Why compostable plastics may be no better for the environment

As companies move to get rid of single-use plastic bags and bans on microbeads are coming into force, new biodegradable or compostable plastic products seem to offer an alternative. But they may be no better for the environment.

Single-use biodegradable plastics include claims
that they break down quickly into benign end
 products, but the reality is more complex. 

Recently, European scientists argued that existing international industry standards are insufficient and cannot realistically predict the biodegradability of compostable plastics. New Zealand’s Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE), Simon Upton, weighed into the debate, questioning the merit of biodegradable plastics and urging the New Zealand government to deal with the confusion surrounding their labelling.

The key concerns include the terminology itself, the lack of appropriate recycling or composting infrastructure and toxicity of degradable plastics.

Read the piece from The Conversation by a Professor emeritus from Auckland University of Technology, Thomas Neitzewrt - “Why compostable plastics may be no better for the environment.”

Victoria should consider burning rubbish to generate energy, reduce landfill, report finds

Burning rubbish is being touted as a viable alternative to landfill for Victoria, under a waste-to-energy proposal put before the State Government.

Waste-to-energy technology could reduce landfill
by about 90 per cent, the report said.

The Andrews Government commissioned a series of public consultations on waste-to-energy technology after local councils took legal action against the expansion of Victoria's largest tip, at Ravenhall, last year.

The public consultation report urged the Government to support the creation of a $220 million waste-to-energy plant in Melbourne's western suburbs.

The technology involves burning rubbish to produce electricity, which could reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by around 90 per cent.

Read the ABC News story by Joseph Dunstan - “Victoria should consider burning rubbish to generate energy, reduce landfill, report finds.”

Expo can help show the way to a secure future

Farming, depending on how it’s approached, can rescue or condemn us to somewhat difficult times.

Activities engaged in by farmers, or by their industrialized counterparts who claim to be farmers, but which are little more than corporations that desire nothing but financial wealth, play key roles in worsening or improving our climate.

Alternatives open to the farming sector can be seen over three days at the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo that begins on Friday, February 17.

The expo is an outdoor supermarket for leading edge farm machinery, products and services from Australia and around the world and showcases Australia's unique engineered and technical solutions to the challenges of farming on one of the world's driest continents.

Technology at Seymour Expo focuses on advances in alternative livestock, cropping enterprises, small to medium farm machinery, implements and building systems (home and farm).

“The Expo,” the organizers say, “has a strong lifestyle focus including food growing and preparation, animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and backyard chooks.

“Regular event features include the Snake Show, Chainsaw Carving, Working Sheep Dogs, Country Cook Off and the Butchers Shop, Gourmet Food Marquee, The Owner Builder Lectures, Agricultural Society Lectures and the NMIT Ag Zone Lectures,” the say.
The expo is set up at Kings park in Tallarook St, Seymour.