With the focus of the resources and waste sector very much on protecting the environment and delivering on decarbonisation, the broader impacts and the benefits these bring to society are often overlooked or underplayed.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), e.g. the face covering to avoid the COVID-19, is spread in public and private spaces. Since the pandemics, the amount of PPE production has increased, likewise the amount disposed in the environment, especially in the ocean and the communities around.

We are living in the ‘plasticene’ era. Marine plastic pollution is a global problem, and increasing effort and funds are being invested towards identifying and implementing solutions.

WtERT wants to show solidarity with the Fridays for Future movement, but also with statements from Scientists for Future and engage in a global crowd sourcing campaign framing a response of the municipal solid waste (MSW) community to Climate Change.

On 15 and 16 June, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete and Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella will attend the G20 Energy and Environment Ministerial meeting, which takes place in Karuizawa, Japan. The first ever G20 ministerial meeting on environment-related topics will focus on how to respond together to global challenges of marine plastic litter, climate change, energy efficiency improvements, further deployment of renewables and the role of finance in fostering the transition to clean energy technologies.

We are delighted to report that we have had another successful year in the UK and would like to share with you a few selected updates. Prof. Cheeseman of Imperial College London (Chair) and Dr. Velis of University of Leeds (Vice Chair) discuss developments in the UK sector, which include an exciting brand new policy of the Environment Agency of U.K.: The “Resources and waste strategy” was released in December 2018, covering many emerging challenges for mature solid waste management and resource recovery systems, such as tackling littering, marine litter, reducing food waste and delivering a more curricular economy for plastics.

Pollution of the marine environment due to plastic materials is one of the most severe environmental problems humanity has to face in the 21st century.

Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean whose economy is largely dependent on coastal tourism. It boasts some of the cleanest waters in Europe and has the largest number of Blue Flag awarded beaches per capita in the world.

Why is the Commission proposing a new Directive to tackle marine litter? - More than 80% of marine litter is plastics. The European Commission is proposing new EU-wide rules that target the 10 single-use plastic products most often found on Europe's beaches and seas, as well as lost and abandoned fishing gear. These products are the biggest part of the problem. Together they constitute 70% of all marine litter items.

Learn how eight million metric tonnes of plastic are entering our ocean every year and the potential solutions coming out of China. A five-part audio documentary that takes you through the ins and outs of plastic waste treatment globally and in China. It's an illuminating look at how the Middle Kingdom is closing its doors on imported plastic waste, and turning its back on industrial pollution in favor of building an 'ecological civilization.'

There have been many videos on the net regarding the horrific floating "garbage patches" on the oceans. Prof. Nickolas Themelis commented on this project in Facebook...

Waste to Energy Research and Technology Council (WTERT)–India co-founded with the Memorandum of Understanding between CSIR - National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Earth Engineering Centre (EEC) of Columbia University, New York, has been working in the field of Solid Waste Management & brings out solutions and understanding of the current challenges in sustainable waste management through conferences and workshops since the inception of WTERT-India in 2011.

Cities along the Adriatic coastline of Croatia boast a sizable and fast growing tourism industry that is one of the key pillars of the country’s economy. However, the practice of discharging untreated sewage directly into the Adriatic Sea resulted in serious threats of environmental degradation of coastal waters, in addition to constraining tourism-based economic development. From the project’s start in 2009 to the project closure in 2015, the Coastal Cities Pollution Control Project 2 (CCPCP) supported the elimination of untreated wastewater discharge, piloted innovative wastewater treatment solutions, engaged in institutional strengthening, and improved seawater quality monitoring in the coastal area.

The world today committed to a pollution-free planet at the close of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, with resolutions and pledges promising to improve the lives of billions across the globe by cleaning up our air, land and water.

The G20 recognizes the urgent need for action to prevent and reduce marine litter in order to preserve human health and marine and coastal ecosystems, and mitigate marine litter’s economic costs and impacts. We stress the direct relationship between the challenge of marine litter, environment, human health, economic development, social well-being, biodiversity and food security.

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the European Commission's flagship initiative for the protection of the European Seas, and the first holistic approach to ensuring that European Seas reach and are maintained at what is called a ‘Good Environmental Status’ by the year 2020.

Rivers annually emit between 1.15 and 2.41 million metric tons of plastic to the oceans.

Donors include Silicon Valley philanthropists Marc & Lynne Benioff, as well as Peter Thiel and other supporters.

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is an important milestone for the preservation of the European marine environment.

On 18 October 2013, the Contracting Parties to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping ofWastes and other Matter, 1972 adopted by consensus amendments to the Protocol to regulate marine geo-engineering. The amendments are a landmark for the international control of so called ‘climate engineering’ activities because, when they enter into force, they will be the first legally binding regulation of such activities in international law.

This paper explores the regulatory regime for ocean fertilization under the Dumping regime, which comprises the 1972 London Convention and 1996 Protocol. It assesses the extent to which ocean fertilization is presently subject to mandatory and voluntary controls and provides an overview of the proposals currently under active consideration designed to develop a comprehensive regime for ocean fertilization. Whilst acknowledging the benefits of regulation and the importance of environmental protection, this paper concludes with a warning against considering ocean fertilization in isolation from the broader context of geoengineering and climate change more generally.

A study was conducted to assess the size and impact of a Garbage Patch in the Oceans. The findings from the study were compiled from a combination of mathematical and physical models estimates and data from expeditions.

The Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) has kindly authorised the EJRR to publish the comments of SRA Past Presidents on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Improving Governance of the World’s Oceans

Among the many threats posed by sea-level rise is the potential impact of this phenomen on the extent of the maritime jurisdictional claims of coastal States. This paper provides a brief discussion of sea-level rise, before examining ways in which the maritime claims of coastal States may be impacted by rising sea levels. In particular, the traditional dependence on normal low-water baselines as the usual starting point for measuring maritime claims is problematic given the likely retreat of normal baselines inland as sealevels rise. This paper discusses options to address these challenges and outlines issues arising from the potential total inundation of a given State’s territory.