Pulverised fuel ash: how we can recycle the dirty byproduct from coal-fired power stations: The pulverised fuel ash from coal-fired power stations is typically stored in landfill. Sponner/Shutterstock The ash from burning coal in coal-fired power stations lies in thousands of landfills around the world. This waste material, generally considered a hazard, is now being …
Recycling: what you can and can’t recycle and why it’s so confusing: Recycling can be a bit of a headache. Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock When it comes to recycling are you a wishcycler? No, I didn’t know what this term meant until recently either – apparently it’s when people try to recycle items that should be thrown away …
Seven ways to recycle heat and reduce carbon emissions: Heating of space and water in buildings accounts for about 44% of all energy consumed globally according to the International Energy Agency. This heat is still overwhelmingly generated by burning fossil fuels, making it an enormous source of the carbon emissions driving climate change. But you …
Solar panels: we need to recycle parts of them to use again and avoid a mountain of waste: panelsshutterstock Billions of solar panels globally will soon come to the end of their lives, but when they get thrown away, essential materials that are needed to make future panels are being wasted. It is estimated that …
We developed a simple process to recycle urine. Here’s how it’s done: shutterstock Every year on November 19, the United Nations celebrates one of public health’s greatest inventions – the toilet. Those who are fortunate enough to have access to one spend more than a year of their lives on it, yet millions of people …
What happens to the plastic you recycle? Researchers lift the lid: Air Images/Shutterstock The secretive way in which plastic recycling is handled in the UK carries the potential for the next big scandal. While the government’s statutory guidance is supposed to clarify who is responsible, our research suggests that what happens to plastics we believe …
How to recycle a huge ship – safely and sustainably: A large cargo ship waiting to be scrapped in Alang, India. Salvacampillo / shutterstock Shipbreaking is among the most dangerous jobs in the world, according to the International Labour Organisation. This is the process of breaking up huge old ships into spare parts. It almost …
Why the pandemic could slash the amount of plastic waste we recycle: A startup in Lagos, Nigeria hopes to help manage the recent deluge of plastic waste. EPA-EFE/AKINTUNDE AKINLEYE The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of plastic medical and protective equipment, such as single-use gloves, masks and aprons. Much of this equipment must be …