Isonomia

by Tanguy Tomes

It’s Friday afternoon, it’s summer, and it’s hot. It’s fair to say that office productivity has been better. The collective Eunomia head office mind turns to the critical question: where are we going for post-work drinks? But, this being Eunomia, our decision-making process is a little different.

Read more on Focal pint: pro-active environmental professionals can make a difference…

by Peter Jones

Plenty of legislation is poorly written. Some is badly thought out, or pursues objectionable goals. But I’m only aware of one instance of legislation that is untrue.

Read more on Law in disorder: the Environment Agency and the waste hierarchy…

by Adrian Gibbs

What should a company do if it is consistently achieving an office recycling rate of over 95%? Is this the cue for back patting and laurel resting? On the contrary, for Eunomia it simply prompts the question “What can be done with the remaining 5%?”

Read more on Taking the wrap: edging towards 100% recycling…

by Katharine Blacklaws and Natalie Fee

The ‘Blue Planet Effect’ following David Attenborough’s celebrated documentary series has led to a wide-ranging and popular ‘War on Plastic’. It has been endorsed by both the Prime Minister and the Queen; while organisations across the land, ranging from the BBC and Parliament to small businesses, have taken action to reduce or eliminate single use plastics. But while our cultural acceptance of the ubiquity of throwaway plastic is undergoing a serious challenge, attitudes to the 4.3 billion disposable sanitary products (sanpro) that are used in the UK every year seem slower to change, despite the large amount of plastic they contain. Hardly anyone would flush plastic bags down the loo, but we don’t apply the same standard to sanpro.

Read more on Sanitary check: a year’s progress on menstrual products…

by Molly Hickman

Through the Climate Change Act, the UK is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by at least 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. Central to meeting this important goal is the decarbonisation of heat: according to government data, in 2009 heating-related emissions accounted for 38% of the UK’s carbon footprint.

Read more on Networking opportunity: cutting carbon emissions with heat networks…

by Rob Gillies and Peter Jones

Eunomia recently published the second issue of ‘Recycling – Who Really Leads the World?’, a study that tries to compare on an equal footing the countries that claim the highest recycling rates in the world. It explains why comparing reported recycling rates at face-value is potentially misleading; and by producing more comparable figures, shines a light on those countries that are setting a positive example for others to follow.

Read more on Are some countries cheating on their recycling rate?…

by Joss Winter

This month, North Kesteven District Council in Lincolnshire is implementing new charges for what is still often referred to as “Schedule 2” waste. That’s the name given to waste from properties such as schools and care homes, which is classified as “household waste”, but which councils are allowed to charge for collecting. With many councils looking for every opportunity to raise revenues to fill the gap left by declining central government support, will other’s  be following suit?

Read more on Schedule 2 waste: are local authorities missing out?…