Electronic waste includes such items as TVs, computers, LCD and plasma displays, and mobile phones, as well as a wide range of household, medical and industrial equipment which are simply discarded as new technologies become available. Huge and growing quantities of waste are discarded every year and this waste contains toxic and carcinogenic compounds which can pose a risk to the environment. However, if handled correctly, electronic waste presents a valuable source of secondary raw materials. This book brings together a group of leading experts in the management of electrical and electronic waste to provide an up-to-date review of the scale of the waste problem, the impact of recent legislation such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and the "restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment" directive (RoHS), and of current and future methods for treatment, recycling and disposal of this waste. The book discusses these latest directives, examines current worldwide legislation and considers the opportunities and threats posed by this form of waste. While the emphasis is on European practice, comparisons with other countries such as the USA, Japan and China are made. The book deals with the full range of waste management issues, including recycling and recovery of materials, design considerations for waste minimisation, and contains a wide variety of illustrative case studies eg: LCD displays. With detailed and comprehensive coverage of the subject matter it also contains an extensive bibliography with each chapter. Key chapters cover areas such as: -electronic waste -materials -EU directives -landfill and incineration -recycling and recovery -'cradle to grave' design considerations -engineering thermoplastics It is essential reading for all involved with electrical and electronic waste management through its comprehensive review of recent EU legislation and the subsequent impact on manufacturers and users of electronic equipment.

Mr Toad is a very special boat - he's a gateway between worlds. In this first book in the series, four friends are aboard, cruising Scotland's West Highlands and Hebrides. They find themselves 500 years in the past, on a mission to prevent bloodshed between the clans Maclean and Campbell. They return to the present but their quest is not over ... The places and historical events in the book are all real. There's a useful website - www.mr-toad.co.uk - which readers can use to follow the action online with special 3D Google Earth maps, or find out more about Scotland's amazing legends, wildlife and history. The website has an online gallery with 30 illustrations from the eBook edition - readers can add their own drawings or photographs.

From the construction of its first theatre in 1740, Birmingham has boasted a huge array of entertainment - from plays and music festivals to circuses and 'mops' (and even the 'onion fair'). It was here that many household names such as Laurence Olivier, Kenneth More, Peggy Ashcroft and Derek Jacobi first proved their acting credentials, and here that many famous musical works, such as Antonin Dvorak's The Spectre's Bride and Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah, were premiered in Britain. Illustrated with more than 180 photographs from the archives of Birmingham Central Library, Birmingham Theatres and Entertainments is a must have for anyone interested in the history of the entertainments industry in the area.

This fascinating selection of photographs illustrates the extraordinary transformation that has taken place in Birmingham during the 20th century. The book offers an insight into the daily lives and living conditions of local people and gives the reader glimpses and details of familiar places during a century of unprecedented change. Many aspects of Birmingham's recent history are covered, famous occasions and individuals are remembered and the impact of national and international events is witnessed. This book provides a striking account of the changes that have so altered Birmingham's appearance and records the process of transformation. Drawing on detailed local knowledge of the community, and illustrated with a wealth of black-and-white photographs, this book recalls what Birmingham has lost in terms of buildings, traditions and ways of life. It also acknowledges the regeneration that has taken place and celebrates the character and energy of local people as they move through the first years of this new century.

The story of Birmingham's ancient heart, from its earliest days to the opening of the new Bull Ring.