Everyone is saying that "green is the new black". What they mean is that it pays to purchase gently worn or recycled items from charity shops. In fact, it's the latest trend among many people, old and young, throughout the UK. On top of being trendy, consumers can also beat the credit crunch that may prevent them from buying new. A recent study has shown that charity shop profits hit a very high mark last year as consumers hunted through second hand shops for bargains. Shops benefiting charities seem to be collecting the most, with more than £500 million. The Salvation ... Full Story

While much focus has been put on household recycling in the UK, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has stated that the government should spend more time encouraging businesses to recycle and reduce waste. Recently, an attempt has been made to reduce household waste by banning black bags and weighing dustbins. The Lords say that the scheme should be discontinued and in its place should be a VAT scheme designed to encourage businesses to reduce and recycle waste. The Lords have also said that the UK's "throwaway society" should also be addressed. While much of the recent legislation has focussed ... Full Story

Brita is well known for its water filtration systems and its work toward promoting eco-friendly solutions to bottled water. The latest project by Brita involves teaming up with designer Orla Kiely to create the world's first reusable water bottle, aptly named the "Wottle". The new designer Wottle has been called the "all-year-round must have accessory" for water drinkers who are conscious of the waste created by traditional water bottles. The Wottle holds 500ml of liquid and according to Brita, features "Orla Kiely's signature Stem design, a rubber finger grip that can be adapted for portability and is designed to carry about ... Full Story

Remanufacturers do serve a valuable purpose in the world of recycling and environment, yet it doesn't seem that they always get the respect they deserve. Remanufacturing is a simple process to understand. A worker replaces the worn out of broken part of an item and makes sure it's ready to be used once again. It's an important part of the "reduce - reuse - recycle" campaign so prevalent in the world today. In addition to conserving valuable resources and diverting waste from landfills, it's simply an economically sound process since it's much cheaper to repair than build from scratch. Think of ... Full Story

A report from The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee states that the majority of pressure to recycle waste has been placed on householders, who are responsible for only 9 percent of the UK's total waste problem. The Committee has suggested initiating a variable VAT rate to reduce the consumption of raw materials. Environment minister Joan Ruddock stated that the government already uses measures designed to encourage businesses to cut waste being sent to landfill. Among those measures is the Landfill Tax Escalator - a programme in which the tax on landfills will increase by £8 per tonne each year ... Full Story

George the recycled robot has become quite famous throughout Canada and, along with his little dog, promotes recycling to all people near and far. George stands over seven feet tall and is often seen holding a sign that reads "Dot com". George was born to South Surrey resident Gerry Vliek, a former worker in the pulp and paper industry. After Gerry and his wife, Lainie, retired, he began to see a vast amount of paper fibre and other materials being thrown out and knew that something had to be done. "Recycling was not invented yet," Gerry said, with a chuckle. Gerry jumped into ... Full Story

Allen & York (A&Y) recruitment specialists working for the UK based Natural and Built Environment sectors have announced adjustments to their existing waste policy to promote sustainability. The company has recognised the importance of going green at their Dorset offices. Envirowise, a government sponsored initiative designed to provide practical environmental advice for businesses, was consulted for its guidance in identifying and improving the company's environmental profile. Among the changes in policy at A&Y is the implementation of a "wormery", designed to significantly reduce composted waste by up to 50%. In addition, A&Y has produced a "Green Office Guide" designed to ... Full Story

Mobile phone companies are trying hard to spread the word about recycling programmes. Virgin Mobile recently found a way to reach the masses through a concert. The Virgin Mobile Festival's theme for 2008 was Environmentalism, a topic near and dear to the recycler's heart. The event was held earlier this month at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Throughout the festival grounds recycling, compost and garbage bins were readily available to promote the cause. Signs around the stage reported the vast number of tonnes of garbage were recycled from the 2007 show, thereby diverting unnecessary waste from going to landfill. ... Full Story

Did you know that you can get money for your old mobile phone? You can. There are many companies out there willing to pay for old handsets, either to sell or donate to developing countries or to recycle for components and valuable materials. Millions of phones are binned every year in the UK, many of which would not see a landfill if the owners knew that they were throwing away money. Mobile phone recycling company Community Fonebak, recently stated that mobile phones tend to be replaced every 18 months or so, although manufacturers claim the units can function for up to a ... Full Story

Ink and toner cartridges are mysterious items. That is, many people don't give a second thought to what happens to them after they've outlived their usefulness - almost as if they will magically disappear. You might ask yourself: where do those old cartridges go? The sad answer is that a great number of used cartridges end up being binned. That means that the ink or toner cartridge will either be incinerated or wind up in landfill where it poses a danger of leaching toxic chemicals into the ground or the atmosphere. While there are a growing number of recycling programmes designed to ... Full Story

As the world becomes more involved in recycling and reusing, the remanufacturing industry has become an integral part of the recycling industry. Many people are unaware of the remanufacturing sector and what it's all about. However, this "invisible" entity is responsible for employing over 50,000 people and contributes approximately £5 billion per year to the UK's economy. In a nutshell, remanufacturing companies take used items, remove valuable components and materials, and then turn around and manufacture them into a new product. The products produced can be the same as the original item or something completely different. Often times, the new products ... Full Story

Since 2004, the UK tech company Computer Planet has been known as one of "the most accredited and leading suppliers" of computers and accessories. In addition to offering stellar service and support, Computer Planet also takes pride in being able to assist East African schools with education and technology. Education has always been a focal point for enabling economic and social development in Africa. To this end, Computer Planet has become involved in meeting the needs of technological needs in developing countries. According to the Computer Planet website: "Achieving universal primary education is, for example, one of the United Nations' eight Millennium Development Goals ... Full Story