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.
Tag: Waste Materials and Disposal
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.
A Common Charger for All Phones? The E.U. Is on the Case
The proposal could save costs and thousands of tons of electronic waste, advocates say, but previous measures have fizzled.
Indonesia Lets Plastic Burning Continue Despite Warning on Toxins
The Indonesian government pushed back on an international study that found high levels of dioxin in a village where plastic is burned to produce tofu.
To Make Sense of Lebanon’s Protests, Follow the Garbage
The country’s perpetual refuse crisis is just one example of the government corruption and dysfunction that have brought protesters into the streets.