meant that I was flushing out 25 litres of water down the drain. I realised it was a criminal waste of water, especially when the whole world is facing a crisis. So I got thinking if we can do something better. Since I am an engineer, I realised if I do not engineer the process of saving something then there is no point in studying the course. I looked at the fruits and I saw that the smaller watermelons, when halved, could be used to serve the juice that was made from its pulp," he says. Using fruit shells as cups has not only helped save water but also reduced waste and minimised labour time for his staff. The used shells are then supplied to cattle owners as fodder. Today, Raja uses fruits like watermelons, musk melons, sun melons, oranges, guavas, bananas and several other fruits to serve the juices. "Now I have 22 different varieties of fruits and vegetables that I serve my juices in. I am the owner of India’s first juice bar to serve juices only in fruit shells. We don’t use glasses at all," says Raja, exuding pride. Raja does not see this model just as a service to the society but believes that waste is wealth which can be monetised. He is currently working to build a network of juice centres that can segregate the waste supply it to farms and cattle owners. "I see myself as a waste engineer because there is a lot to be monetised from waste. I hold workshops where we say you can make cash out of trash. I am planning to ask cattle owners to give me milk in exchange for the fodder as I have stopped using milk packets because it generates plastic waste. There is economy in waste" Raja concludes.

Bengaluru's first zero-waste cafe uses fruit shells as cups

British supermarkets are starting to go "nude". Bowing to pressure from environmentally conscious consumers, big brand shops have begun taking steps to strip their shelves of plastic wrapping over concerns about saving the oceans from waste.

Going 'nude': UK supermarkets test plastic-free zones

A Sri Lankan investigation into nearly 3,000 tonnes of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-raises-stink-over-waste-consignments-from-britain-238485"> illegally imported hazardous waste </a>has shown that some of it was sent on to India and Dubai, a top minister said Friday.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera told parliament the importer of the waste had reshipped about 180 tonnes of raw garbage to India and Dubai in 2017 and 2018.

Sri Lanka's customs department found that a local company imported 241 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lanka-241-containers-of-trash-illegally-sent-by-uk-238307">containers from Britain</a>, out of which 15 had been sent to India and two to Dubai.

Sri Lankan customs insist the British authorities should not have allowed the export without first clearing with Sri Lankan authorities if they were willing to accept the untreated waste.

The customs service said the consignment was believed to contain mortuary waste among other garbage which included large quantities of plastic.

"We have ordered the importer and shipping agent to take immediate steps to return the containers to its origin (Britain)," the minister said.

"I have also ordered that all those responsible be prosecuted immediately."

He said 130 containers had been taken to a free-trade zone near Colombo and some had been emptied causing contamination of water sources and air pollution.

"The importer has been asked to immediately repack all the garbage back in the containers," he said adding that all the waste must be sent back to Britain.

The company at the centre of the probe, Ceylon Metal Processing Corporation Privater Limited, said the storage company at a free trade zone was responsible for processing what they imported as "used mattresses".

Ceylon Metal director Sasikumaran Muthuramar denied that the containers, 111 of which are held up at Colombo port, contained bio waste.

Sri Lanka customs authorities said Tuesday that the waste had been mislabelled and imported as used mattresses, but contained bio and clinical waste in contravention of international laws on the transport of waste material.

Sri Lanka's pushback comes as Indonesia and the Philippines also returned shipments of foreign rubbish to their ports of origin.

Indonesia announced two weeks ago it was sending more than 210 tonnes of garbage back to Australia and Canada has agreed to accept 69 containers of rubbish it had shipped to the Philippines between 2013 and 2014.

A Sri Lankan investigation into nearly 3,000 tonnes of illegally imported hazardous waste has shown that some of it was sent on to India and Dubai, a top minister said Friday.

A Sri Lankan investigation into nearly 3,000 tonnes of illegally imported hazardous waste has shown that some of it was sent on to India and Dubai, a top minister said Friday. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera told parliament the importer of the waste had reshipped about 180 tonnes of raw garbage to India and Dubai in 2017 and 2018. Sri Lanka's customs department found that a local company imported 241 containers from Britain, out of which 15 had been sent to India and two to Dubai. Sri Lankan customs insist the British authorities should not have allowed the export without first clearing with Sri Lankan authorities if they were willing to accept the untreated waste. The customs service said the consignment was believed to contain mortuary waste among other garbage which included large quantities of plastic. "We have ordered the importer and shipping agent to take immediate steps to return the containers to its origin (Britain)," the minister said. "I have also ordered that all those responsible be prosecuted immediately." He said 130 containers had been taken to a free-trade zone near Colombo and some had been emptied causing contamination of water sources and air pollution. "The importer has been asked to immediately repack all the garbage back in the containers," he said adding that all the waste must be sent back to Britain. The company at the centre of the probe, Ceylon Metal Processing Corporation Privater Limited, said the storage company at a free trade zone was responsible for processing what they imported as "used mattresses". Ceylon Metal director Sasikumaran Muthuramar denied that the containers, 111 of which are held up at Colombo port, contained bio waste. Sri Lanka customs authorities said Tuesday that the waste had been mislabelled and imported as used mattresses, but contained bio and clinical waste in contravention of international laws on the transport of waste material. Sri Lanka's pushback comes as Indonesia and the Philippines also returned shipments of foreign rubbish to their ports of origin. Indonesia announced two weeks ago it was sending more than 210 tonnes of garbage back to Australia and Canada has agreed to accept 69 containers of rubbish it had shipped to the Philippines between 2013 and 2014.

Sri Lanka says illegal UK waste offloaded to India, Dubai

Sri Lanka has ordered the return of 213 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-orders-return-of-smuggled-british-garbage-238016">containers of waste from Britain </a>after finding, plastic and biological waste including suspected human body parts in the shipments, government officials said on Thursday.

Sri Lanka is the latest in a string of Asian countries to reject shipments of waste from Western countries after China banned such imports, disrupting the global flow of millions of tonnes of waste each year.

"There is an investigation going on and we`ve also informed the importers to re-export immediately to the first port it was exported from," said Sri Lanka Customs spokesman Sunil Jayaratne told Reuters.&nbsp;

"The UK has violated the Basel Convention," he said, referring to a UN treaty on the trade of plastic waste.

Over the last two months, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have all ordered the return of waste shipments to Canada, the United States, Japan, France, Australia and other countries.&nbsp;

About 180 countries reached a deal in May to amend the Basel Convention to make global trade in plastic waste more transparent and better regulated, while also ensuring that its management is safer for human health and the environment.&nbsp;

The United States, the world`s top exporter of plastic waste, has not ratified the 30-year-old pact.

Sri Lanka has ordered the return of 213 containers of waste from Britain after finding, plastic and biological waste including suspected human body parts in the shipments, government officials said on Thursday.

Sri Lanka has ordered the return of 213 containers of waste from Britain after finding, plastic and biological waste including suspected human body parts in the shipments, government officials said on Thursday. Sri Lanka is the latest in a string of Asian countries to reject shipments of waste from Western countries after China banned such imports, disrupting the global flow of millions of tonnes of waste each year. "There is an investigation going on and we`ve also informed the importers to re-export immediately to the first port it was exported from," said Sri Lanka Customs spokesman Sunil Jayaratne told Reuters. "The UK has violated the Basel Convention," he said, referring to a UN treaty on the trade of plastic waste. Over the last two months, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have all ordered the return of waste shipments to Canada, the United States, Japan, France, Australia and other countries. About 180 countries reached a deal in May to amend the Basel Convention to make global trade in plastic waste more transparent and better regulated, while also ensuring that its management is safer for human health and the environment. The United States, the world`s top exporter of plastic waste, has not ratified the 30-year-old pact.

Sri Lanka raises stink over waste consignments from Britain

Watch this report to know how the single-use plastic is the real villain.

Single-use plastic: The real villain?

Continuing its efforts to establish an environment-friendly network, the Delhi Metro has become the first ever project in the country to receive power generated from a waste-to-energy plant.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said it has started receiving 2 MW power from a 12 MW capacity waste-to-energy plant set up in Ghazipur.

"DMRC is receiving the power since the beginning of this month from this facility which is being utilised at the Vinod Nagar Receiving Sub-station (RSS) for meeting the operational requirements of Pink Line of Delhi Metro," said a press statement issued on Tuesday.

"DMRC will take approximately 17.5 million units per annum from this plant. However, the energy offtake will depend upon the actual generation of the plant," it said.

The waste-to-energy plant set up by East Delhi Waste Processing Company Limited (EDWPCL) is based on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) involving the Delhi government and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), besides the EDWPCL.

"The state of the art facility is set up to process above 1,500 tonnes per day (TPD) of waste and generate 12 MW of green power. The plant is India's first Euro norms compliant waste-to-energy facility," the DMRC said.

The plant will mitigate over 8 million tons of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) over the life of the project, thus combating global warming.

The Delhi Metro has been working continuously towards the conservation of the environment since the inception of the organisation. It is the first ever rail based organisation in the world to claim carbon credits.

The DMRC has also commissioned a facility at Rohini on PPP model with IL&amp;FS Environmental Infrastructure &amp; Services Ltd (IEISL) for recycling of Construction and Demolition (C&amp;D) waste with a capacity of 150 tons per day.

Currently, DMRC is producing 28 MW of solar power from the various rooftop solar power plants, which have been set up in its stations, depots and residential premises.

The mass transit operator has also started to receive solar power from the off-site solar power plant at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh.

In construction also, DMRC plants 10 trees for each tree that is cut. Close to 4 lakh vehicles are being removed from the streets because of the Delhi Metro.&nbsp;

Continuing its efforts to establish an environment-friendly network, the Delhi Metro has become the first ever project in the country to receive power generated from a waste-to-energy plant.

Continuing its efforts to establish an environment-friendly network, the Delhi Metro has become the first ever project in the country to receive power generated from a waste-to-energy plant. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said it has started receiving 2 MW power from a 12 MW capacity waste-to-energy plant set up in Ghazipur. "DMRC is receiving the power since the beginning of this month from this facility which is being utilised at the Vinod Nagar Receiving Sub-station (RSS) for meeting the operational requirements of Pink Line of Delhi Metro," said a press statement issued on Tuesday. "DMRC will take approximately 17.5 million units per annum from this plant. However, the energy offtake will depend upon the actual generation of the plant," it said. The waste-to-energy plant set up by East Delhi Waste Processing Company Limited (EDWPCL) is based on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) involving the Delhi government and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), besides the EDWPCL. "The state of the art facility is set up to process above 1,500 tonnes per day (TPD) of waste and generate 12 MW of green power. The plant is India's first Euro norms compliant waste-to-energy facility," the DMRC said. The plant will mitigate over 8 million tons of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) over the life of the project, thus combating global warming. The Delhi Metro has been working continuously towards the conservation of the environment since the inception of the organisation. It is the first ever rail based organisation in the world to claim carbon credits. The DMRC has also commissioned a facility at Rohini on PPP model with IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure & Services Ltd (IEISL) for recycling of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste with a capacity of 150 tons per day. Currently, DMRC is producing 28 MW of solar power from the various rooftop solar power plants, which have been set up in its stations, depots and residential premises. The mass transit operator has also started to receive solar power from the off-site solar power plant at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. In construction also, DMRC plants 10 trees for each tree that is cut. Close to 4 lakh vehicles are being removed from the streets because of the Delhi Metro.

Delhi Metro becomes India's first project to receive power from waste-to-energy plant

Researchers from Botany department, Savitribai Phule Pune University have invented a new concept to degrade polythene.

Researchers have found that polythene can also be degraded by Fungi.&nbsp;

They have identified certain fungi with high polythene degradation potential from mangrove rhizosphere soil.&nbsp;

Dr AB Ade, Researcher, Savitribai Phule Pune University said, "We have focused on the biodegradable concept. For biodegrading, microbial degradation is one of the parts. During microbial degradation, bacteria and fungus come to the fore that are also known as scavengers of the ecosystem. They convert big pollutants into simple molecules. There are enzymes in microbes which are biocatalyst."

"If polythene strip is inserted into food material medium of microbes or plastic material is inoculated into it, microbes` enzymes will release into that compound and help in degradation," he said.&nbsp;

Polythene contributes to around 64 per cent of the total plastic waste and takes about 1,000 years to degrade under natural environmental conditions.&nbsp;

India generates about 25,940 tons of plastic and more than 97,000 tons of solid waste per day, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had revealed in June 2018.

In order to combat plastic pollution and other environmental issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of World Environment Day had also pressed for the need to reduce usage of plastic.&nbsp;

Researchers from Botany department, Savitribai Phule Pune University have invented a new concept to degrade polythene. Researchers have found that polythene can also be degraded by Fungi.

Researchers from Botany department, Savitribai Phule Pune University have invented a new concept to degrade polythene. Researchers have found that polythene can also be degraded by Fungi. They have identified certain fungi with high polythene degradation potential from mangrove rhizosphere soil. Dr AB Ade, Researcher, Savitribai Phule Pune University said, "We have focused on the biodegradable concept. For biodegrading, microbial degradation is one of the parts. During microbial degradation, bacteria and fungus come to the fore that are also known as scavengers of the ecosystem. They convert big pollutants into simple molecules. There are enzymes in microbes which are biocatalyst." "If polythene strip is inserted into food material medium of microbes or plastic material is inoculated into it, microbes` enzymes will release into that compound and help in degradation," he said. Polythene contributes to around 64 per cent of the total plastic waste and takes about 1,000 years to degrade under natural environmental conditions. India generates about 25,940 tons of plastic and more than 97,000 tons of solid waste per day, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had revealed in June 2018. In order to combat plastic pollution and other environmental issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of World Environment Day had also pressed for the need to reduce usage of plastic.

Researchers invent new concept to degrade polythene in Pune

Singapore is using insects to tackle its problem of food wastage

The Waste-to-Energy Plants at Okhla, Ghazipur and Bawana in the national capital are not complying with emission standards and are causing air pollution, a committee has informed the National Green Tribunal.

A joint inspection committee of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) told a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel that the three plants are non-compliant with respect to the standards of the particulate matter emitted by them.&nbsp;

Taking note of the report, the green panel said if the project proponents fail to maintain the standards, even after rectifying the deficiencies noticed in the joint inspection report, the Central Pollution Control Board may recommend imposition of fine for the environmental damage caused by them.&nbsp;

The NGT also directed the CPCB to send a copy of its report to the project proponents of Okhla, Ghazipur and Bawana Waste-to-Energy Plant for compliance and conduct another inspection within a month in view of the fact that the earlier inspection was carried out in February.&nbsp;

"We do not find any ground to accept the prayer for relieving the Central Pollution Control Board of its requirement in monthly monitoring. If there is a manpower constraint, it is for the CPCB to make any other appropriate arrangement for discharging its functions. This cannot be a ground to avoid responsibility under the binding directions of this tribunal," the bench said.

The tribunal had earlier directed the Delhi government and the civic bodies to submit an action plan for identifying alternative landfill sites and setting up waste-to-energy plants in the city.

It had said it was unfortunate that at a time when the national capital was grappling with the huge quantum of waste to the tune of 14,000 metric tonnes on a daily basis, the authorities were involved in a "blame game" and showing an irresponsible attitude.

With the rapid development and massive urbanisation of the metropolis, the waste generation was increasing on a daily basis which has resulted in the saturation of the existing landfill sites which can handle only up to 7,000 metric tonnes of waste, the tribunal had said.

The Waste-to-Energy Plants at Okhla, Ghazipur and Bawana in the national capital are not complying with emission standards and are causing air pollution, a committee has informed the National Green Tribunal.

The Waste-to-Energy Plants at Okhla, Ghazipur and Bawana in the national capital are not complying with emission standards and are causing air pollution, a committee has informed the National Green Tribunal. A joint inspection committee of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) told a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel that the three plants are non-compliant with respect to the standards of the particulate matter emitted by them. Taking note of the report, the green panel said if the project proponents fail to maintain the standards, even after rectifying the deficiencies noticed in the joint inspection report, the Central Pollution Control Board may recommend imposition of fine for the environmental damage caused by them. The NGT also directed the CPCB to send a copy of its report to the project proponents of Okhla, Ghazipur and Bawana Waste-to-Energy Plant for compliance and conduct another inspection within a month in view of the fact that the earlier inspection was carried out in February. "We do not find any ground to accept the prayer for relieving the Central Pollution Control Board of its requirement in monthly monitoring. If there is a manpower constraint, it is for the CPCB to make any other appropriate arrangement for discharging its functions. This cannot be a ground to avoid responsibility under the binding directions of this tribunal," the bench said. The tribunal had earlier directed the Delhi government and the civic bodies to submit an action plan for identifying alternative landfill sites and setting up waste-to-energy plants in the city. It had said it was unfortunate that at a time when the national capital was grappling with the huge quantum of waste to the tune of 14,000 metric tonnes on a daily basis, the authorities were involved in a "blame game" and showing an irresponsible attitude. With the rapid development and massive urbanisation of the metropolis, the waste generation was increasing on a daily basis which has resulted in the saturation of the existing landfill sites which can handle only up to 7,000 metric tonnes of waste, the tribunal had said.

Three waste-to-energy plants in Delhi causing pollution, NGT orders fresh inspection

World Environment Day will be celebrated on 5th June. Did you know that Sweden's waste recycling management is so extraordinary that they have run out of waste and have started importing rubbish from other countries to keep its state-of-the-art recycling plants functioning.

Less than 1 per cent of Swedish household waste was sent to landfill in 2017 or any year since 2011. &nbsp

So why is their recycling system so far ahead? &nbspSweden was one of the first countries to implement a heavy tax on fossil fuels in 1991 and now sources almost half its electricity from renewables.&nbsp

“Swedish people are keen on being out in nature. We worked on communications to make people aware not to throw things outdoors so that we can recycle and reuse,” said Anna-Carin Gripwall, director of communications for Avfall Sverige, the Swedish Waste Management’s recycling association.

The aim in Sweden is still to stop people from sending waste for recycling altogether. A national campaign called the “Miljönär-vänlig” movement has for several years promoted the notion that there is much to be gained through repairing, sharing and reusing.&nbsp

Sweden has implemented a cohesive national recycling policy so that even though private companies undertake most of the business of importing and burning waste, the energy goes into a national heating network to heat homes through the extremely cold winter.

“That is a key reason that we have this district network so that we can make use of the heating from the waste plants. In the southern part of Europe, they do not make use of the heating from the waste, and, it just goes out the chimney. Here we use it as a substitute for fossil fuel,” PTI reported Gripwell as saying.

She describes Sweden’s policy of importing waste to recycle from other countries as a temporary situation. “There’s a ban on landfill in EU countries, so instead of paying the fine they send it to us as a service. They should and will build their own plants, to reduce their own waste, as we are working hard to do in Sweden,” Ms Gripwall says.

A lot of investment has been gone into enhancing the waste collection techniques such as automated vacuum systems in residential blocks, removing the need for collection transport, and underground container systems that free up road space and get rid of any smells. 
&nbsp

Less than 1 per cent of Swedish household waste was sent to landfill in 2017 or any year since 2011

World Environment Day will be celebrated on 5th June. Did you know that Sweden's waste recycling management is so extraordinary that they have run out of waste and have started importing rubbish from other countries to keep its state-of-the-art recycling plants functioning. Less than 1 per cent of Swedish household waste was sent to landfill in 2017 or any year since 2011. So why is their recycling system so far ahead? &nbspSweden was one of the first countries to implement a heavy tax on fossil fuels in 1991 and now sources almost half its electricity from renewables. “Swedish people are keen on being out in nature. We worked on communications to make people aware not to throw things outdoors so that we can recycle and reuse,” said Anna-Carin Gripwall, director of communications for Avfall Sverige, the Swedish Waste Management’s recycling association. The aim in Sweden is still to stop people from sending waste for recycling altogether. A national campaign called the “Miljönär-vänlig” movement has for several years promoted the notion that there is much to be gained through repairing, sharing and reusing. Sweden has implemented a cohesive national recycling policy so that even though private companies undertake most of the business of importing and burning waste, the energy goes into a national heating network to heat homes through the extremely cold winter. “That is a key reason that we have this district network so that we can make use of the heating from the waste plants. In the southern part of Europe, they do not make use of the heating from the waste, and, it just goes out the chimney. Here we use it as a substitute for fossil fuel,” PTI reported Gripwell as saying. She describes Sweden’s policy of importing waste to recycle from other countries as a temporary situation. “There’s a ban on landfill in EU countries, so instead of paying the fine they send it to us as a service. They should and will build their own plants, to reduce their own waste, as we are working hard to do in Sweden,” Ms Gripwall says. A lot of investment has been gone into enhancing the waste collection techniques such as automated vacuum systems in residential blocks, removing the need for collection transport, and underground container systems that free up road space and get rid of any smells.

Sweden has run out of waste and is importing it from other countries

China aims to prevent power generated by its renewable energy sector being wasted by 2020, the country&rsquo;s National Energy Administration (NEA) said on Monday.

Power from wind, solar and hydro plants is often wasted as there is not enough transmission capacity to absorb it, leading to high curtailment rates, especially in northwestern China.

The NEA said in a statement that the utilization rate of hydro-power plants in the southwestern provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan should reach around 90 percent by 2017.

It expects the wind power curtailment rate to drop to about 30 percent in the northwestern provinces of Gansu and Xinjiang and to around 20 percent in the northeastern region of Jilin, Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia in 2017.

Solar power waste in Gansu and Xinjiang provinces should be controlled below around 20 percent and in Shaanxi and Qinghai to below 10 percent this year, it added.

Power generated from wind and solar power plants in other regions across the country will have to meet the 2017 targets set by the NEA last year, it said in the statement.

China has vowed to raise the portion of its renewable and non-fossil fuel power consumption to 15 percent of the total energy mix by 2020 and 20 percent by 2030.

It also said that it will promote the power trade market and improve its cross-region power transmission capacity to boost renewable energy consumption and cut its coal dependence.

Coal-fired power capacity across the country will be capped at 1,100 gigawatts by 2020, the NEA said.

Power from wind, solar and hydro plants is often wasted as there is not enough transmission capacity to absorb it, leading to high curtailment rates, especially in northwestern China

China aims to prevent power generated by its renewable energy sector being wasted by 2020, the country’s National Energy Administration (NEA) said on Monday. Power from wind, solar and hydro plants is often wasted as there is not enough transmission capacity to absorb it, leading to high curtailment rates, especially in northwestern China. The NEA said in a statement that the utilization rate of hydro-power plants in the southwestern provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan should reach around 90 percent by 2017. It expects the wind power curtailment rate to drop to about 30 percent in the northwestern provinces of Gansu and Xinjiang and to around 20 percent in the northeastern region of Jilin, Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia in 2017. Solar power waste in Gansu and Xinjiang provinces should be controlled below around 20 percent and in Shaanxi and Qinghai to below 10 percent this year, it added. Power generated from wind and solar power plants in other regions across the country will have to meet the 2017 targets set by the NEA last year, it said in the statement. China has vowed to raise the portion of its renewable and non-fossil fuel power consumption to 15 percent of the total energy mix by 2020 and 20 percent by 2030. It also said that it will promote the power trade market and improve its cross-region power transmission capacity to boost renewable energy consumption and cut its coal dependence. Coal-fired power capacity across the country will be capped at 1,100 gigawatts by 2020, the NEA said.

China to stop wastage of renewable energy by 2020

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