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.
Tag: Waste Materials and Disposal
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.
To Make This Tofu, Start by Burning Toxic Plastic
Plastic waste from America, collected for recycling, is shipped to Indonesia. Some is burned as fuel by tofu makers, producing deadly chemicals and contaminating food.
Scientists Solve a Puzzle: What’s Really in a Fatberg
The grisly results of an autopsy in the U.K. were made public on Friday, and they were not pretty. But they did hold a few surprises.