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Tag Archives: marine debris

Hawai’i Megaplastic Pollution Research Center takes shape

Published: February 14, 2024
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The Hawai’i Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research created a Megaplastic Pollution Research Program to accelerate plastic marine debris removal and recycling in the Hawaiian Islands. | Richard Chapman – UK/Shutterstock

Marine pollution abatement, a boost to the local economy and a way to help solve the local housing crisis: A proposed project to turn marine plastic into durable infrastructure could provide all three on the island of Oahu, Hawai’i. Continue Reading

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Group urges Congress to ban EPS foodservice items

Published: September 6, 2023
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In addition to its proposed ban on EPS packaging, Ocean Conservancy wants to ensure banned items aren’t simply replaced by other single-use plastic items. | Courtesy of Ocean Conservancy

As it kicks off its 38th International Coastal Cleanup, environmental group Ocean Conservancy is calling for a nationwide ban on expanded polystyrene foodservice packaging.  Continue Reading

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US-supported PET facility opens in Indonesia

Published: July 18, 2023
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Prevented Ocean Plastic Southeast Asia opened an aggregation center in Semarang, Indonesia, with a capacity of about 500 metric tons per month. | Courtesy of Prevented Ocean Plastic

A company that specializes in collecting PET and other plastics at risk of entering the ocean continues to expand its collection infrastructure in Southeast Asia with support from the U.S. government.  Continue Reading

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Post-consumer plastics find uses in furniture, polymers

Published: June 21, 2023
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Innovative designers are developing applications for recycled content that range from industrial molding and compounding to residential seating. | Courtesy of Herman Miller

Two companies are marketing chairs made from recycled content, and another two debuted lines of post-consumer polymers.
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Study: Reclaimers discharge ample microplastics

Published: May 9, 2023
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Researchers found that one UK facility discharged somewhere between 59 and 1,184 metric tons of microplastics in a single year. | Microgen/Shutterstock

Research from the UK found that plastic recycling facilities are discharging microplastics into water systems and suggested both further research and stronger wastewater filtration systems to address the pollution.   Continue Reading

British Columbia gets fourth Ocean Plastic Depot

Published: February 7, 2023
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Nonprofit Ocean Legacy Foundation partnered with the Regional District of Mount Waddington to open an Ocean Plastic Depot at 7 Mile Landfill and Recycling Centre. | Courtesy of the Ocean Legacy Foundation

British Columbians have another place to recycle plastics collected during shoreline, ocean and industrial cleanups. Continue Reading

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Firm moves brands’ dollars into collection infrastructure

Published: August 31, 2022
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RePurpose Global workers recycling plastics.

RePurpose Global is currently working with over 250 businesses around the world to reduce their plastic impacts through an offset credit system. | Courtesy of RePurpose Global

The majority of Fortune 500 companies are not on track to achieve their packaging sustainability commitments, a reflection of the gap between goals and on-the-ground impacts, Peter Wang Hjemdahl said.

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Ocean Conservancy withdraws 2015 ocean plastics report

Published: July 19, 2022
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Marine debris-Molishka-Shutterstock

The Ocean Conservancy has withdrawn its support for incineration as a way to combat plastic pollution. | Molishka/Shutterstock

A top environmental watchdog has rescinded its influential 2015 report, which pointed the finger at Asia for ocean-bound plastic generation and included incineration and waste-to-energy as solutions to pollution.

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Bottle cap effort highlights recycling as pollution solution

Published: June 29, 2022
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Students in Conn. with collected bottle caps.

Connecticut students collected nearly 4 tons of bottle caps for recycling through a collaborative effort. | Courtesy of SoundWaters

Connecticut middle school students, with help from processor UltraPoly and other entities, recently collected 2.5 million plastic caps and recycled them into end products as part of a lesson on microplastics.

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Recycled-content roundup: Electronics, seating and more

Published: February 23, 2022
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Viren chair from Fortum

European company Fortum developed a post-consumer plastic chair to showcase how recycled plastic compounds can be used for more technical and challenging products. | Courtesy of Fortum

Several companies have announced progress toward recycled-content goals and new products made from recycled plastics. Here’s a roundup of recent developments.

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