Tootfinder

"DIY plastic recycling made easy: How a global community is fighting plastic pollution"
#Recycling #Plastic #Plastics

Bangladesh turns to nature for biodegradable plates to replace plastic ones https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/07/bangladesh-turns-to-nature-for-biodegradable-plants-to-replace-plastic-ones/

Bangladesh turns to nature for biodegradable plates to replace plastic ones
In Bangladesh, disposable tableware, including plates made of areca palm leaves, is gaining popularity as a good alternative to single-use plastic during social gatherings and festival celebrations, Mongabay’s Abu Siddique reported in May. A survey from 2018 estimates that Bangladesh used around 250 metric tons of single-use plastic tableware and straws every month. However, since […]

"Hungry bugs and disappearing bioplastics hold key to ending plastic waste crisis, say scientists"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Hungry bugs and disappearing bioplastics hold key to ending plastic waste crisis, say scientists
Scientists are working with microbes found in Australia's unique ecosystem to create bioplastics which break down in land, soil and water. The research aims to tackle one of the most pressing global issues—single-use plastic food packaging: a significant feature of the plastic waste crisis and a special focus for Plastic Free July.

🚯 Postcard from California: Plastics ‘recycling’ – out of sight, out of mind
https://www.thenewlede.org/2025/07/postcard-from-california-plastics-recycling-out-of-sight-out-of-mind/

Postcard from California: Plastics ‘recycling’ – out of sight, out of mind
By Bill Walker Last year California shipped more than 156 million pounds of plastic waste to poor countries, with almost three-fourths sent to Mexico and another 44 million pounds sent to developing nations in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. That’s the reality behind the blue recycling bins Californians fill with plastic waste for curbside pickup. We may think we’re recycling, but we’re really sending much of our waste out of sight, out of mind.

"Plastics: All around us and inside us"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Plastics: All around us and inside us
Plastic is one of the most remarkable materials ever created. It's cheap, lightweight and endlessly versatile. It can be shaped into anything from shopping bags to lifesaving tools in hospitals, and it's clean, safe and can be sterilized. Depending on its purpose, it can be used just once—for example, in medical settings where hygiene is critical—or kept in service for years.

Most plastic either can't be recycled, or can only be recycled a few times (https://news.nationalgeographic.org/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-plastic-and-recycling/). Of course, the recycling process itself takes resources and ener…

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Plastic (and Recycling)
For many, environmentalism begins with the recycling symbol and ends at the recycling bin. The simple act of throwing something away into a large box marked wit...

E$^2$-TFA based multiscale analysis of failure in elasto-plastic composites
Harpreet Singh
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.16211 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.1621…

E$^2$-TFA based multiscale analysis of failure in elasto-plastic composites
This paper describes a novel homogenization methodology for analyzing the failure of elastoplastic composite materials based on elastic and eigen influence tensors-driven transformation field analysis ($\mathtt{E}^2$-TFA). The proposed technique considers the microscopic eigenstrain field accounting for intra-phase damage and inelastic strains. This results in realistic computations by alleviating the post-damage stiffness response, which is a drawback of TFA-based methods. We attain computatio…

Poster No 857: Plastic changes in the occipital regions during pitch perception associate with blindness onset age; "Specifically, the primary visual cortex remains engaged in pitch processing tasks following late blindness." https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15641972

I doubt these are the last 3 Tandon Data PACs in captivity but they may be.
I'm considering dismantling them and driving a spike through the drives.
For anyone wondering, they were removable drives that had 30Mb and 40Mb capacities. There was no controller electronics that was a separate board on the PC. And we had dual bay small tower PCs as well.
The original customer was Xerox.
Essentially they ate up remanufactured drives which otherwise had become difficult…

looks suspiciously like Model F’s they hollowed out and stuck some proto-LCARS transparent plastic in it—maybe these are accidentally the first RGB gamer keyboards ever
(Star Trek IV, 1986)

🎨 New catalyst could make mixed plastic recycling a reality
#chemistry

New catalyst could make mixed plastic recycling a reality
The future of plastic recycling may soon get much less complicated, frustrating and tedious. In a new study, Northwestern University chemists have introduced a new plastic upcycling process that can drastically reduce—or perhaps even fully bypass—the laborious chore of pre-sorting mixed plastic waste.

Le plastique c'est (pas) fantastique :
"Les forêts stockent les microplastiques transportés par l'air. Ces particules s'accumulent dans les sols sous l'effet de la pluie, de la chute des feuilles et de la décomposition."
Étude publiée dans Nature Communications Earth & Environment.
#plastique

One of SF's last live #punkrock music havens #TheeParkside threatened with closure as new #landlord bids $300k over bar's attempt to buy its shedlike building structure along 17th St. across from Jackson Playground at fo…

Urban Diaspora 🌐
城市放逐 🌐
📷 Nikon FE
🎞️Ilford FP4 Plus, expired 1994
buy me ☕️ ?/请我喝杯☕️？
#filmphotography

These three cute small trees just arrived, to join their relative, a nearly black Sambuca Negra. I discovered these pale yellow variants online and am planning on planting them together with the other one for the beautiful contrast.
(Shame about the plastic, but what a fantastic way to be able to try out plants that aren't available locally)

Pose Estimation of a Cable-Driven Serpentine Manipulator Utilizing Intrinsic Dynamics via Physical Reservoir Computing
Kazutoshi Tanaka, Tomoya Takahashi, Masashi Hamaya
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.17308

Pose Estimation of a Cable-Driven Serpentine Manipulator Utilizing Intrinsic Dynamics via Physical Reservoir Computing
Cable-driven serpentine manipulators hold great potential in unstructured environments, offering obstacle avoidance, multi-directional force application, and a lightweight design. By placing all motors and sensors at the base and employing plastic links, we can further reduce the arm's weight. To demonstrate this concept, we developed a 9-degree-of-freedom cable-driven serpentine manipulator with an arm length of 545 mm and a total mass of only 308 g. However, this design introduces flexibility…

Open burning of plastic is an escalating public health threat, say experts https://news.mongabay.com/2025/07/open-burning-of-plastic-is-an-escalating-public-health-threat-say-experts/

Open burning of plastic is an escalating public health threat, say experts
When Tiwonge Mzumara-Gawa was a child, her mother sent her to market with a basket woven from grasses. “But now we don’t do that,” she says, because plastic has taken over most utilitarian purposes in today’s Malawi. “You go and you get a plastic carrier, and they’re usually not reusable plastics.” In many Malawi communities, […]

Nice #ListeningClub reflection after a week that included 32 hours notice to disassemble my apartment as part of the rehab of our building
These will be my windows for the next two years 🫩

Average Polish idiot: "you gotta hunt them beavers down!"
City of #Poznań: wraps trees in plastic.
#forest #beaver

Severe plastic deformations, mechanochemistry, and microstructure evolution under high pressure: In Situ Experiments, Four-Scale Theory, New Phenomena, and Rules
Valery I. Levitas
https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.14721

Severe plastic deformations, mechanochemistry, and microstructure evolution under high pressure: In Situ Experiments, Four-Scale Theory, New Phenomena, and Rules
Processes involving severe plastic deformations (SPD) and phase transformations and chemical reactions (PTs/CRs) under high pressures are widespread for obtaining new nanostructured phases and their processing, mechanochemical synthesis, military applications, and nature. SPD strongly reduce the pressure required for PTs/CRs (by one-two orders of magnitude) and PT hysteresis; lead to hidden metastable phases, which cannot be obtained otherwise, and substitute reversible PTs/CRs with irreversibl…

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #Early
Radiohead:
🎵 Fake Plastic Trees
#Radiohead
https://sergioam.bandcamp.com/track/radiohead-fake-plastic-trees-acoustic-guitar
https://open.spotify.com/track/73CKjW3vsUXRpy3NnX4H7F

Die Verhandlungen über ein globales Abkommen gegen #Plastikverschmutzung sind erneut gescheitert.
Während über 100 Staaten Maßnahmen zur Reduktion der #Plastikproduktion fordern, setzen Öl-produzierende Länder weiter auf

Global plastic talks collapse as countries remain deeply divided
The latest round of UN-led talks have ended in deadlock, with disputes over plastic production and recycling.

The slow drip of science discovery & health, #microplastic version:
1) oh, look what we found: lots of small plastic particles are showing up.
(Collective yawning)
2) oh, this is interesting - they cover the full range of sizes from the visible to sub-micron scale.
(Collective yawning, continued)
3)Oh look, they are everywhere, and the really small ones show up ev…

The slow drip of science discovery & health, #microplastic version:
1) oh, look what we found: lots of small plastic particles are showing up.
(Collective yawning)
2) oh, this is interesting - they cover the full range of sizes from the visible to sub-micron scale.
(Collective yawning, continued)
3)Oh look, they are everywhere, and the really small ones show up ev…

"Action needed on plastic additives linked to sperm decline, experts warn"
#Plastic #Plastics #Health

This is a really cool insight about talking to people who like to use Midjourney/ChatGPT. The comparison with plastic use (and also car dependency) is great. For both of these things we know that they waste precious resources, pollute the environment and are health hazards. But even people who know this will still not let go because it's too much work. AI is not yet at this point but may soon be...

Multiscale contact mechanics for elastoplastic contacts
Andreas Almqvist, Bo N. J. Persson
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.14054 https://a…

Multiscale contact mechanics for elastoplastic contacts
Understanding contact between rough surfaces undergoing plastic deformation is crucial in many applications. We test Persson's multiscale contact mechanics theory for elastoplastic solids, assuming a constant penetration hardness. Using a numerical model based on the boundary element method, we simulate the contact between a rough, rigid surface and an elastic-perfectly plastic half-space with a flat surface. The theory's predictions for elastic, plastic, and total contact area agree quantitati…

Since when did Safari for iOS/iPadOS/macOS stop applying https to http links? I only ask because links like this below are totally valid and yet Safari is displaying the error message we’re used to seeing when it’s something more serious. http://www.milwaukeetaper.com/2025/07/pla

Plastic Crimewave Syndicate at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on May 5, 2023
Here is another recording from the wonderful 2023 edition of the Milwaukee Psych Fest. This tape features Plastic Crimewave Syndicate , a Ch...

Why were single use plastic straws banned, but not plastic cutlery or takeout cups with plastic lids? 🤔
#Sustainability #Environment #SingleUse

Plastic bag bans work, new study shows https://www.popsci.com/environment/plastic-bag-bans-working/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_content=other&utm_medium=mastodon

Plastic bag bans work, new study shows
Fees and restrictions on single-use grocery bags mean less trash enters the ecosystem.

"Unlocking the drivers of voluntary single-use plastic reduction"
#Plastic #Plastics
https://…

Unlocking the drivers of voluntary single-use plastic reduction
A belief that individual actions do make a meaningful difference is among the common factors that motivate people to voluntarily reduce their consumption of single-use plastics (SUP), a Griffith University study has discovered.

Up next: TACTICAL NUCLEAR MAYONNAISE
#ShamelesslyStolenFromSomewhereElseOnTheInternetHonestlyICantKeepTrackOfThisStuffAnymore

There's moss growing inside the roof panels of my greenhouse! (I'm guessing this isn't exactly desirable, but isn't hurting anything yet, plus it's cool)
#Mosstodon #mosstodonmonday

"Three reasons plastic pollution treaty talks ended in disagreement and deadlock (but not collapse)"
#Plastic #Plastics

Three reasons plastic pollution treaty talks ended in disagreement and deadlock (but not collapse)
Global plastics treaty talks in Geneva have ended without agreement after more than three years of negotiations.

Virtual failure assessment diagrams for hydrogen transmission pipelines
J. Wijnen, J. Parker, M. Gagliano, E. Mart\'inez-Pa\~neda
https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.18554

Virtual failure assessment diagrams for hydrogen transmission pipelines
We combine state-of-the-art thermo-metallurgical welding process modelling with coupled diffusion-elastic-plastic phase field fracture simulations to predict the failure states of hydrogen transport pipelines. This enables quantitatively resolving residual stress states and the role of brittle, hard regions of the weld such as the heat affected zone (HAZ). Failure pressures can be efficiently quantified as a function of asset state (existing defects), materials and weld procedures adopted, and …

Scientists identify 4,200 plastic chemicals of concern and highlight safer approaches https://phys.org/news/2025-07-scientists-plastic-chemicals-highlight-safer.html

Scientists identify 4,200 plastic chemicals of concern and highlight safer approaches
Countries are currently negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution and make plastics safer and more sustainable. Plastic chemicals are a core issue because all plastics, from food packaging to car tires, contain hundreds of chemicals that can leach into foodstuffs, homes, and the environment.

"Coca-Cola Changes Labels After Legal Challenge Over Plastic Bottle Recycling Claims"
#CocoaCola #Plastic #Plastics

Coca-Cola Changes Labels After Legal Challenge Over Plastic Bottle Recycling Claims | Happy Eco News
Legal challenges to plastic bottle recycling claims have forced major beverage companies to change their marketing practices. Coca-Cola removed misleading labels after European authorities found recycling claims deceived consumers. Similar investigations target Nestlé and Danone as global regulators increase scrutiny of environmental marketing across the industry.

Plastik-futternde Pilze:
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/plastic-eating-fungi-could-be-glimmer-hope-cutting-ocean-pollution-2024-08-08/
🍄‍🟫

#PreciousPlastic is a global community of people working towards a solution to plastic pollution. Knowledge, tools and techniques are shared online, for free
LET'S BUILD V.5:
==
We spent the last 10 years building a network of plastic recyclers around the world. Yet despite progress, only 10% of all plastic ever made has been recycled, the same as when we started

Decoding Plastic Toxicity: An Intelligent Framework for Conflict-Aware Relational Metapath Extraction from Scientific Abstracts
Sudeshna Jana, Manjira Sinha, Tirthankar Dasgupta
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.11330

Decoding Plastic Toxicity: An Intelligent Framework for Conflict-Aware Relational Metapath Extraction from Scientific Abstracts
The widespread use of plastics and their persistence in the environment have led to the accumulation of micro- and nano-plastics across air, water, and soil, posing serious health risks including respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological disorders. We propose a novel framework that leverages large language models to extract relational metapaths, multi-hop semantic chains linking pollutant sources to health impacts, from scientific abstracts. Our system identifies and connects entities acr…

ExxonMobil must face nuisance claim over non-recyclable plastic | Courthouse News Service
https://www.courthousenews.com/exxonmobil-must-face-nuisance-claim-over-non-recyclable-plastic/

A continuous damage accumulation scenario for elastomeric frictional wear
Ombeline Taisne, Julien Caillard, C\^ome Thillaye du Boullay, Marc Couty, Costantino Creton, Jean Comtet
https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.17860

A continuous damage accumulation scenario for elastomeric frictional wear
Understanding how materials wear off following frictional sliding is a long-standing question in tribology. In this respect, the particular case of the wear of soft rubbery elastomeric materials stands apart: tire wear produces several million tonnes of abraded materials per year, bearing immense industrial and environmental impact, while the soft nature of elastomers and their inability to accommodate plastic deformation before failure renders their wear mechanisms almost intractable. Here, we…

#NowPlaying the new LP 'Rooco Ruine' by Authentically Plastic (a Ugandan DJ and producer). This is some great instrumental electronica that really has catchy bits and bloops, just great stuff all over this one. Melody, beats, polyrhythms, all that good shit. @…

A few weeks ago we passed by a building with a sign "Cruz Foam" and we wondered what it was.
Well here it is...
"Bay Area biomaterials engineers say time’s up for plastic foam - How Santa Cruz nature lovers are creating biodegradable packing materials at cost and scale"
I really wish them success; I dislike styrofoam, especially that kind that breaks into little soft rice-grain sized beads.

Bay Area biomaterials engineers say time’s up for plastic foam
Could pea starch help reduce ocean plastics and become the new plastic?

Even if we survive climate change, plastic may yet finish the job
https://open.substack.com/pub/theclimatehistorian/p/even-if-we-survive-climate-change?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=e4my…

Physics-Based 3D Simulation for Synthetic Data Generation and Failure Analysis in Packaging Stability Assessment
Samuel Seligardi, Pietro Musoni, Eleonora Iotti, Gianluca Contesso, Alessandro Dal Pal\`u
https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.13989

Physics-Based 3D Simulation for Synthetic Data Generation and Failure Analysis in Packaging Stability Assessment
The design and analysis of pallet setups are essential for ensuring safety of packages transportation. With rising demands in the logistics sector, the development of automated systems utilizing advanced technologies has become increasingly crucial. Moreover, the widespread use of plastic wrapping has motivated researchers to investigate eco-friendly alternatives that still adhere to safety standards. We present a fully controllable and accurate physical simulation system capable of replicating…

OMG, these are so yum. Why did I not know how delicious teething biscuits are?
Babies get all the good stuff.

Can you guess what this is? 😉

Some traditions must be upheld!
Hardware hacking at the PostHog Hardware Hacknight 👍 with @…
#VCET #VTTA

Well, fuck. That's not supposed to happen...
#3dprinting
#fail

Salvador Dalí
White Aphrodisiac Telephone
1936
at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Lisbon

Hyperelastic nature of the Hoek-Brown criterion
Ilaria Fontana, Goustan Bacquaert, Daniele A. Di Pietro, Kyrylo Kazymyrenko
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.15813

Hyperelastic nature of the Hoek-Brown criterion
We propose a nonlinear elasto-plastic model, for which a specific class of hyperbolic elasticity arises as a straight consequence of the yield criterion invariance on the plasticity level. We superimpose this nonlinear elastic (or hyperelastic) behavior with plasticity obeying the associated flow rule. Interestingly, we find that a linear yield criterion on the thermodynamical force associated with plasticity results in a quadratic yield criterion in the stress space. This suggests a specific h…

Performance evaluation of compact plastic scintillating fiber modules for muon tomography applications
Yiyue Li, Huiling Li, Hui Liang, Cong Liu, Chenghan Lv, Hongbo Wang, Weiwei Xu
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.14674

Performance evaluation of compact plastic scintillating fiber modules for muon tomography applications
Muon tomography is a non-destructive imaging technique that exploits cosmic-ray muons from multiple directions. Its performance critically relies on stable, large-area, and high-resolution position-sensitive detectors. In this work, we report on the development of four compact scintillating fiber modules, each 100 cm long and composed of two staggered layers of 1 mm diameter fibers. The fibres are read out at one end by one-dimensional silicon photomultiplier arrays with a 2 mm pitch, coupled t…

"This fuel is 50% plastic — and it’s slipping through a loophole in international waste law"
#Plastic #Plastics

This fuel is 50% plastic — and it’s slipping through a loophole in international waste law
Environmental groups are concerned that rich countries are exporting plastic to poor countries in the form of “refuse-derived fuel.”

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #MiddayShow
Omni feat. Izzy Glaudini:
🎵 Plastic Pyramid
#Omni #IzzyGlaudini
https://omniatl.bandcamp.com/track/plastic-pyramid
https://open.spotify.com/track/1nxVYkAMpRqLaNLJdggYWa

I love this shot: it's raining cherries!
(There's a tree-shaker out of view.)
From Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/michigans-cherry-country-federal-safety-net-is-fraying-2025-08-16/

Die Verhandlungen über ein weltweites Abkommen zur Bekämpfung der #Plastikverschmutzung sind erneut gescheitert.
Streitpunkt bleibt, ob die Produktion von Kunststoffen und der Einsatz giftiger #Chemikalien gesetzlich geregelt werden sollen.
Besonders

⚗️ New device converts plastic waste into fuel using catalyst-free pyrolysis
#plastics…

New device converts plastic waste into fuel using catalyst-free pyrolysis
As tons of plastic waste continue to build up in landfills every day, Yale researchers have developed a way to convert this waste into fuels and other valuable products efficiently and cheaply. The results are published in Nature Chemical Engineering.

"Government Policies Drive Reduced Coastal Plastic Pollution on Australian Beaches"
#Plastic #Plastics #Pollution

Government Policies Drive Reduced Coastal Plastic Pollution on Australian Beaches | Happy Eco News
Australia has achieved reduced coastal plastic pollution with a 39% decrease over 10 years, according to new CSIRO research. The study of six cities shows government policies like plastic bans are working, though scientists say continued efforts from communities, industry, and policymakers remain essential for environmental protection.

Oil and plastic pollution from shipwreck raises concerns, legal scrutiny in India https://news.mongabay.com/2025/07/oil-and-plastic-pollution-from-shipwreck-raises-concerns-legal-scrutiny-in-india/

Oil and plastic pollution from shipwreck raises concerns, legal scrutiny in India
As shiny, pearl-like white plastic pellets rode wave after wave and piled up on the beaches of Thiruvananthapuram in India’s southern state of Kerala, local residents were first bemused, then baffled. Some, more enterprising than others, began collecting them in sacks with help from the local police — a first step in heading off what […]

"Scientists turn plastic waste into pain medicine"
#Plastic #Plastics #Medicine

Scientists turn plastic waste into pain medicine
Researchers have devised a way to make a commonly used pain and fever reduction medication from plastic waste. Yes, you read that right. They used genetically engineered microbes to transform a molecule obtained from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into paracetamol. Also known as acetaminophen, paracetamol is the active ingredient in widely available over-the-counter pain and […]

"Study reveals foot traffic as surprising driver of river pollution"
#Pollution #Environment
https://

Study reveals foot traffic as surprising driver of river pollution
A pilot study has revealed that everyday pedestrian movement—such as walking, kicking, or brushing past litter—can unintentionally propel waste into rivers, adding a previously overlooked human factor to the global plastic pollution crisis.

✨ Carbon-fiber smart plastic: Self-healing, shape-shifting and stronger than steel
#plastics

Carbon-fiber smart plastic: Self-healing, shape-shifting and stronger than steel
Aerospace engineering and materials science researchers at Texas A&M University have uncovered new properties of an ultra-durable, recyclable, smart plastic—paving the way for transformative applications in the defense, aerospace and automotive industries.

I think I found the problem with my Mac LC III's power supply...
Couldn't figure out why some things had lights (ZuluSCSI and network card) but not the system board. The yellow is the 12V connection...and it's corroded and broken the pin off. All the 5V stuff was working.
In a timely turn of events, the replacement pins and connector come today.
#retrocomputing

‘The ocean is spitting our rubbish back’: Italy’s museum of plastic pollution https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/09/italy-museum-of-plastic-pollution-faded-items-beaches-ocean

A novel geometric predictive algorithm for assessing Compressive Elastic Modulus in MEX additive processes, based on part nonlinearities and layers stiffness,validated with PETG and PLA materials
J. M. Mercado Colmenero, C. Martin Donate
https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.13164

A novel geometric predictive algorithm for assessing Compressive Elastic Modulus in MEX additive processes, based on part nonlinearities and layers stiffness,validated with PETG and PLA materials
The paper presents an innovative methodology based on the use of a new predictive algorithm created by the researchers capable of obtaining the elastic modulus of a plastic material manufactured with MEX and its mechanical behaviour in the elastic zone under compressive loads. The predictive algorithm only needs as input the compressive elastic modulus of the isotropic plastic material filament and the manufacturing parameters of the MEX process. The smart developed algorithm calculates the sti…

Study reveals the extent to which nanoplastic pollutes the North Atlantic #Atlantic

Study reveals the extent to which nanoplastic pollutes the North Atlantic
Plastic waste pollutes oceans across all regions of the world. Marine animals may become entangled in larger plastic debris such as nets and bags or mistake smaller pieces for food. Ingested plastic can block or injure the gastrointestinal tract. The smallest plastic particles in the micro and nano range are mostly excreted, but a small proportion can pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream.

Plastic bag bans linked to sharp decline in coastal litter, study finds https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/06/plastic-bag-bans-linked-to-sharp-decline-in-coastal-litter-study-finds/

Plastic bag bans linked to sharp decline in coastal litter, study finds
A new study finds that regional plastic bag bans in the U.S. significantly reduce coastal plastic bag litter compared with areas without such policies. Single-use plastic bags are one of the most ubiquitous forms of plastic litter. They are rarely recycled and degrade quickly into microplastics that are often ingested by wildlife, leading to injury, […]

"How microbes could help solve the world's plastic pollution crisis"
#Pastic #Plastics #Pollution

How microbes could help solve the world's plastic pollution crisis
With conventional waste management systems falling short, many scientists are turning to nature for innovative solutions to the issue of plastic waste. One promising avenue is microbial degradation: harnessing the natural abilities of certain bacteria and fungi to break down plastics in ways that current technologies cannot.

"‘The ocean is spitting our rubbish back’: Italy’s museum of plastic pollution"
#Italy #Plastic #Plastics

Here's my physics professor and friend Carl Franck and family after the Forest Frolic in James Kennedy State Forest on a rainy summer day
#photo #photography #ForestFriday

More than 200 lobbyists at UN’s plastic treaty talks will limit progress, campaigners warn https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/07/more-than-200-lobbyists-at-uns-plastic-treaty-talks-will-limit…

"Ditch your dish sponge, take a packed lunch: 33 easy plastic-free kitchen swaps"
#Plastic #Plastics #Kitchen

How about we stop producing and using plastic? This is getting absurdily ridiculous..
"Scientists have discovered that waxworm caterpillars can break down polyethylene plastic, one of the most common and persistent pollutants on Earth. These “plastivores” metabolize plastic into body fat within days, offering a striking potential solution to the global waste crisis. But there’s a twist: on a plastic-only diet, the caterpillars weaken and die quickly."
These “plastivore…

These “plastivore” caterpillars can devour a plastic bag in just 24 hours
Scientists have discovered that waxworm caterpillars can break down polyethylene plastic, one of the most common and persistent pollutants on Earth. These “plastivores” metabolize plastic into body fat within days, offering a striking potential solution to the global waste crisis. But there’s a twist: on a plastic-only diet, the caterpillars weaken and die quickly.

"The hidden plastic problem in your daily dental routine – and what’s being done about it"
#Plastic #Plastics #Dentist

The hidden plastic problem in your daily dental routine – and what’s being done about it
Why clean teeth may come at a dirty cost.

"Turning shopping bags into streets: Research tackles plastic waste"
#Plastic #Plastics #PlasticBags

Turning shopping bags into streets: Research tackles plastic waste
Discarded shopping bags and spent milk bottles could be given a second life by becoming part of critical infrastructure, new research published in Applied Sciences by Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found.

"More than 200 lobbyists at UN’s plastic treaty talks will limit progress, campaigners warn"
#UN #UnitedNations #Plastic

Central American countries most affected by plastic bottle pollution #America

Central American countries most affected by plastic bottle pollution
Most of the plastic bottles and caps that pollute the Pacific coasts of Latin American countries are of local origin, and are mainly produced by the multinational companies The Coca-Cola Company, Aje Group and PepsiCo. The countries most affected by these pollutants are those in Central America, probably due to high consumption of beverages in plastic containers, poor waste management and transport by ocean currents. On the island coasts, bottles of Asian origin are more abundant, probably dump…

"Plastic Overshoot Day: One-third of global plastic waste won’t be properly managed in 2025"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Rare pygmy whale swallows plastic bag and dies on Honduras coast #AnimalRights

Rare pygmy whale swallows plastic bag and dies on Honduras coast
A rare whale died off the coast of Honduras after ingesting a plastic bag in what's been described as a "tragic event."

"Why some ‘biodegradable’ wet wipes can be terrible for the environment"
#WetWipes #Environment

Why some ‘biodegradable’ wet wipes can be terrible for the environment
While non-plastic textiles are not as long-lived as plastics, they can last long enough to accumulate and cause damage to plants, animals and humans.

The clothes that never die: How fast fashion is burying Africa in plastic https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/08/the-clothes-that-never-die-how-fast-fashion-is-burying-africa-in-plastic/

The clothes that never die: How fast fashion is burying Africa in plastic
Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. Mountains of smoking waste sprawl across the Dandora dump in Nairobi, Kenya. The acrid stench clings to the air; marabou storks pick over scraps alongside people searching for plastic bottles or bones. Interspersed among the refuse are scraps […]

"Plastics industry subsidies ‘set to swell to $150bn by 2050’"
#Plastic #Plastics
https://www.

"Tidal marshes trap microplastics, raising risks for ecosystems and people"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Tidal marshes trap microplastics, raising risks for ecosystems and people
Freshwater tidal marshes, critical for wildlife and coastal protection, are now serving as microplastic catch basins, according to a team of researchers at Penn State. They recently found that these marshes trap large amounts of diverse plastics, with concentrations and ecological risks increasing downstream.

The invisible plastic threat you can finally see #environment

The invisible plastic threat you can finally see
Researchers in Germany and Australia have created a simple but powerful tool to detect nanoplastics—tiny, invisible particles that can slip through skin and even the blood-brain barrier. Using an "optical sieve" test strip viewed under a regular microscope, these particles reveal themselves through striking color changes.

"Plastic with a past: traceable pots made from reclaimed fishing nets"
#Plastic #Plastics
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Plastic with a past: traceable pots made from reclaimed fishing nets

Discarded fishing gear is getting a second life as elegant, origami-inspired planters - thanks to a Glasgow-based startup transforming ocean waste into smart design

"‘For some this is junk, for others food’: the shops collecting plastic waste and handing back cash"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Sri Lanka hit by plastic pollution after cargo ship sinks off Indian coast https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/07/sri-lanka-hit-by-plastic-pollution-after-cargo-ship-sinks-off-indian-coast/

Sri Lanka hit by plastic pollution after cargo ship sinks off Indian coast
Sri Lankan authorities, locals and environmentalists say they’re deeply concerned about the possible impacts on the country’s marine ecosystem and coastal communities from the sinking of a container ship off the southern coast of India in May, Mongabay contributor Malaka Rodrigo reported in June. The Liberia-flagged ship MSC Elsa 3 sank on May 25 about […]

"Reusable cups take center stage as venues ditch single-use plastic"
#Reusables #Environment

Reusable cups take center stage as venues ditch single-use plastic
Music venues, arenas and festivals across the United States are swapping single-use plastic cups for washable, reusable ones in a growing shift away from recycling toward full-scale reuse.Anna Phillips reports for The Washington Post.In short:About 200 U.S. venues now use r.World’s reusable drinkwar...

"Cigarette filters do nothing for smokers’ health and just create plastic pollution – they should be banned"
#Plastic #Plastics #Pollution

Cigarette filters do nothing for smokers’ health and just create plastic pollution – they should be banned
Cigarette filters are one of the biggest sources of plastic pollution and they serve no purpose.

"The global plastics crisis explained in 6 charts"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

The global plastics crisis explained in 6 charts
Research shows the extent of plastic pollution today — and why the U.N. is negotiating a treaty to keep it from getting worse.

"Plastics Cause Over $1.5 Trillion in 'Health-Related Economic Losses' Per Year Globally"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Plastics Cause Over $1.5 Trillion in 'Health-Related Economic Losses' Per Year Globally | Common Dreams
"Plastics are a grave, growing, and under-recognized danger to human and planetary health," says a new study published in The Lancet.

"Inside the Plastics Industry Playbook: Delay, Deny, and Distract"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Inside the Plastics Industry Playbook: Delay, Deny, and Distract
In an interview with e360, Saabira Chaudhuri, author of a new book on the history of the plastics industry, discusses how petrochemical companies worldwide have molded consumers to embrace convenience and disposability — no matter the environmental and public health costs.

"Australian ban on fish-shaped plastic soy sauce dispensers a world first"
#Australia #Plastic #Plastics

"UK MPs back global targets to reduce plastic production and pollution"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Plastic #Plastics

"‘Maddening’ Proof Plastics Industry Knew Recycling Was False Solution in 1974, New Document Shows"
#Plastic #Plastics #Recycling

‘Maddening’ Proof Plastics Industry Knew Recycling Was False Solution in 1974, New Document Shows
Exclusive finding by DeSmog shows high-level industry awareness that recycling plastic ‘not feasible’ as companies face lawsuits over alleged public deception campaign.

"World in $1.5tn ‘plastics crisis’ hitting health from infancy to old age, report warns"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Are you using #Skincare brands such as #Upcircle, #Flawless or #EvolveBeauty if so

Transforming Beauty: How Plastic Freedom is Redefining Skincare Packaging
Launched near the end of Plastic Free July, Plastic Freedom potentially has changed the refill market, making it easier, cheaper and more accessible across the United Kingdom. Beth, the owner of Plastic Freedom on social media, told her followers she had been planning these for ages, wanting to make refills

"Face masks release microplastics and chemicals that could harm people and the environment, study finds"
#Plastic #Plastics #Health

Face masks release microplastics and chemicals that could harm people and the environment, study finds
The global use of face masks surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, but many have since been discarded as waste, contributing to land and water pollution.