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The recycling program helping migrants cut down contamination in Melbourne's outer west

Margaret Paul

November 24, 2019 |

ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Australia, Melbourne

Cities in Australia were facing a recycling problem, but realized it was related to a large migrant population and a language barrier with the word "recycling." To help address this problem Melbourne implemented the 'Waste Watcher' program, which provides hands-on education through recycling bin audits.

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Philadelphia's new toy library lets families save money — and the environment — while forming a community

Grace Dickinson

November 24, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Rutabaga Toy Library in Philadelphia - which was born out of a borrowed idea from Austin, Texas - helps parents afford to checkout donated toys for their kids by offering low-price memberships to families in the surrounding area. The business addresses the common trend that enables parents to throw old toys away and create unnecessary waste; instead, Rutabaga accepts donations to the toy library for other families to use while offering a space for sharing and community gathering.

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Bacterial allies make dengue fever cases dive

James Gallagher

November 22, 2019 |

BBC |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

To combat dengue fever, cities around the world are experimenting with injecting a bacterial ally into mosquito eggs that helps prevent the virus from growing inside the insects. Although the approach is still in early stages, the pilot cities are seeing a significant reduction in dengue cases so far.

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This Turkish chef is fighting climate change with the help of Syrian refugees

Jennifer Hattam

November 22, 2019 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Turkey, Mardin

The Turkish organization, Living Soil, Local Seed, is working with Turkish women and Syrian refugees to help rebuild and diversify the local agricultural system that was once thriving. Using local knowledge and surveys, the organization has gathered different varieties of native crops which it then uses to work with local farmers and employ women in order to create more complex ecological systems. In 2019, the program yielded over 400 tons of wheat and has proven to be more financially beneficial to farmers.

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San Francisco's Quest to Make Landfills Obsolete

Erick Trickey

November 21, 2019 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Reducing landfill waste takes a comprehensive approach. By implementing city-wide composting alongside trash collection and utilizing the sorting technology of Recology, the city’s municipal waste recovery company, San Francisco has significantly reduced the amount of waste residents send to landfills. Although it missed the ambitious target of achieving zero waste by 2020, the city aims to cut what it sends to landfills in half by 2030.

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How Behavioral Science Solved Chicago's Plastic Bag Problem

Leigh Giangreco

November 21, 2019 |

Politico |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

In 2016, the city of Chicago “became a municipal laboratory” to test the different ways to disincentivize the use of plastic bags. The city initially attempted eliminating plastic bags, which led to more paper waste. Then it levied a plastic bag tax of 7 cents, an effective behavioral nudge that decreased plastic bag use and increased city revenue. The effort is now spreading across Illinois, as part of a growing trend of decreasing plastic usage across the country.

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In Peoria, Green Infrastructure As a Path to Social Equity

Emily Nonko

November 20, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Peoria, Illinois

Green infrastructure provides a return on investment and improves the quality of life in a community. In Peoria, Illinois, the city’s Public Works Department has piloted several green infrastructure initiatives with the help of funding of a Bloomberg Philanthropies grant. Projects like the Well Farm at Voris Field, zero runoff streets are proving successful at capturing sewer runoff and creating economic value, while the youth volunteer PeoriaCorps are helping make the projects community-based.

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When Residents Support Solar—Just ‘Not in My Backyard'

Linda Poon

November 20, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Solar power panels are broadly supported across America, as concern about climate change increases; however, not all supporters want solar power plants in their backyard. Now, companies and local governments work to install these renewable energy sources while informing neighbors and stakeholders of the benefits of these plants.

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Green party: how are festivals upping their environmental credentials?

Lucy Douglas Laura Mahler

November 19, 2019 |

Positive.News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, London

Finding ways to implement circular systems reduces the environmental impact of festivals. The London-based nonprofit, a Greener Festival, works with festival planners across Europe to make events more sustainable. In addition to recycling and moving toward plant-based food options, a Greener Festival also leverages its partnerships to collect and reuse catered food through its EighthPlate initiative.

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When pet love comes to seniors, everybody's tail wags

Lauren J. Mapp

November 19, 2019 |

San Diego Union-Tribune |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

Several San Diego organizations bring pets into senior-living facilities and hospitals to provide the scientifically proven benefits of a pet's companionship. The focus on elderly people, including those with dementia, becomes a high point in the facilities' schedules. Research has shown pet therapy's benefits go beyond momentary comfort to emotional and even physical benefits.

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