The provision could even affect voluntary programs to reduce energy waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

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Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the plants will be held to strict standards to find ways of disposing waste safely, and avoid or reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

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If firms are passing up easy opportunities to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by re-using waste, then governments have set the price of emissions too low.

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According to Fuller, the Connected Urban Development pilots helped to show how cities can accelerate their transition to sustainability, reduce CO2 emissions, increase energy efficiency, and decrease waste, all by harnessing the basic information and communications technology available in wireless networks.

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He wants the co-op to own its own recycling plant and has traveled to Europe (on Avina's dime) to talk to waste management companies and charitable funders about why help for waste pickers should be included in any scheme to reduce carbon emissions.

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For Interface, the EPD process has encouraged it to reduce energy and material consumption (particularly oil), waste generation and emissions.

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It's a plan with the bonus that less lighting means a cut in harmful CO2 emissions - and town halls are obliged by law to reduce waste.

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He says this will create regional jobs, increase resource security, reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, increase material efficiency and prevent carbon emissions and industrial waste - all on a big scale.

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