Weekly newsletter - Monday 3rd of January 2011
Italy bans single use plastic
From the 1st of January Italian retailers have been banned from
giving their customers single use plastic bags. The ban was passed
by the government on the 22nd of December but no further
information has yet been distributed. It is understood that the
manufacture of plastic bags has ceased but retailers are allowed to
use up any remaining bags. This is a major step as Italy accounts
for a fifth of all plastic bag use in the EU. A poll suggested that
73% of people would opt to use reusable plastic bags, 16%
biodegradable plastic bags and 10% paper bags.
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China cuts rare earth exports
China has reduced its export quota for rare earth minerals for the
coming year. The quota for the first half of the year has been cut
from 22,282 to 14,446 tonnes. Rare earth minerals are those which
contain rare earth metals, 17 elements which are used heavily in
the manufacture of high technology devices including mobile phones,
batteries and wind turbines. China produces 97% of the worlds rare
earth exports and has been reducing its export quota for a number
of years. Japanese, European and US trade officials have all called
for a freer rare earth market. The Chinese government says the
restriction on rare earth exports exists to combat illegal mining
and environmental exploitation.
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