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EU Hangs Tough on Electronics Take-Back

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On May 15th, the European Union assembly voted to tighten recycling targets on its sweeping electronics take-back law that covers everything from hair dryers to computers. Next, national governments will debate the draft law. The parliament voted to:* increase the per capita amount of waste to be collected from four – six kilograms per person per year. * Increase the total amount of consumer items to be recycled from 50-70 percent. * put the financial burden for collecting, recycling, and disposing of waste completely on manufacturers.* move up the date for when waste collection systems must be in place – from five years to 30 months after the law is passed. Although the European Association of Consumer Electronics Manufacturers expressed alarm at having to take on the whole financial burden, the parliament also made changes helpful to industry. As a concession to manufacturers who argue they should not have to pay for recycling products made before the law, companies will be allowed to charge consumers a separate recycling fee for the next 10 years. Also, manufacturers will pay only to recycle their own products, rather a fee based on their market share, as in the original proposal.Last year, the EU […]

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Hypercar Makes its Move: Driving for a Prototype

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Rocky Mountain Institute's Hypercar concept is behind many of the hybrid-electric designs entering the marketplace today. Their for-profit spinoff, Hypercar Inc.'s first concept car is a midsized SUV replacement, rated at the equivalent of 99 mpg.

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Mercury is On the Way Out, PVC is Next

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In March, the Maine Hospital Association signed an historic agreement for the 39 hospitals in the state. Not only will they discontinue the use of mercury-containing products, but they are the first in the nation to call for a reduction in the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic medical supplies. The agreement also encourages reduction of PVC use in building materials: “Consider longer term replacement of PVC in durable medical products, construction materials, and furniture when opportunities present themselves.” The Maine agreement builds on the national “Hospitals for a Healthy Environment” (H2E) agreement signed in 1998 by the American Hospital Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In the agreement, hospitals pledge to go “mercury free.” The H2E agreement also asks hospitals to address persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals — those that are long-lived and build up in the food chain. Maine’s agreement focuses on one major PBT chemical — dioxin, a toxic byproduct of incinerating hospital waste that contains PVC plastic. The Maine agreement commits hospitals to “continuously reduce the use and disposal of PVC plastic in hospitals” through a series of specific action steps with annual reporting on progress achieved. It calls for phasing out all products […]

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