Biodegradable plastics have been advertised as one solution to the plastic pollution problem bedeviling the world, but today's "compostable" plastic bags, utensils and cup lids don't break down during typical composting and ...
Polymers
Apr 21, 2021
4
1345
Takeaway coffees—they're a convenient start for millions of people each day, but while the caffeine perks us up, the disposable cups drag us down, with nearly 300 billion ending up in landfill each year.
Environment
Mar 1, 2021
1
6
Plastic in the ocean can be deadly for marine wildlife and seabirds around the globe, but our latest study shows single-use plastics are a bigger threat to endangered albatrosses in the southern hemisphere than we previously ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 17, 2021
1
463
Three veterinarians from Massey University's Wildbase Hospital have been involved with a recent study that has found single-use plastics are an underestimated but notable cause of albatross and fishery-related deaths in the ...
Ecology
Feb 9, 2021
0
2
Plastic is ubiquitous in people's lives. Yet, when plastic-containing items have fulfilled their missions, only a small amount is recycled into new products, which are often of lower quality compared to the original material. ...
Materials Science
Jan 27, 2021
1
12
A broad ban on single-use containers, forks, straws and other ubiquitous items takes effect in Mexico's capital, one of the world's largest cities, after more than a year of preparation.
Environment
Jan 2, 2021
2
136
While many cities and eight states have banned single-use plastics, bags and other polyethylene packaging still clog landfills and pollute rivers and oceans.
Materials Science
Dec 17, 2020
3
425
Every year, pounding rains wash away mountains of plastic waste from the streets of Jakarta, with some of it ending up as far away as Bali's beaches. So scientists are turning to satellites to trace the rubbish and figure ...
Environment
Dec 4, 2020
1
7
People are increasingly aware of the harm plastic waste causes to wildlife, and many would avoid buying single-use plastics if they could help it. But are the alternatives to plastic much better?
Environment
Nov 17, 2020
1
26
While plastics recycling is not new science, current processes don't make it economically worthwhile— waste plastics get "down-cycled" into lower grade, less useful material. It's a challenge that continues to be an obstacle ...
Materials Science
Oct 16, 2020
0
354
