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If we can't recycle it, why not turn our waste plastic into fuel?

The Conversation - Mon, 2018-05-14 16:22
Plastic can only be recycled a few times before it becomes useless. But even non-recyclable plastic can be used to help produce petrol and diesel. Could this process help overcome the recycling crisis? Muxina Konarova, Advanced Queensland Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
Categories: Around The Web

Almost too late to save ancient woodland - Country diary archive, 16 May 1968

The Guardian - Mon, 2018-05-14 15:00

16 May 1968 The planting of alien conifers and poplars is changing this superb example of primeval clay woodland out of all knowledge

Norfolk
I have just been revelling in the glories of one of Norfolk’s few remaining ancient woodlands, seated on glacial boulder clay almost exactly in the centre of the county. The Domesday record shows this wood to have been a notable one in 1088, when it afforded a pannage of acorns for a hundred pigs. Over the centuries its trees and plants of the undergrowth have transformed the stiff topsoil into a rich and friable mould and it is clear that the long-continued practice of coppicing hazels in association with standards of oak and ash has encouraged the development of an exceedingly rich and flourishing ground flora. Anemones, lilies of the valley, bluebells, wild strawberries and dog’s mercury dominate vast areas, with subsidiary colonies of yellow pimpernels, early purple orchids, woodruff, ramsons, primrose, wood spurge, bugle, enchanter’s nightshade, mountain speedwell, yellow archangel, wood sorrel, and the graceful wood millet grass. In a few places I came upon patches of Herb Paris where the ground was relatively moist in the valley of a little stream.

Related: Country diary: Wayland wood, Norfolk: This small parcel of woodland inspired one of our most disturbing myths

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Categories: Around The Web

Queensland produces “how-to” guide for electric vehicle charging

RenewEconomy - Mon, 2018-05-14 14:37
Queensland state govt backs up electric vehicle super-highway with release of Australia-first guide to installing EV chargers.
Categories: Around The Web

The rapidly disappearing subsidies for wind and solar in Australia

RenewEconomy - Mon, 2018-05-14 14:35
Energy markets are now showing negligible value for renewable energy certificates within 2 years. It gives lie to the nonsense and scare campaigns about the "crippling" cost of wind and solar.
Categories: Around The Web

Australia emissions rise for 3rd year in row, despite fall in electricity

RenewEconomy - Mon, 2018-05-14 14:34
Australia emissions rise for 3rd year, with electricity the only sector to show a fall, thanks to a policy mechanism the government tried to kill.
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Country diary: bog bean adventures

The Guardian - Mon, 2018-05-14 14:30

New Forest: Janet Elizabeth Case braved treacherous sink holes and snagging briars to see these enchanting flowers 80 years ago

Fascinated by JEC’s account of her search for the bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata) in a Country diary dated 5 June 1933 (I’d come across it in the slim grey selection of her diaries published posthumously in 1939), we tried last year to relive the adventure.

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Categories: Around The Web

Gas fuels Australia's third straight year of rising emissions

The Guardian - Mon, 2018-05-14 14:14

LNG was major contributor to 1.5% rise in year to December 2017, government data shows

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Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions continue to soar, increasing for the third consecutive year according to new data published by the Department of Environment and Energy.

The Turnbull government published new quarterly emissions data late on Friday which reveals Australia’s climate pollution increased by 1.5% in the year to December 2017.

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Categories: Around The Web

Plant 'thugs' crowd roadside flowers

BBC - Mon, 2018-05-14 12:35
It is claimed the UK's roadside wild flowers are suffering because of pollution and poor management.
Categories: Around The Web

Community forums in May and June - connecting the Northern Rivers

Department of the Environment - Mon, 2018-05-14 11:47
Interested in finding out more about water for the environment in the northern rivers? Join us at a community forum in towns along the Barwon-Darling during May and June.
Categories: Around The Web

Community forums in May and June - connecting the Northern Rivers

Department of the Environment - Mon, 2018-05-14 11:47
Interested in finding out more about water for the environment in the northern rivers? Join us at a community forum in towns along the Barwon-Darling during May and June.
Categories: Around The Web

Mammals to return to Sturt National Park and a mushroom-led recovery

ABC Environment - Mon, 2018-05-14 11:30
Sturt National Park prepares for an animal release; making the switch from cows to chooks; a disability support group grows organic oyster mushrooms; and raw honey straight from the hives.
Categories: Around The Web

Budweiser switches to Hydrogen trucks – what about Carlton United?

RenewEconomy - Mon, 2018-05-14 11:27
Anheuser-Busch , the largest brewer in the USA have placed an order for 800 Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell EV trucks. Will Foster's follow?
Categories: Around The Web

ActewAGL CEO announces retirement

RenewEconomy - Mon, 2018-05-14 11:25
After 10 years as Chief Executive Officer of ActewAGL Michael Costello AO has advised the ActewAGL Board of his decision to retire.
Categories: Around The Web

Solar bet for Crown Casino, with 300kW rooftop system

RenewEconomy - Mon, 2018-05-14 10:43
Melbourne's Crown casino complex has installed one of the CBD's biggest rooftop PV systems on its admin building.
Categories: Around The Web

IPART gets tough on tariffs for NSW rooftop solar

RenewEconomy - Mon, 2018-05-14 10:38
IPART confirms plans to effectively penalise NSW solar households for the lower electricity prices their rooftop PV has helped to deliver, by cutting the recommended feed-in tariff in half for 2018/19.
Categories: Around The Web

Townsville resort bets big on solar, efficiency

RenewEconomy - Mon, 2018-05-14 10:33
A luxury resort in Townsville in Queensland’s north is looking to cut its grid power consumption by up to 70 per cent, through a suite of cutting edge renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades.
Categories: Around The Web

AC/DC: The unheralded debate in Australia’s future grid

RenewEconomy - Mon, 2018-05-14 10:10
There may be significant advantage in a renewables centric grid to using DC for transmission as opposed to AC.
Categories: Around The Web

Ebola's return

BBC - Mon, 2018-05-14 09:42
It is unrealistic to think Ebola will ever be eradicated, but it is now easier to prevent a crisis.
Categories: Around The Web

Ebola's return

BBC - Mon, 2018-05-14 09:42
It is unrealistic to think Ebola will ever be eradicated, but it is now easier to prevent a crisis.
Categories: Around The Web

Cape York land clearing won't impact Great Barrier Reef, Entsch says

ABC Environment - Mon, 2018-05-14 08:06
Entsch said both State and Federal studies show land clearing won't accelerate the runoff of pollution and sedimentation into the Great Barrier Reef.
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