Nitrogen pollution contributes to poor air quality, biodiversity loss and climate change.  A new report sets out a ‘recipe’ for … read more

Reactions to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (defra) strategy on waste and resource management.  Prof Richard Thompson, Head … read more

From the government to the media to McDonalds, everyone agrees that something must be done about the environmental catastrophe caused … read more

Industrial biotechnology encompasses a huge number of applications both within industry and in our everyday lives, including bioplastics to prolong the shelf life of food, enzymes in washing powder for use at lower temperatures, production of insulin for diabetics, and refinement of bioethanol from factory waste. The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team (IB-IGT), an independent body of experts from academia and industry established in November 2007, published their report to government this month, and key contributors presented their findings at the Science Media Centre. read more

Recycling has simultaneously been touted as the great environmental success story of our time and slammed for making no real difference. Our recycling rate has tripled over the last eight years, rising from 11.2% to 34.5%. But is there any point if it’s all just smoke and mirrors with no real evidence that it actually makes a difference? This briefing allowed advocated of recycling to discredit common myths about recycling, and to present evidence from different sectors to support claims about its value. read more

A new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers claims that the potential of waste as a resource for energy production is being ignored by government, and that it should instead be a key component in energy production. Rather than just being incinerators, Energy from Waste (EfW) plants treat refuse by a number of processes to recover energy in the form of heating, electricity and transport fuels. Experts camte to the SMC to talk about how EfW works, the need to change the public and government mindset about waste, and how it can be used as a resource to help the UK meet its renewable energy commitments. read more

There has been a predictable public and media reaction to the notion of using human biosolids (i.e. from human waste) as fertiliser to grow food. However, the resulting product is cheap, natural, recycled and energy efficient. Leading scientists came to the SMC to discuss the potential for treating and cleaning raw sewage to be used in this way, and how to overcome the ‘yuck’ factor. read more

When it comes to dealing with waste, the dogma is that recycling is good, incineration is bad and landfill is just plain ugly. Scientists explain why each method has its pros and cons, and why they all play an important part in an integrated waste management system. read more