August 2023 - Plastic Waste Solutions
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Plastic linked to cancer risk across production, use, and disposal: study
Posted on August 30, 2023 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting RegulationsIn what is considered a landmark study, a team of international researchers has identified cancer risk – and other human health findings – associated with the production, use, and disposal of plastic. Source: Plastic linked to cancer risk across production,...
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Presence of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Paper Straws Highlights the Inanity of Plastic Straw Bans
Posted on August 30, 2023 by DrRossH in Plastic StrawsA new study from Belgian researchers found that paper straws had higher concentrations of long-lasting, water resistant "forever chemicals" than plastic or steel straws. Source: Presence of 'Forever Chemicals' in Paper Straws Highlights the Inanity of Plastic Straw Bans
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Environmental advocates lodge ACCC complaint over ‘ocean plastic’ products – Australia
Posted on August 28, 2023 by DrRossH in Plastic RecyclingMore consumer products are claiming to be made from recycled ocean or ocean-bound plastics, but green groups say the claims are difficult to prove and may be misleading consumers. Source: Environmental advocates lodge ACCC complaint over 'ocean plastic' products - ABC...
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Unwrapping the recyclability problem: From food packaging materials to consumer responsibility
Posted on August 18, 2023 by DrRossH in Plastic RecyclingIf relevant stakeholders – from government to industry and consumers – play their part, recyclability can be improved and plastic pollution eliminated, believes NGO WRAP. Source: Unwrapping the recyclability problem: From food packaging materials to consumer responsibility
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Fighting microplastics one beach at a time with Deakin – Australia
Posted on August 17, 2023 by DrRossH in Plastic Waste NewsA team of Deakin University materials scientists are spearheading research to promote behavioural changes to combat the microplastics problem. Source: Fighting microplastics one beach at a time with Deakin - Inside Water Invisible plastics giant problem Sutti is keen to use...
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Pact Group can make a wheelie bin a minute at its new facility
Posted on August 15, 2023 by DrRossH in GeneralPact Group can make a new recycled plastic wheelie bin in a minute using new equipment at its facility in Braeside, Victoria. Source: Pact Group can make a wheelie bin a minute at its new facility The plastic bins can...
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Companies tackle plastic waste using Cat-HTR technology – Australia
Posted on August 15, 2023 by DrRossH in Plastic RecyclingCompanies involved in the packaging supply chain have come together to utilise Australian-developed Cat-HTR technology. Source: Companies tackle plastic waste using Cat-HTR technology - Inside Waste Cat-HTR is an advanced hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology, which uses hot, pressurised water to...
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Councils join together to solve recycled plastics problem – Australia
Posted on August 10, 2023 by DrRossH in Plastic RecyclingNew roads mixed with recycled plastics at 10 sites across Victoria will demonstrate a viable circular-economy solution to the nation. Source: Councils join together to solve recycled plastics problem - Inside Waste This is not a circular economy step. It...
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How do we create a real circular economy? – Waste Management Review
Posted on August 9, 2023 by DrRossH in Plastic RecyclingMike Ritchie, Managing Director MRA Consultancy Group, delves into resource consumption and the creation of a more circular economy. Source: How do we create a real circular economy? - Waste Management Review So what does a circular economy look like?...
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Container Deposit Schemes: Where to from here? – Australia
Posted on August 9, 2023 by DrRossH in Plastic RecyclingAustralia is on the cusp of being the only continent to be fully covered by container deposit refund schemes. Source: Container Deposit Schemes: Where to from here? - Waste Management Review Alex Young, Director of the Container Deposit Scheme at...
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How many people today grab a takeaway coffee cup from the local cafe to drink on the go? We don’t know, but the number must be enormous.. Most every one of the above have a plastic top that will last 100s of years. Some cafes still use plastic cups that last a similar time. Is 10 minutes of coffee worth 100s of years of trash?
These items can be seen littering our gutters and on our streets all over the place. If they were all cardboard, they would still be littered, but they would, at least, be gone in a short time.
They do not need to be made of plastic.
On the way home from the gym last week, a distance of about 1 km (1/2 mile), I counted the items of plastic litter on the curb as I walked. In that short distance I counted 63 pieces of plastic litter. Plastic drink bottles, bottle tops, candy wrappers, plastic film, polystyrene fragments etc. That seemed to be a lot to me. I guess it is a generational thing. Our parents would have been horrified to see that amount, whereas it seems to go unnoticed by our youth of today. In another 20 years how many pieces will there be on this stretch, -- 200? What will today’s youth think of that new amount then when they are older? Will their children be so readily accepting of a higher amount of litter?