Waste incineration does not oppose waste prevention, states the conclusion of a new background paper issued by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). ”The prevention principle continues to take priority over recycling and disposal of waste”, said UBA President Prof. Dr. Andreas Troge. ”Thermic valorisation of waste, however, is an unavoidable chapter in sustainable waste management. Waste incinerat... read more
Ban on DecaBDE flame retardant in electronic and electrical equipment in effect on 1 July 2008
Electronic and electrical equipment that is marketed in Europe may no longer contain the flame retardant Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) after 1 July 2008. This regulation applies regardless of the origin of the product and all its components. The President of the Federal Environment Agency, Prof. Dr. Andreas Troge, said, ”This finally puts an end to the presence of the highly problematic subst... read more
New Internet portal to provide public authorities guidance in purchasing computers
Public authorities and offices must adhere to complicated regulations when purchasing modern technology. European and German law prohibit identification of brand names in public tenders. This becomes especially tricky when ordering IT and communications technology since brand-name products are often desired. There is now a solution provided by a new online portal http://www.itk-beschaffung.de/, wh... read more
First eco-label with same award criteria for Germany and China
Cooperation between the German Blue Angel eco-label and the Chinese eco-label has borne fruit: the two institutions responsible in both countries- the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and the RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Certification in Germany, and the Environmental Certification Center of the Chinese Environment Ministry- jointly determined for the first the award criteria for... read more
More energy efficiency in city lighting
Roughly one third of the streetlights in Germany is at least 20 years old-and is often consuming more energy than necessary. The Federal Ministry for Environment (BMU), the KfW Bankengruppe and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) have therefore launched the national energy efficiency award contest for city lighting (Energieeffiziente Stadtbeleuchtung) contest today. UBA President Prof. Dr. Troge... read more
Biological diversity and human simplicity
There is a new exhibition at the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) in Berlin starting 19 June 2008. Titled „BRUTSTÄTTEN - Künstlerische Positionen zur biologischen Vielfalt und menschlichen Einfalt“, it features three artists’ works that take a humorous yet deeper look at man’s fractured relationship to nature. read more
Put CO2 away under the sea?
Technologically speaking it is entirely feasible to separate the carbon dioxide (CO2) harmful to the climate from the concentrated flue gases of power plants and to compress them into porous rock or sediment layers under the oceans and seas. Yet can the greenhouse gas be stored permanently and safely without doing damage to the marine environment? This issue is the focus of a meeting of German an... read more
Pre-registration for REACH begins
The EU Chemicals Ordinance REACH goes into the next round as pre-registration begins. REACH requires registration of all chemicals that are on the market in the EU. Manufacturers and importers of chemicals must register products with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and assess the risk they pose to mankind and the environment. Pre-registration is a sort of taking of stock that provides public... read more
