Challenges for the Traceability of NGTs From a Legal Perspective© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (11/2022)
The regulation of new genomic techniques (NGTs) by European gene echnology law is not only of scientific-academic value, but also affects quite considerable economic interests. While the use of the corresponding technologies in the “red sector” – i.e. for human medical purposes – is still viewed with restraint in view of the risks to human health that are to be ruled out, the hoped-for multi-billion revenues in the “green sector” of plant biotechnologymean that less restraint tends to be exercised here.
PlasticFreeDanube: Composition of macro-plastic waste in and along the Danube River© Lehrstuhl fĂĽr Abfallverwertungstechnik und Abfallwirtschaft der Montanuniversität Leoben (11/2020)
The reliable estimates are essential to developing measures to reduce plastic pollution and to make successes measurable and visible. For this reason, the cross-border project "PlasticFreeDanube" (PFD), which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund within the framework of Interreg Slovakia-Austria, aims to gain new knowledge on this topic for the Danube.
Reporting of food waste in the EU – Results of current estimates in Germany© Lehrstuhl fĂĽr Abfallverwertungstechnik und Abfallwirtschaft der Montanuniversität Leoben (11/2020)
In February 2019, the German Federal Cabinet adopted the 'National Strategy for Reducing Food Waste', setting a framework for the future direction of this initiative. Among other things, it stipulated that an inter-ministerial "Indicator 12.3 Working Group" should prepare the data bases and methods for nationwide balancing of food waste generation (baseline). Based on existing 2015 data, this status quo analysis will be used as a starting point to agree on milestones for the respective sectors.
The potential of insects in waste management – an introduction to possible applications© Lehrstuhl fĂĽr Abfallverwertungstechnik und Abfallwirtschaft der Montanuniversität Leoben (11/2020)
In order to remain competitive for achieving a circular economy we need to consider even more alternative pathways to close the loop for material and waste streams down to a nutritional level. A sustainable and value adding strategy is the intensified rearing and use of insects, in particular the use of edible species as human food and animal feed.
How to Optimize Recycling Rates Using Waste Incineration© ThomĂ©-Kozmiensky Verlag GmbH (9/2016)
The improvement of recycling and reuse of waste is becoming more and more important and it is generally preferred compared to waste incineration. In fact, the incineration of waste is often considered the last alternative when recycling of a certain waste fraction is technically not possible or there is simply no market for the corresponding fraction of the waste. But instead of considering waste incineration as being contradictory to recycling, it may also be considered as an alternative way to achieve higher recycling rates. The main goal of waste to energy is the use of the chemical energy contained in the carbon and drogen, and transfer this into thermal energy. But all other elements contained in the waste will of course also be found in the various residue streams leaving the plant. For these residue streams there are possibilities for further treatment, enabling Separation of certain elements, improvement of the quality of a residue stream to allow re-use on the market or even potential for the preparation of a new product.
Waste Management in India and Experience with the Implementation of Projects Based on Public Private Partnership Model© ThomĂ©-Kozmiensky Verlag GmbH (9/2016)
Decades of improper Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management has resulted in the creation of huge dumpsites in cities. These dumpsites are causing considerable environmental pollution and are full to capacity in most cities. Land for new disposal sites is not easily available due to increasing urbanization and population pressure. In many cases there is considerable protest from surrounding villages for setting up of a new MSW disposal site.
Current Developments in European Waste-to-Energy© ThomĂ©-Kozmiensky Verlag GmbH (9/2016)
In December 2015, one year after withdrawing the first Circular Economy package, the Juncker Commission published a broader and more ambitious proposal with revised targets and harmonized calculation methods for recycling. In parallel, the European Commission is still working on the Energy Union, a strategy that is the core of the institution’s work in which Waste-to-Energy will play a role. Finally, the Commission will publish a communication focused on Waste-to-Energy aiming to explore the opportunities offered by Waste-to-Energy, particularly with regard to synergies between resource and energy efficiencies by the end of 2016.