A new process that uses plastic-eating bacteria to turn mixed plastic waste into useful chemicals could make plastic recycling more profitable. These chemicals are more valuable than recycled plastic, and the process could also save money on sorting.
World Recycling
How flip-flop art helps clean Kenya’s beaches
Flip-flops are one of the oldest styles of shoes in the world. We make over 1 billion of them every year, and one company in Kenya recycles them into colorful works of art.
For the first time in two years, no Christchurch recycling went to landfill
Christchurch residents have finally learnt a valuable life skill: do not put rubbish in your recycling bin. That means for the first time in two years, none of the city’s recycling had to be sent to landfill for a fortnight.
Charity connects communities through recycling laptops
Recycle a Device, or RAD, connects those in need with digital devices. It gets laptops into the hands of people that need them most, while diverting e-waste from landfill.k to take up that challenge.
‘We are truly recycling plastic here in Southland’
A Southland business aims to recycle a tonne of agricultural plastic an hour in its new $2 million plant — the first of its kind in the country.
University Student Invents Solar Panels Made From Food Waste
When Carvey Ehren Maigue’s transition glasses darkened as rain clouds blanketed the sky, he realized something that the creator and manufacturers of solar panels have been missing for decades. Apparently, ultraviolet light still comes through the blanket of heavy rainclouds.
Your next necklace may have gold from an old phone
Jewellery brands big and small have been turning to e-mining, using metals reprocessed from devices such as mobile phones, laptops, gaming consoles and graphics cards as an alternative to mined materials.
Fiji pilots recycling project
Fiji is the first of three countries to pilot a recycling project that will result in recyclable material being transported from the outer islands and Vanua Levu to Suva for processing.
Better Recycling: These Superworms Can Digest Non-Biodegradable Styrofoam
Researchers have discovered a species of superworms that feasts on styrofoam, and its gut could hold the secret to better recycling. The superworms are the larvae of Zophobas morio darkling beetles, and were discovered by University of Queensland researchers.
World leaders agree to draw up ‘historic’ treaty on plastic waste
World leaders, environment ministers and other representatives from 173 countries have agreed to develop a legally binding treaty on plastics, in what many described a truly historic moment.
Thais make amulets from plastic waste to inspire more recycling
Hoping to inspire more Thais to recycle plastic waste, two local companies have teamed up to make Buddhist amulets by using nine types of recyclable materials ranging from plastic bottles to nylon fishing nets.
Why your ‘wishcycling’ can do more harm than good
Contaminating the waste stream with material that is not actually recyclable makes the sorting process more costly because it requires extra labor. Wishcycling also damages sorting systems and equipment and depresses an already fragile trading market.