News from the Zero Waste Network

Have you ever wanted to give the EPA a piece of your mind, or just tell the agency what you think about some environmental topic? Well, now you have the chance to do just that by adding your comments to the EPA blog: Greenversations. Every week, the EPA posts a new question and invites all comers to share their thoughts, and to read what others have to say on the subject.

AS we face $4.50 a gallon gas, we also know that alternative energy sources  coal, oil shale, ethanol, wind and ground-based solar  are either of limited potential, very expensive, require huge energy storage systems or harm the environment. There is, however, one potential future energy source that is environmentally friendly, has essentially unlimited potential and can be cost competitive with any renewable source: space solar power. Science fiction? Actually, no  the technology already exists. A space solar power system would involve building large solar energy collectors in orbit around the Earth. These panels would collect far more energy than land-based units, which are hampered by weather, low angles of the sun in northern climes and, of course, the darkness of night.

In a move that could possibly change the economics of biodiesel refining, chemical engineers at Rice University have come up with a set of techniques for converting sometimes problematic biofuels waste into chemicals that fetch a profit.

At the Collision Repair Campaign (CRC) web site, you will find descriptions of exposures and health effects from chemicals found at collision repair shops; links to information about best practices; and tools for calculating cost savings that accompany reductions in emissions. Please visit the CRC web site for examples of technical support and training provided to date, and an extensive list of resources, including downloadable manuals and videos.

The Board of Directors of the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC at www.pprc.org), a Seattle-based non-profit with a staff of six, seeks a full-time Executive Director.

The value of carbon traded on the world's markets reached ¬38bn (£30bn) in the first half of this year, almost double the total for the whole of 2007.