Latest news with #ChrisThomas
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- General
- South Wales Guardian
NRW launches scheme to tackle farm plastic pollution
The scheme, launching in south Wales, focuses on farm plastics that often end up in rivers, posing a threat to wildlife and water quality. It is part of the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Four Rivers for LIFE project and is being delivered in partnership with Agriculture Plastics Environment (APE), Birch Farm Plastics, and Afonydd Cymru. Chris Thomas, senior land management officer for Four Rivers for LIFE, said: "Farm plastics have been found in the Teifi, Tywi and Cleddau rivers and contribute to the overall environmental issues affecting their health. "Healthy rivers support more than just farmers and the environment – they also help communities thrive and grow. "Rivers can only fully perform this function and support farmers if they are healthy and free from pollution and plastic waste." Farmers and landowners will be able to recycle plastics such as silage wrap at reduced cost at drop-off centres located across the Teifi, Tywi, Cleddau, and Usk river catchments. These rivers are designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) due to their international importance for species including salmon, lamprey, shad, and otters. Drop-off centres will be available at livestock markets and other sites in Talsarn near Lampeter, Crymych, Llandovery, Sennybridge, Raglan, and potentially Carmarthen. Ian Creasey of APE said: "Learning from successful markets in Europe, 'drop off centres' significantly help farmers in recycling their used farm plastics, and is a key focus of this trial. "This scheme is dedicated to supporting farmers to recycle their agricultural plastics, and by so doing help protect these rivers from potential plastics pollution." A 2023 report by WRAP found that the UK's agricultural plastic recycling rate is just 20 to 30 per cent, far lower than Germany (65 per cent), France (80 per cent), and Ireland (90 per cent). A survey conducted by West Wales Rivers Trust in 2024 revealed that cost remains one of the main barriers preventing farmers from recycling silage plastic waste. Cheryl Birch of Birch Farm Plastics said: "While we continue to collect directly from farms throughout Wales, by increasing the number of drop-off centres, we aim to increase the recycling rates of agricultural polythene and, through the collaboration with Four Rivers for LIFE and APE, provide a lower-cost option to farmers using the service." The Four Rivers for LIFE Project is funded by the EU LIFE Programme with support from the Welsh Government and Welsh Water. Details of eligible materials and drop-off locations are available at the Four Rivers for LIFE website.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
New scheme hopes to tackle farm plastic pollution in rivers
The Natural Resources Wales Four Rivers for Life project is working with Agriculture Plastics Environment, Birch Farm Plastics and Afonydd Cymru to increase the collection and recycling rates of farm plastics. Farmers and landowners will be able to recycle their farm plastic at reduced cost at several centres across four river catchments: Usk, Teifi, Tywi, and Cleddau. The trial hopes to work with farmers and landowners to reduce the amount of farm plastics found in the rivers and improve their condition so wildlife like salmon, lamprey and otter can thrive. Chris Thomas, Four Rivers for Life senior land management officer said: 'Healthy rivers support more than just farmers and the environment - they also help communities thrive and grow. "Rivers can only fully perform this function and support farmers if they are healthy and free from pollution and plastic waste.' Gail Davies-Walsh, Afonydd Cymru chief executive, said: 'We are very pleased that this trial scheme is being brought to South Wales. "It follows on from a similar project run successfully by West Wales Rivers Trust last year, so we know the positive impacts it will have in terms of reducing the amount of agricultural plastic in rivers.' The Teifi, Tywi, Cleddau and Usk Rivers are classed as Special Areas of Conservation, meaning they are of international importance for the wildlife and plants that make them home, such as salmon, lamprey, shad, otters and water crowfoot. The Four Rivers for Life Project is funded by the EU Life Programme with support from Welsh Government and Welsh Water.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
'More work is needed' to meet Isle of Man climate change targets
The Manx government has made "important progress" on its climate change action plan but "more is needed" for the island to meet its targets, the environment minister has said. Clare Barber provided an update to Tynwald about how the government was trying to meet its objectives on how best to respond to issues associated with climate outlined the findings of this year's annual report - published in June - that was produced in accordance with the 2021 Climate Change said: "Important progress has been made but I acknowledge that more is needed to realise and maximise the co-benefits and savings of climate action for our island." She acknowledged that other political priorities had taken precedence in 2024, which had been "a challenging year for taking climate action".Despite this, Barber outlined a number of areas in which she said progress had been said residents were being supported to make their homes more energy efficient, and that further help would be offered later this minister added that, as of the start of this year, fossil fuel boilers could no longer be installed in new also said emissions and sustainability audits were being carried out for the airport and the TT festival. Barber added that work on a land management framework had continued during the last year. 'Absolutely committed' In a lengthy debate, Douglas Central MHK Chris Thomas praised the report's "honesty" but asked what the consequences would be "for being so far behind".Peel and Glenfaba member Kate Lord-Brennan said the targets were "just not achievable" and it was "time to re-evaluate" Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Tim Glover read out a long list of items in the report that had either not been started, put on hold or had missed them was banning the registration of new petrol and diesel cars on the island from 2030 and hybrid vehicles from 2035. These plans have been put on aim of the government's energy strategy to supply 100% of the island's electricity from carbon neutral sources by 2030 was labelled "at risk". Tynwald also heard that plans to deliver a strategy to take account of climate impacts - across all areas of society, economy and the natural environment - had not yet been started. These were among more than 26 examples outlined by Glover, which he said demonstrated "how far behind we are with actually meeting our obligations". 'Falling emissions' Not all parliamentary feedback was negative, of the Legislative Council Paul Craine described the government's overall plan as "very ambitious" and said "we should be celebrating that so many of these areas we [have] moved on".He said: "Emissions are down by 3.8%. Without our actions I'm sure they would've risen."In closing, Barber said it was important to "take the time to get decisions like this right" and, as a result, the government "may struggle with our time frames".She said there would be an update on the island's energy strategy towards the end of the minister said this "significant piece of the jigsaw" would be debated in Tynwald."The work is absolutely ongoing, the team are absolutely committed, and the co-benefits of action are absolutely clear," she voted to receive the report, with only three votes against do so in the House of Keys. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Android Authority
11-07-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Prime Day finale slashes Sony ULT WEAR headphones to just $128
Chris Thomas / Android Authority Sony ULT WEAR headphones are currently seeing a huge price drop on the final day of the Prime Day sale. For a limited time, these headphones are available for just $128 on Amazon, down from their regular price of $199.99. This 36% discount is the lowest we've seen this year, making it a compelling offer for audiophiles and everyday listeners alike. Sony ULT WEAR Headphones for $128 (36% off) Known for their bass-centric design, the Sony ULT WEAR headphones are ideal for users who crave powerful low-end response. The headphones include two ULT modes to enhance bass levels, delivering a rich audio experience. Whether commuting or working from a bustling cafe, the active noise cancelation (ANC) effectively minimizes background noise, lasting up to 30 hours on a single charge. Sony ULT WEAR Sony ULT WEAR Press ULT to rattle skull The Sony ULT WEAR headphones are a new generation of folding, wireless headphones with ANC and a big, comfy design. Good connectivity options and a focus on immersive sound are the key selling features. See price at Amazon Save $71.99 Limited Time Deal! If you're short on time, a quick ten-minute charge can provide around five hours of playback, making them practical for on-the-go use. Additionally, the headphones feature Bluetooth 5.2 with LDAC support for superior sound quality over wireless connections, and their touch controls simplify navigation. Despite being a Prime Day special, you don't actually need the Amazon subscription to take advantage of this deal. That said, stock is very limited, and the sale ends tonight. Hit the widget above to see the offer for yourself.
ABC News
07-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Country dialysis patient faces choice of moving to Adelaide or stopping treatment
Move to Adelaide or stop accessing life-saving medical support. These are the options Chris Thomas, a 68-year-old Crystal Brooke resident in the mid-north of South Australia, faces. The retired farmer has been receiving treatment in the Lyell McEwin Hospital in Adelaide since May after he had two major cardiac arrests while undergoing rehabilitation following the amputation of a leg. This is in addition to him needing regular dialysis, treatment he had been receiving in Port Pirie for the past four years. Given his complex medical conditions, Mr Thomas was told he was not medically fit to be discharged from hospital or for transfer to Port Pirie. So now he and his family are facing the tough choice: move to Adelaide or effectively give up medical support. His daughter Alex Thomas was disappointed more effort hadn't been made to find alternative options for her father given he had lived in the country his whole life and didn't want to move to the city. "And that when you're vulnerable and when you reach your 11th hour of life that you're going to be able to stay within your home no matter what your postcode is." Ms Thomas has made an impassioned plea to SA Health to investigate options that would allow her father to return home and keep receiving treatment. "I want them to honour his desire to go home," she said. "I want them to cease discriminating against him because he lives in a regional area." SA Health Minister Chris Picton said his office had reached out to Mr Thomas's family, and there would be a senior medical review of his case to "see what options could be available". "We provide dialysis services right across the state, but there are obviously some levels of medical conditions that people have where they do need to be in a tertiary hospital setting," Mr Picton said. "Ultimately, in a state like South Australia, we can't provide the quaternary level of hospital care and the sub-speciality level of hospital care in each locality of everywhere across regional South Australia. Satellite dialysis units and home dialysis services are available across a number of the state's metropolitan and regional health services, but are designed to care for less complex and lower-risk patients. In a statement, SA Health extended its "sincerest sympathies to Mr Thomas and his family, who are navigating an incredibly difficult time". "Due to Mr Thomas's ongoing, high-risk medical issues, he is not medically fit for discharge from Lyell McEwin Hospital, or for transfer to Port Pirie," the statement said. "The health and wellbeing of our patients is always our priority. Ms Thomas however said that it was important to her dad, who had worked as a farmer and pastoralist as well as at Roxby Downs, that he spend the rest of his days living and receiving treatment in the bush. "It's his choice, no-one is more acutely aware of his mortality than he is," Ms Thomas said. "If he moves to Adelaide he is going to be grossly isolated from everything he has ever known. SA Health staff said at no stage had Mr Thomas or his family been advised that he should withdraw from medical care. The Port Pirie Satellite Dialysis Unit offers expert care in renal dialysis; like other satellite dialysis units, Port Pirie offers care for stable, lower-complexity patients.
