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November, 2010:

Manure to power homes

RTHK 23 Nov. 2010

A Chinese dairy is installing the world’s biggest system to turn cow manure into enough electricity to power thousands of homes. Technology Review magazine says Huishan Dairy in Liaoning will use manure from 60,000 cows. As well as generating power, the system will prevent methane gas, which is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, from reaching the atmosphere.

http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?main&20101123&56&714781

HK may build 5 garbage incinerators

RTHK       12 Nov 2010

The Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, says Hong Kong may need to build up to five smaller rubbish incineration facilities across the territory, to help ease the problem of overflowing landfills. He said Hong Kong should consider whether it wants a larger number of smaller facilities, or a smaller number of large incinerators. Speaking after visiting a small-scale incinerator in Tokyo on the sidelines of the APEC conference, Mr Tsang also said it was important to consider how to integrate such facilities within the community.

Smoking on restaurant patios now illegal in SF

Last updated: November 4, 2010

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

Smokers in San Francisco can no longer light up in a restaurant’s outdoor seating area.

The law—approved by the city’s Board of Supervisors in March—went into effect this week.

Restaurants must not post signs advising customers they can only smoke at the curb or in a spot that is at least 15 feet from exits, entrances, windows and vents.

Failure to comply could cost restaurants a $500 fine.

Golden Gate Restaurant Association director Kevin Westlye tells the San Francisco Chronicle the group supported the legislation once a requirement that restaurant owners police people smoking in front of their establishments was removed.

Westlye says restaurant owners want to protect their employees and customers from second hand smoke.