February 2019 - Plastic Waste Solutions
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Preventing a global recycling Armageddon – Australia
Posted on February 26, 2019 by DrRossH in Plastic Waste NewsSource: Preventing a global recycling Armageddon | Food & Beverage Recycling Armageddon 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...
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The Immense, Eternal Footprint Humanity Leaves on Earth: Plastics
Posted on February 25, 2019 by DrRossH in Plastic Waste NewsMore than 8 billion metric tons of plastic have been made since the 1950s, researchers found. Because it does not degrade, most is still in the environment. Source: The Immense, Eternal Footprint Humanity Leaves on Earth: Plastics Most of the plastic...
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US Cities Face “Moment Of Reckoning” As China Halts Trash Imports
Posted on February 25, 2019 by DrRossH in Plastic Waste NewsSource: US Cities Face "Moment Of Reckoning" As China Halts Trash Imports Contrary to the common wisdom that recycling will save the sea turtles, the reality is that most of the recyclables collected in the US are incinerated or thrown...
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The Hague and Utrecht are going to ban air balloons – Netherlands
Posted on February 22, 2019 by DrRossH in BalloonsNo more balloons will be allowed in The Hague and Utrecht soon. It is still unknown when the prohibition comes into effect and what kind of penalty will be imposed on it. Source: The Hague and Utrecht are going to...
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Will Oregon become the second state to ban plastic shopping bags? – USA
Posted on February 21, 2019 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting RegulationsLawmakers, environmental groups and the grocery industry are supporting a bill to get rid of single-use bags statewide. Source: Will Oregon become the second state to ban plastic shopping bags? Lawmakers, environmental groups and the grocery industry are supporting a bill...
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The ‘recycling crisis’ may be here to stay – Australia
Posted on February 20, 2019 by DrRossH in Plastic Waste NewsChina's refusal to take Australia's rubbish has started to bite, and it's clear we're not ready to deal with the consequences. Source: The 'recycling crisis' may be here to stay The largest portion of responsibility for waste management lies with the...
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Tobacco, plastic bag bans spur SC debate over who makes rules – USA
Posted on February 19, 2019 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting RegulationsSC lawmakers have been unusually busy the last three years stepping on city and county toes, trying to limit what locals can do to regulate vaping, plastic bags and more. The winner? Big business, critics say Source: Tobacco, plastic bag...
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Potential emergency plastic tax by 2021: report – Australia
Posted on February 13, 2019 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting RegulationsThe plastic waste crisis is expected to deepen, potentially leading to an emergency tax by 2021, according to global wealth manager Credit Suisse. Source: Potential emergency plastic tax by 2021: report - Waste Management Review It argues that reactionary policy measures...
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Plastic bags could be banned in Connecticut — and sooner than you think – Hartford Courant – USA
Posted on February 11, 2019 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting RegulationsDemands for a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags are putting Connecticut lawmakers under increasing pressure. More than a score of state municipalities either already have passed or are considering local ordinances to ban or place fees on environmentally damaging...
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Long Island town bans intentional release of balloons – USA
Posted on February 11, 2019 by DrRossH in BalloonsThose found violating the ban face up to a $1,000 fine and up to 15 days in jail - the same punishment for littering. Source: Long Island town bans intentional release of balloons Henn said balloons can kill marine life and...
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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?