Beekeepers in Ribeaville, Alsace have spoken of their alarm after their bees began producing honey in shades of blue and green.
The unnatural colouring, which began in August, has been linked back to a biogas plant 4 km (2.5 miles) away, which was processing waste from a Mars plant, including M&M’s sweets.
Agrivalor, the company in charge of the biogas plant, told Reuters that the problem was being addressed: “We discovered the problem at the same time [the beekeepers] did. We quickly put in place a procedure to stop it,” said Philippe Meinrad, co-manager of Agrivalor.
In a statement later published in French newspaper Le Monde, the company added that it would clean out all existing containers, store all incoming waste in airtight containers and process it properly.
Alain Frieh, President of the Apiculturists' Union said the unsellable honey comes at a difficult time for beekeepers in the region, who are already dealing with high bee mortality rates and reduced honey supplies following a harsh winter. He added, “For me, it’s not honey. It’s not sellable.”
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.