The UK has seen a lot of development in terms of how we dispose of waste. In recent times, a new generation of Energy from Waste plants had been introduced which fulfils more purposes than just being a disposal-only point. The UK had been dependent on landfills to dispose of residual waste (waste that cannot be reused or recycled), but there are now new methods of disposing of this waste in order to generate usable energy. It's been estimated that approximately 6.8 million tonnes of residual waste will be available every year between now and 2025. There has also been...

Air pollution is a global public health issue where many areas across the world are seeing concentrations of ambient air pollution exceeding the maximum levels. While effective policies have been established, there is a lot more we can do to reduce both indoor and outdoor air pollution. Those with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions are more prone to the adverse effects of air pollution but it’s an issue that affects everyone. Aside from the standard measures to minimise personal exposure to particulate matter, such as staying indoors, preventing outdoor air from entering the building, and reducing the number of materials burned,...

New studies show that there may be a link between higher amounts of air pollution and a wider rate of spread of the coronavirus. In a preliminary study, Italian scientists had detected the coronavirus on particles of air pollution which could suggest that the virus could be carried over some distances. However, this study is preliminary and it is still unknown if the coronavirus is able to cause disease through particulate matter. Particulate matter is tiny particles of pollution that can be very harmful to health with exposure. They are produced in a variety of ways such as car exhausts,...

The COVID-19 coronavirus had a significant impact on the UK and this has led to a nationwide lockdown in efforts to reduce the spreading of the outbreak. This lockdown means restrictions on travelling, working, socialising, and shopping across the UK. As a result of the lockdown, we have seen a significant decrease in air pollution levels across all of the major cities in the UK, according to new data from The European Environment Agency. In particular, levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) have seen a marked decrease in many cities over the past few weeks in comparison to the same period...

London is home to a continuously growing population of more than 10 million residents and air quality is an ongoing concern. In order to maintain and improve the outdoor and indoor air quality in the capital, multiple initiatives have been implemented across London to limit the amount of air pollution, such as the ultra-low emission zone. For businesses and schools, they have implemented measures to reduce the amount of indoor air pollution in the buildings. This improves the indoor air quality for workers, residents, and pupils. However, many areas in London still need work. Southwark, in particular, has seen difficulties...

Historically, the UK had been very dependent on landfills and most of the early incinerators were for disposal only, which only reduces the volume of waste. However, most landfills were unattended and unmanaged which caused land and air pollution to the environment. There are more than ten toxic gases produced from landfills, with methane being one of the most dangerous. Other air pollutants that are emitted from landfills include dust, particulate matter, and other non-chemical contaminants. In order to aim for a sustainable future, a new generation of energy from waste plants had been developed to meet the new strict...