It turns out those ‘biodegradable’ plastic shopping bags might not be as good for the environment as first thought. A first-of-its-kind study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, found biodegradable bags were still able to carry shopping after being submerged in soil and water for three years. For the study, researchers spent three years running tests […]
‘Biodegradable’ plastic bags still carry groceries three years in soil and sea – Australia
April 30th, 2019 by Ross HeadifenIndonesian environmentalists accuse Australia of ‘smuggling’ plastic waste following China ban
April 30th, 2019 by Ross HeadifenOriginal story Indonesian environmentalists are calling on Australia to tighten its regulation and enforcement of waste exports to foreign countries, claiming it is effectively “smuggling”huge amounts of plastic and waste paper supposedly sent for recycling. Key points: Since a Chinese ban on foreign waste imports Australian exports to Indonesia have increased Activists accuse Australian companies of […]
Preventing a global recycling Armageddon – Australia
February 26th, 2019 by Ross HeadifenOriginal article The introduction of the China Sword policy has left local kerbside recyclers with recycled materials that no longer meet the quality specifications required by global processors. The heydays of exporting to China have ended – with no plan B. Simply put, Australia does not have sufficient recycling processing infrastructure in place to recycle […]
US Cities Face “Moment Of Reckoning” As China Halts Trash Imports
February 25th, 2019 by Ross HeadifenOriginal link While an unrelenting river of garbage with nowhere to go might be a mafioso’s dream, small towns like Chester City, PA., a small town in Delaware County that is best known as Philly’s waste pit, is demanding that something be done since China’s sleeper ban on recycling imports – which arose from Beijing’s […]
The Immense, Eternal Footprint Humanity Leaves on Earth: Plastics
February 25th, 2019 by Ross HeadifenOur Footprint If human civilization were to be destroyed and its cities wiped off the map, there would be an easy way for future intelligent life-forms to know when the mid-20th century began: plastic. From the 1950s to today, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced, with around half of it made since […]
The ‘recycling crisis’ may be here to stay – Australia
February 20th, 2019 by Ross HeadifenOver the weekend, Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority issued notices for a major recycling company to stop receiving waste at two of its sites. While the full consequences of these notices are yet to be realised, in the short term this means at least one council will have to dump kerbside recycling in landfill. However, the […]
Breaking down bioplastics myths, realities
February 8th, 2019 by Ross HeadifenSource Article Ask any 10 people what bioplastics are, and the odds are that nine will get it wrong. In the past, misunderstandings and misconceptions about bioplastics have tended to color the perception of these materials in the market, and these prejudices are still evident even today. Feedstock, supply and processability concerns, coupled with a […]
Here’s what happens to our plastic recycling when it goes offshore – Australia
January 31st, 2019 by Ross HeadifenSource: The Conversation Last year many Australians were surprised to learn that around half of our plastic waste collected for recycling is exported, and up to 70% was going to China. So much of the world’s plastic was being sent to China that China imposed strict conditions on further imports. The decision sent ripples around […]
