South Korea: Researchers at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have created a waterless toilet system that can convert human waste into biofuels. The system is part of a new outdoor creative laboratory, called Science Walden Pavillion, that opened to the public on 25 May 2016.

"Our ultimate goal is not only for the new toilet system to save water and operational costs for wastewater treatment plants, but for us to establish an ecosystem that supports technology innovation and drives economic diversification where human waste literally has a financial value," said Professor Jaeweon Cho, Director of Science Walden Pavillion.

The waterless toilet system uses a biological process to break down human waste into a dehydrated odourless compost-like material. It is then transferred to a digestion tank, containing thousands of different microbes. The microbes inside the tank biodegrade the powdered human manure to generate carbon dioxide and methane. Using high pressure and a membrane system, carbon dioxide is extracted to culture green algae for biofuel while methane is stored for later use as a heating fuel.

The project aims to reduce urbanisation's negative footprint on ecosystems by safely converting human waste into viable renewable energy, possibly with a monetary value.

If this experiment succeeds, the team plans to expand its use of the waterless toilet system and microbial energy production system in real life. This project has been carried out in collaboration with YATOO, Art Center Nabi, Paju Typography Institute and Hankuk Engineering Consultants in South Korea.

Thailand: General Environmental Conservation (GENCO) plans to build a 100,000t/yr refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant in Map Ta Phut, Rayong province. The project will have an investment of US$5.6m and will start production in the first quarter of 2017. RDF from the plant will be sold to cement plants, according to the Bangkok Post.

"GENCO will be the first company in Thailand to produce RDF to be sold to factories. The company will eventually increase its capacity to more than 100,000 tonnes to meet rising demand," said GENCO managing director Ronnachai Tantragoon.

Germany: Doppstadt has patented a new method to clean star screen machines during operation. The new method helps the screening stars clean themselves by introducing finger gears into the space of neighbouring star screen shafts. This strikes the neighbouring star screen shaft and shakes off adherent materials. The new system will be used with Doppstadt screens SM 518 and SM 620 in both mobile and stationary applications. It can be operated either with a trommel or with a screening deck.

Portugal: Cimpor has appealed a judgement by the Supreme Administrative Court cancelling permits to burn alternative fuels at its Souselas cement plant. The North Central Administrative Court cancelled the environmental licences, originally granted by the former Environment Minister Nunes Correia, in March 2016.