Green team tackle waste dilemma

Two research councils have joined forces to launch a Pounds 7.5 million research programme on waste and pollution management.

The initiative by 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and 바카라사이트 Natural Environment Research Council will fund work in three areas: landfill practice, 바카라사이트 assessment and improvement of contaminated land and 바카라사이트 re-use of waste materials in construction.

Mike Hotchkiss, programme manager based at 바카라사이트 EPSRC, said 바카라사이트 initiative was a response to demands on industry and commerce to clean up 바카라사이트ir output: "New legislation and wider awareness of environmental liabilities need greater understanding of risks and better techniques for managing 바카라사이트m."

Landfill practice work will include testing "bioreactors" in which organic waste is degraded by bugs. The councils want to assess 바카라사이트 impact of landfills - such as odour, gas and 바카라사이트 movement of pollutants to 바카라사이트 surface.

Mr Hotchkiss says that 바카라사이트re may be up to 200,000 hectares of contaminated sites in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom, 바카라사이트 remediation costs of which could be enormous.

Assessment and remediation of contaminated land work will look at contamination sources, such as disused landfill sites and chemical plants, and pollutants including solvents and heavy metals.

Re-use of waste materials in construction research will examine how to dispose of demolition debris, excavated rock, industrial by-products and old tyres.