The Vancouver winter Olympic Games may have already come to a close, but for those athletes that took home the prized medals will have a piece of that victory to carry with them forever. Although the athletes medals represent a personal victory, the medals now also represent a small victory in eco-friendly recycling. This year, for the first time in the history of the Olympics, the medals were made using recycled metals which were salvaged from discarded e-waste. A Canadian mining company, Teck Resources, was hired by the Olympic Committee to construct the medals using recycled gold, silver, and bronze from ... Full Story

The competition for developing cutting edge recycling technology has been rapidly increasing in the last year, following major calls for cleaner energy alternatives. As the technology begins to develop, researchers are now facing the challenge of adapting technology for mass production at affordable prices. As this new technology begins to move from pilot scales to being 'showcase' ready, the ability to produce sustainable recycling measures for foil-based laminated materials is becoming a greater possibility. In a recent study detailing Enval, it is coming to light that this possibility may be sooner than later. Enval, the brain child out of England's Cambridge University, ... Full Story

The United Kingdom has been desperate to improve its recycling rates and has been looking at a number of new and innovative ways to do so.  The government has launched many schemes and studies in an effort to get people to produce less waste and recycle more.  The results have been mixed thus far as recycling rates in the UK have gone up but not as fast as some would like.  This is especially true for the Labour Party, who were hoping to use environmental successes as a way to set themselves apart from the Conservatives, who are usually associated ... Full Story

The waste management and recycling industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the business world.  As countries look for ways to change their infrastructure to support new green technologies or to increase recycling rates businesses are popping up all over the world to fill the need.  Most world leaders believe that environmentally friendly technology will create millions of jobs and is likely to be the best way to not only help the environment but to stimulate the slumping world economy.  Not only are new businesses being developed every day but businesses that were already involved in the waste ... Full Story

The recycling rates in the United Kingdom were nothing short of pathetic a mere few years ago, but now, thanks to efforts by the government and local councils, the rates have increased.  While there is still a long way to go, there have been many effective schemes launched in the UK which have raised recycling rates, especially when it comes to household recycling.  Because of the increase several recycling markets have gotten more competitive and forced companies to pay more for the material or to offer additional services to the customer such as free pick up and collection.  This is ... Full Story

When the government launched their car scrapping scheme last year it did so as a way to boost the economy. The idea was that by offering money for used cars it would encourage people to buy new cars and thus boost one of the struggling industries of the United Kingdom.  The jury is still out as to whether this actually worked, as the United Kingdom remains mired in a recession.  However, some reports are showing that even though the car scrapping scheme may not have increased the number of new cars by much it did provide a boost to an ... Full Story

Earlier in the year studies revealed that the United Kingdom was lagging behind many of its European counterparts when it comes to recycling and waste management.  This has led to a large number of government schemes and campaigns aimed at reducing waste and increasing the rates of recycling.  These measures have been somewhat successful as the recycling rates in the United Kingdom have increased dramatically, mostly due to the efforts of local councils which were pressured to get their citizens to be greener.  Although the rates for some things have increased the United Kingdom is still behind when it comes ... Full Story

With all of the talk about the environment and economy over the last year there have been a few industries that have been lost in the shuffle.  While issues like climate change and household recycling have taken the front page headlines, other facets of the recycling and waste management community have been silently struggling to overcome the effects of a worldwide recession.  The metal recycling industry has taken some large hits over the past few months as global demand has driven prices way down, making some wonder if the metal recycling industry could go under without government assistance.  This is ... Full Story

The two biggest issues in the world over the last two years have been the environment and the economy.  In fact, a recent study showed that some of the biggest hits on the internet over the last decade are sites discussing one of these two issues.  Although many in the world see these issues as separate entities many are starting to realize that many of the struggles in the economy have come as a result of ignoring environmental issues.  It is also becoming increasingly evident that the businesses involving the environment could be one way out of the current financial ... Full Story

Environmental issues have taken over the media as of late as the world waits in anticipation for the United Nations summit on climate change that will take place in Copenhagen.  Governments around the world have been stepping up their efforts to reduce waste and increase recycling by putting pressure on businesses and local councils to come up with innovative new schemes that will increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.  While it is unknown whether the December summit will produce worldwide regulations on carbon emissions, it is certain that businesses, associations, and environmental groups ... Full Story

Campaigners from the green group Friends of the Earth say that the United Kingdom wastes hundreds of millions of pounds a year by tossing garbage which could be recycled.  Friends of the Earth estimates that twenty four million tonnes of recyclable materials such as plastics end up in UK landfills each year.  The group claims that the UK is literally burying money by not recycling as many of these materials can be sold for profit.  Not only can recycling be financially profitable, but of course it can help reduce the carbon footprint left in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has ... Full Story

In an effort to launch its recycling plan in the United Kingdom, and to continue to remind people that recycling is important, Coke commissioned the construction of what some people are called the world's largest piece of recycled art.  Coke hired Robert Bradford to make a statue fifty meters high that is made entirely out of aluminum cans that were recycled.  The sculpture was named "Precious Metal" and Coke hope that it acts as a reminder that recycling continues to be an important issue in the United Kingdom. Coke started a recycling campaign in the United Kingdom as a way to ... Full Story