REHIS News

26 September marks World Environmental Health Day which has been celebrated every year since 2011.

This year’s theme of ‘Global food safety and sustainability’ aims to support the provision of more safe food, to make use of precious water and nutrient resources and for communities to increasingly value sustainable food production.

The top winners in this year’s Scottish Green Apple Environment Awards, supported by REHIS, will have the chance to represent Scotland in the European Business Awards for the Environment.

Free entries close on September 30, and the annual campaign – which began in 1994 – aims to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world.

Any company, council or organisation can claim a free entry and be nominated for a Green Apple Environment Award – as long as they are doing something that benefits the environment.

A national taskforce to advise on how Scotland achieves a carbon-neutral economy has been launched.

The Just Transition Commission, a commitment under the Programme for Government, will look at how to maximise opportunities of decarbonisation, in terms of fair work and tackling inequalities, while delivering a sustainable and inclusive labour market.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham announced that Professor Jim Skea OBE is to chair the Commission, as she spoke at the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation.

A comprehensive survey of ingredients in yogurts has highlighted high sugar levels in many – particularly organic yogurts and those marketed towards children.

Scientists from the Universities of Leeds and Surrey analysed the product information for 921 yogurts available in major UK supermarkets. 

More than 15,000 empty homes have been charged double council tax in an attempt to cut the number of unoccupied properties in Scotland.

BBC Scotland has found that some councils are earning over £1 million per year from the powers to charge extra levies on those with empty properties, while others had not used the powers at all.

Scottish Water is to step up its fight against fatbergs which can cause major flooding and pollution with the launch of a new project.

A new project being trialled aims to substantially reduce the number of blockages in the sewer system which occurs when fats, oils and grease (FOG) are poured down drains then combine with other waste and congeal into a solid mass.

The new Fat Free Sewer project, the first of its kind in Scotland, is being tested in St Andrews. 

A statue has been unveiled in Paisley to a pioneer of Scottish legal history following a landmark case featuring a snail and ginger beer.

More than a fifth of meat sample tests in 2017 found DNA from animals not on the labelling, this was revealed following a BBC Freedom Information request to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Out of 665 results from England, Wales and Northern Ireland 145 were partly or wholly made up of unspecified meat. The samples were taken from 487 businesses, including restaurants and supermarkets.  

The 1 January 2019 will bring an end to the practice of burning most types of agricultural waste on farms, including farm plastics. 

Ending the exemption follows extensive engagement between the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Government, Zero Waste Scotland, National Farmers Union of Scotland(NFUS) and recycling service providers. SEPA have worked closely with NFU Scotland to roll out the change which will feature ongoing dialogue with farmers and crofters over the coming months.

A couple of letters have been printed in The Herald newspaper regarding the current concerns over the Environmental Health profession.