1. EC adopts ‘green infrastructure’ strategy

The European Commission (EC) has adopted a new strategy encouraging the use of ‘green infrastructure’ (GI) where possible. This would see nature performing many of the roles currently provided by artificial civil infrastructure.

It suggests processes such as utilising a natural wetland to absorb excess rainwater in place of artificial flood defences. The EC states that GI projects such as this are often ‘cheaper and more durable’ than conventional infrastructure.

The strategy will focus on promoting GI, improving research and access to finance for GI projects, as well as supporting EU-wide projects in this area.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said: "Building green infrastructure is often a good investment for nature, for the economy and for jobs. We should provide society with solutions that work with nature instead of against it, where that makes economic and environmental sense."

The EC hopes to review progress by the end of 2017.

Read more about how nature can boost economy, in Resource 71’s interview with Gunter Pauli (out in May).

2. Recolight urges public sector to increase lamp recycling

Research conducted by lamp recycling specialist Recolight has found that just 0.3 per cent of public-sector organisations currently take advantage of free lamp recycling services available to them.

According to the data, only nine per cent of Recolight’s network of over 1,300 collection points is made up of public-sector organisations. Local authorities make up the largest proportion (11 per cent) of those taking up the free lamp recycling service, followed by ‘major MOD sites’ (10 per cent). NHS hospitals, GP practices and the education system make up 0.2 per cent, with schools, colleges and universities making up just 0.1 per cent.

Recolight is now urging the public sector to increase take-up of the service, which is free of charge to organisations that collect more than 1,000 lamps in six months.

Recolight’s Customer Service Manager, Lyndsey Smith, commented: “Although it is encouraging to see that local authorities are realising the benefits of free lamp recycling, there are clearly many public-sector organisations across the UK that are unnecessarily paying for their waste lamps to be recycled. We’re working hard to raise awareness of the options available.”

3. Greenbuild Awards 2013 honour eco building design

Representative for Leisure category winner, Arcola Theatre with awards presenter Patrick Kielty.

The winners of the Greenbuild Awards 2013 have been announced, and feature an eco vicarage built by Speller Metcalfe in the Diocese of Worcester, a zero-carbon school house (built by UK Energy Partners), a Marks & Spencer ‘sustainable’ outlet at Cheshire Oaks and the Arcola theatre in Hackney, aiming to be the ‘world’s first carbon neutral theatre’.

The awards seek to recognise ‘excellence in sustainable buildings’, with entries falling into categories such as ‘Behavioural Change’, ‘Domestic Newbuild’ and ‘Education Retrofit’.

The winner of the ‘Breakthrough’ category was the Green Skills Alliance’s Green Deal Competency Framework, a ‘qualification map’ of learning modules designed to complement the compulsory Green Deal training programme.

Commenting on the awards, Chief Executive of the National Energy Foundation and competition judge Kerry Mashford (pictured right) said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to judge the Greenbuild Awards again this year and we are pleased that so many great projects are raising the profile of creating truly sustainable buildings.

“We really hope the awards inspire more project teams to monitor the performance of their buildings and ensure it measures up with the design predictions.”

See the full list of Greenbuild Award winners.

4. HW Martin wins five-year Durham HWRC contract

HW Martin Waste Ltd has announced it has signed a new five-year waste management contract with Durham County Council.

The contract will see the firm manage the county’s household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) from 1 June 2013 in the hopes of producing ‘significant increases’ to the amount of waste that is recycled in the county. In 2011/12, Durham recycled, composted or reused 44.3 per cent of its waste.

Mark Faulconbridge, Operations Director at HW Martin Waste Ltd, commented: “Operating in these tough times continues to be a challenge, but in the North East we have invested heavily in the region over the past three years so that we can give the best service to our local authority and business customers.

“We are therefore very pleased that Durham County Council have awarded their prestigious HWRC contract to HW Martin Waste Ltd.”

5. Hebridean Celtic Festival to reward festival-goers for recycling

Richard Lochhead, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, at a Recycle and Reward machine.

The Hebridean Celtic Festival (HebCelt), a music festival running from 17-20 July and featuring headline acts such as Van Morrison and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, has announced that it will be rewarding music fans for recycling.

HebCelt is one of eight venues in Scotland hosting the Scottish Government’s ‘Recycle and Reward’ scheme, which rewards those who recycle their glass, aluminium and plastic drink containers with gift vouchers and discounts.

The festival has said that those using the Recycle and Reward machines on the main site could win an iPad, iPod Nanos,a family weekend ticket for next year’s HebCelt, festival hoodies and t-shirts, as well as vouchers for snacks or drinks.

The project is the latest green initiative by HebCelt, which last month graduated from the Carbon Trust Scotland’s Carbon Management programme. The festival is committed to decreasing its carbon emissions by 14 per cent by 2017, which will reduce its environmental impact and cut costs.

Festival Director Caroline MacLennan, said: “We are delighted to host a Recycle and Reward scheme, which is another opportunity for us to encourage festival goers to think about the environment while enjoying the event.

“We are determined to make the festival one of the most environmentally-friendly in the country and this is another step towards achieving that goal.”