In the European Union, we throw away more and more rubbish each year. Between 1995 and 1998, the amount of waste we generated went up by 15%. If we continue, by 2020 we will probably be throwing away 45% more waste than in 1995. The amount of waste from electronic and electrical equipment - one of the fastest growing types - could double in just 12 years' time. We cannot go on like this without seriously damaging our environment, so the European Union has decided to tackle the problems caused by growing waste mountains.
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The most efficient way to deal with the problem of rubbish is to make less of it. That's why industries are developing new 'clean' technology. What is it? And how can people influence the way things are made by what they choose to buy?
Much of what we throw away could be recycled into new products, saving money, resources and energy, or even used to generate energy itself. How much waste is recycled already? What about electrical and electronic equipment?
Waste that cannot be reused or recycled has to be burned or buried. What are the consequences of incinerating waste? What are the problems with 'landfill' (putting waste in the ground)?
