New research shows that the amount of fragments embedded in the sea floor is far more than the plastic floating on the ocean’s surface.
Tag: Waste Materials and Disposal
‘Super-Enzyme’ Speeds Up Breakdown of Plastic, Researchers Say
A new cocktail of enzymes that degrades plastic faster is a step to fully recycling soda bottles and other waste, British and American researchers said this week.
Left Litter in the Park? Thailand Officials Will Mail It to Your Home
After campers left trash in a national park, park employees tracked them down, mailed the garbage back and reported them to the authorities.
After Fighting Plastic in ‘Paradise Lost,’ Sisters Take On Climate Change
Melati and Isabel Wijsen began campaigning to reduce plastic waste in Bali seven years ago. Now 19 and 17, they say the pandemic shows that stark measures to protect the planet are possible.
Sewer Cleaners Wanted in Pakistan: Only Christians Need Apply.
In Pakistan, descendants of lower-caste Hindus who converted to Christianity centuries ago still find themselves marginalized, relegated to dirty jobs and grim fates.
Jakarta’s Trash Mountain: ‘When People Are Desperate for Jobs, They Come Here’
The scavengers who make a living picking plastic, metal and even bones from a huge landfill face additional misery as the global economic slowdown closes the recycling centers they count on.
The Plastic-Hunting Pirates of the Cornish Coast
The Clean Ocean Sailing initiative removes plastic waste from areas of England’s coastline that are inaccessible by foot.
Americans Coping With the Coronavirus Are Clogging Toilets
Sewage systems and toilets are backing up as consumers clean their homes with disinfectant wipes and turn to paper towels, napkins and baby wipes to cope with the lack of toilet paper.
Europe Wants a ‘Right to Repair’ Smartphones and Gadgets
The European Union is seeking to help consumers fix or upgrade devices, rather than replace them, as part of a 30-year push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
China Says It Will Ban Plastics That Pollute Its Land and Water
Though likely to be welcomed by many Chinese who worry about pollution, the measures could be a hard sell for a society used to convenience.