Engineering researchers are developing a unique method to increase the recycling of soft plastics by creating a smart robot that can identify, sort and separate different types of recyclable waste.
World Recycling
Unilever introduces paper-based bottles for laundry detergent
Unilever is set to launch its first paper-based bottles for laundry detergent in Brazil next year, with an ambition in place to introduce the packaging across Europe thereafter.
Major food brands launch fund for bag, pouch recycling
Mars UK, Mondelez International, Nestle, PepsiCo and Unilever have jointly launched a $1.5 million fund that aims to invest in efforts to make plastic bags, wrappers, firms, pouches, packets and sachets easier for consumers to recycle.
Classroom in the rubbish: Lessons to be learned on the recycling frontline
Get the recycling right – teach them when they are young – and we will start seeing a change for future generations. That’s the message behind a new education room at Hamilton’s recycling plant.
Polypropylene recycling from carpet waste
A significant part of carpet waste consists of petroleum-based polypropylene. As a non-recyclable product, disposing of it has previously meant incineration or landfill. However, a new solvent is now making it possible to recover virgin-standard polypropylene from carpet waste.
Pandemic mask mountain sets new recycling challenge
Researchers in Australia want to transform single-use COVID masks into road material. In the United States, the protective gear is recycled into benches. And in France, they are reborn as floor carpets for cars.
EU to Toughen Rules on Offshore Platform, Ship Recycling
The European Union has said it will toughen its rules on ship recycling and decommissioning offshore oil and gas sites, and set new targets to restore damaged marine ecosystems.
Toothpaste tube recycling on the way
After five years of research and development Colgate says it has developed a first-of-its-kind plastic recyclable toothpaste tube in a bid to reduce the 50 million tubes that end up in landfill every year.
Superdry and Morrisons sign up to clear polythene recycling initiative
Mainetti, the global retail solutions provider, has started working with a number of retailers – including Superdry, Nutmeg at Morrisons and Very.co.uk – to provide a ‘world first’ closed loop clear polythene recycling initiative, Mainetti Polyloop.
Cleaning up the plastic pollution pandemic
The pandemic has seen a surge in single-use plastics, with disposable masks, gloves and other PPE equipment ceaselessly washing up on beaches across the globe. If we act now, this could be a pivotal moment.
Microwaves could be the future for plastic recycling
It’s been almost a decade since Jocelyn Doucet first experimented with recycling plastic waste in a microwave. Now he says the technology derived from those early efforts will make it possible to produce plastic almost exclusively from recycled materials.
Divers find Philippine reef covered with single-use face masks
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is washing up on coral reefs close to the Philippine capital, Manila. Environmental groups are warning that the plastic inside face masks is breaking down and being consumed by marine wildlife.