Cement, Energy and Environment

also a dangerous pollutant," said Benjamin Bodirsky of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Colombia (CIAT). In the different forms it can take through chemical reactions, it massively contributes to respirable dust, leads to the formation of aggressive ground-level ozone, and destabilises water ecosystems. Only combined mitigation efforts both in food production and consumption could substantially reduce the risks, the study showed . Currently, every second ton of nitrogen put on the fields is not taken up by the crops but blown away by the wind, washed out by rain or decomposed by microorganisms. To reduce losses and prevent pollution, farmers can more carefully target fertiliser application to plants' needs, using soil measurements. Moreover, they should aim at efficiently recycling animal dung to fertilise the plants. "For consumers in developed countries, halving food waste, meat consumption and related feed use would not only benefit their health and their wallet but would also increase the overall resource efficiency of food production and reduce pollution," said study co-author Alexander Popp. The scientists ran extensive computer simulations to explore the effects of different mitigation measures. Courtesy: Indo Asian News Service, New York, May 14 Waste to Wealth & Waste Recycling PLANPANELTASKFORCERECOMMENDS PPP MODE FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT A Planning Commission task force has strongly recommended Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for setting up projects for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) with a viable gap funding by the government. "The report strongly recommends PPP as a mode of service delivery to achieve the target set for sustainable waste management," a press statement said. "A model scheme has also been detailed for setting up Waste to Energy projects through PPP mode, including a viability gap funding upto 40 per cent ," it added The task force on waste to energy headed by K Kasturirangan had been constituted by the Commission and its report was submitted to the Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Monday. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 14.05.2014 Pg. No. 20 EGO-FRIENDLY CEMENT FROM OLD TOILETS? Discarded toilets, along with other ceramic waste such as basins, stoneware and bricks, can be recycled into an eco-friendly form of cement , scientists say. The method involves grinding the ceramic waste and mixing it with an activator solution and water. The mixture is then poured into a mould and subjected to a high-temperature hardening process. Researchers conducted tests with items made from red-clay brick waste and found the cement was actually stronger than types that are currently in common use. Currently, researchers are using sodium hydroxide or sodium silicate as activators. The researchers, from Spain, the UK and Brazil, are looking into using rice husk ash as an activator. If it could be used, the result would be a cement made entirely from waste materials. The eco-friendly cement could be used as an alternative to Portland cement. Production of Portland cement releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. Courtesy: The Times of India, 07.04.2014 Pg. No.6 WASTE TO ENERGY: TASK FORCE PITCHES FOR TAX INCENTIVES The task force headed by K Kasturirangan has proposed a target of setting up 215 Waste to Energy plants by 2031 to generate 1,075 MW of power and has strongly pitched for setting these up through public-private partnerships (PPPs) with viability gap funding of up to 40 per cent. Viability gap funding is a form of capital subsidy provided by the Government to make the projects financial feasible for private entrepreneurs. The task force, which submitted its report to the Planning Commission on Monday, also calls for an integrated approach towards municipal solid waste management, stressing the need for 44 ' 'F