Recently by Trash Talk

In February 2006, twenty one retailers pledged to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags. The 21 retailers were: Asda, Boots, Co-operative Group, Debenhams, DSG Retail Ltd (Dixons and Currys), E H Booths & Co Ltd, Home Retail Group, John Lewis Partnership (John Lewis and Waitrose), Marks & Spencer, Next Group plc, Nisa Todays, Primark Stores Ltd, Sainsbury's, Somerfield Group, Spar (UK) Ltd, Tesco, Travis Perkins (Wickes), Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc.

In May 2009, 452 million single issue carrier bags were handed out in the UK, compared with 870 million in May 2006. This represents a 48 per cent reduction, narrowly missing the target of 50 per cent.

This is a substantial reduction in raw material use and material going to waste. Of course if they had just been banned or taxed out of the market the effect would have been a lot more dramatic, in these times of tightening purse strings I am sure the supermarkets would welcome it.

Nearly forty years after it first appeared the Ecologist magazine has ceased its printed edition and moved completely online.

They get the obvious environmental benefits of saving in material (ink, paper and packaging) plus the saving in energy from print and transport (both at the front end as the magazine pallets are sent to the shops and at the back end, as the returns go back to the distributor) there will also be a savings in waste from paper off-cuts, spoiled copies, pulped returns and landfilled copies - although I would hope that reader of the Ecologist are reusing and recycling the magazine.

Despite these obvious ecological benefits there is a radical difference between web and print and I hope they are taking that into account.

You don't have to be in the waste and recycling industry for long before you become interested in the issue of sustainability and climate change.

I end my waste and recycling presentation to school kids with a picture of the Earth from space and they immediately grasp the significance. Once something is used up, it is gone. Use up the Earth and we have nowhere else to go.

Home is a film by renowned photo-journalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand that uses stunning aerial shots of the Earth's landscapes, natural phenomena, animals and human industry to show the impact we are having on the planet.

As regular reader know by now I am not a fan of disposable plastic.

If you need to see any more evidence of why plastic packaging and our disposable society is not such a great idea, you need to see - The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

A new group called Climate Durham has just launched.

Climate Durham is a coalition of residents, businesses and organisations seeking to inspire every individual, household, business and organisation in Durham to adapt to a low carbon lifestyle.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is the fastest growing waste stream in the EU and some estimates put the amount generated at 14-20kg per person per year.

Householders have to plan how to dispose of large electrical goods and usually require help, for example from the local authority or a shop take-back scheme.

But it is much easier to drop small electrical items in the bin and householders may not even realise that such items can be recycled or that they pose a problem to the environment if disposed off in the general waste.

New science confirms there is no acceptable limit for gypsum to be deposited with biodegradable waste. Firms dealing with gypsum waste, such as plasterboard and plaster, are being encouraged to recycle and reuse more as new guidance on gypsum going to landfill has been announced by the Environment Agency. This is to prevent the build up of hydrogen sulphide gas which is both toxic and odorous.

Compost Awareness Week is all about learning how to make a difference with compost. You can do that by composting our own household kitchen and garden waste or making the 'Greener Choice' of peat-free composts containing recycled materials.

The Government's has launched a new advertising campaign aimed at cutting the number of plastic bags people use.

Hold on, haven't we done this already!

Waste and recycling is fundamentally tied up in the issue of global warming and on March 28 you can VOTE EARTH by switching off your lights off for one hour, between 8.30-9.30pm.

One billion people are expected to join in.