BSI has launched a new standard that can help reduce waste in the early stages of building or refurbishment projects. BS 8895-1 Designing for material efficiency in building projects – Part 1: Code of Practice, is part 1 of 3 documents that will enable designers, architectural teams, contractors and clients to make their building projects more...

Member states must begin to monitor levels of three pharmaceutical substances in water by September 2015, under a new directive published. They opposed a European Commission proposal to set concentration limits for these substances during discussions in the Council of Ministers. Anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac and two substances used in contraceptive pills, E2 and EE2, will be on...

The ECOWEB portal (http://www.ecoweb.info ), which launched at the beginning of May 2013, is targeted in particular at small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) that might have the potential to develop some of the eco-innovative ideas and to make them a success in the marketplace. The portal has been established by a consortium led by Eutema, an...

Towns, cities and settlements across the European Union are required to collect and treat their urban waste water under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive both to minimize risk to public health and potential eutrophication of receiving waters. The latest figures for wastewater treatment in Europe show improvements in collection and treatment, even if big differences remain between Member...

ECOS have a new series of logos which will be rolled out over the next few weeks   Check out www.ecos.ie for our new website in the coming weeks     ECOS Environmental Consultants Limited

Our Clients are SME and multi-national businesses who strive to achieve their specific corporate and regulatory needs relating to Water, Waste and Wastewater. Client needs vary from business to business and could relate to legal requirements to comply with permits and licences associated with virtually all activities relating to Waste and Wastewater or cost and...

The European Union’s (EU) approach to waste management is based on three principles: waste prevention, reuse and recycling, and improving final disposal and monitoring. In 2010, the total generation of waste from economic activities and households in the EU amounted to 2.570 million tonnes, which equates to 5.1 tonnes of waste per person. The EU-funded project BURBA http://www.burbaproject.net/ (Bottom-up selection, collection and management...

The Green Healthcare Programme has updated its Best Practice Guidance Document on Food Waste Reduction. The document has been updated to include some further information and a revised layout. You can access the document using the following link: http://www.greenhealthcare.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Food-Waste-Reduction-Best-Practice-updated.pdf This guide outlines actions to reduce the quantity of food waste generated in healthcare facilities.  The information...

The Chemical Usage Survey was undertaken by the Authority in 2012. This was a follow up survey to the Chemical Usage Survey carried out in 2007. The aim of the 2007 survey was to produce a profile of chemical usage in Irish workplaces which could then be used by the Health and Safety Authority to...

The LIFE+ Information and Communication project RESTORE (LIFE09 INF/UK/000032) has published a new guide to river restoration called Rivers by Design. The guide is aimed at planners, developers, architects and landscape architects and seeks to show them how to maximise the benefits of river restoration in development projects. It explains the context and need for river restoration, illustrating how...