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Norway recycles 97% of its plastic bottles: a blueprint for the rest of the world?

Peter Yeung

February 26, 2019 |

Positive.News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Norway

Infinitum, a Norwegian company, aims to create a never-ending loop of plastic reuse and their deposit hub recycles 97 percent of the country’s plastic drink bottles. While critics question the focus on continuing to produce plastic since it relies on fossil fuels, similar collection schemes in other countries could reduce plastic waste.

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Robots decommission 700,000 munitions for recycling

David Szondy

February 24, 2019 |

New Atlas |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Anniston, Alabama

At a US Army facility in Alabama, nine robots, created by Sandia National Laboratories, was able to decommission and recycle army munitions. What has historically been a dangerous job for humans, these robots are able to safely recycle these parts that have typically been discarded in ways that aren’t exactly environmentally friendly.

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Oregon Bottle Deposit System Hits 90 Percent Redemption Rate

Cassandra Profita

February 04, 2019 |

NPR |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Oregon

Despite the overall downturn in recycling markets, Oregon recycled 90 percent of the beverage containers covered by its bottle deposit system, representing a huge jump from 64 percent the year before. Officials credit an expansion of the program to include more types of beverage containers and a doubling of the bottle deposit from 5 to 10 cents.

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Buffalo Exchange collects furs to give back to animals

Donny Morrison

February 03, 2019 |

Daily Emerald |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Eugene, Oregon

Second-hand clothing store Buffalo Exchange receives donations of difficult to sell fur coats and sends them to Coats for Cubs, which repurposes the coats into bedding for recovering wild animals. The real fur bedding soothes and comforts the animals as they recover.

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You Flushed the Toilet. They Made Some Bricks.

JoAnna Klein

January 31, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Australia, Melbourne, Australian Capital Territory

A civil engineer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University in Australia is converting biosolids, or disinfected leftovers from the water treatment process, into bricks for building. He claims they look, smell, and work the same as conventional fired clay bricks, but with an added benefit of saving land and energy and reducing carbon emissions.

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The shopping mall where everything is recycled

Dougal Shaw

January 29, 2019 |

BBC |

Broadcast TV Programs |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: Sweden, Eskilstuna

In Eskilstuna, Sweden, there is a different kind of shopping mall – one that sells used and upcycled goods. In an effort to combat consumerism and bolster sustainability, the mall, called ReTuna, is nicely curated and organized, making second-hand shopping mainstream. The mall sees 700 people each day, on average, and has sold nearly $3.5 million worth of items.

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This microplastic biodegrades instead of sitting around for hundreds of years

Adele Peters

January 28, 2019 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

Microfiber company PrimaLoft has developed a new insulation material for clothing like fleece jackets that is made from recycled fiber. Other materials can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, but the new material breaks down quickly in landfills and oceans.

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The natural products that could replace plastic

Adrienne Bernhard

January 28, 2019 |

BBC |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

As many governments and societies are waking up to the negative effects on the environment that comes with an overreliance on plastics, scientists, engineers, and designers are developing myriad new materials. From stone wool, in which igneous rocks are spun into fibers, to mycotecture, in which mushrooms and other fungi are turned into packaging and insulation, these new materials are helping turn the tide of climate change.

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How Teenage Sisters Pushed Bali To Say 'Bye-Bye' To Plastic Bags

Michael Sullivan

January 26, 2019 |

NPR |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Indonesia

The island nation of Indonesia is the world's second biggest polluter of marine plastics, which can be disastrous for its tourism industry, setting aside the obvious environmental hazards. But two sisters in Bali took on the problem head on in 2013 with Bye Bye Plastic Bags. After an online petition, the sisters launched massive beach cleanups, awareness campaigns, and community workshops. After enough momentum, the governor of Bali banned single-use plastic.

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These designers transform plastic waste into public furniture

Adele Peters

January 24, 2019 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Greece, Thessaloniki

Diverting trash from the landfill and into productive use is one way to help close the loop on consumer waste. In the Greek city of Thessaloniki, the Zero Waste Lab is turning plastic waste into new furniture for public spaces. The plastic is melted down and, using a 3D printer, reformed. The lab is supported by the Print Your City initiative, started by The New Raw a design studio based in the Netherlands, as well as by Coca-Cola.

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