The world is facing a waste problem. Two methods stand out in handling organic waste: aerobic composting and anaerobic digestion. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. They rely on tiny helpers, called microbes, to break down waste. These microbes work in different ways depending on what they are fed. This is crucial because it affects how well they can clean up ...
Electronic waste is a big problem. It's full of valuable metals that can be reused. One way to get these metals is through bioleaching. This process uses tiny organisms to pull out metals from waste. A recent study focused on getting pure copper from old printed circuit boards. This is important because copper is used in many things, like wires and electronics. The ...
Waste materials are often seen as a problem. However, they can be a solution. They can help fight climate change. This is what a recent study shows. The study looked at different waste materials. These materials can capture carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a big part of landfill gas. This gas comes from trash in landfills. It is mostly methane and carbon dioxide. ...
The rise of mobile phone users worldwide has led to a massive increase in electronic waste. Many people do not know how to properly sort e-waste. This waste ends up mixed with other trash, making it impossible to recycle. Fixing this problem requires understanding why mobile phone repairers do not separate e-waste. This is important because they handle a lot of e...
The mushroom industry is booming, and with it, a growing problem: what to do with all the leftover mushroom substrate? This stuff, known as spent mushroom substrate or SMS, is full of useful enzymes. These enzymes can help tackle another waste issue: old jute fabric. Usually, treating jute fabric involves harsh chemicals and lots of time. But what if SMS could change...
The world of waste management has seen a fascinating development. Tiny organisms, known as Acidithiobacillus, have been put to work to pull out valuable metals from trash. These microbes have traditionally been used to extract metals from rocks. Now, they are being trained to do the same with waste from incinerators. This shift in focus has led to some interesting d...
Lebanon is facing a waste crisis. The country's informal waste sector is a big part of the problem. The informal sector is made up of workers who collect and sort waste without any official rules or support. This might sound like a good thing, but it's not. It creates a lot of problems. The informal sector has grown a lot because of the economic crisis. More pe...
In the quest for sustainability, waste management is a crucial battleground. Many cities are turning to digital tools to tackle this challenge. Two cities, Taipei and Sukunan in Indonesia, are leading the way. They are showing how technology can boost recycling and cut emissions, especially in tourism hotspots. Digital tools are making waste management smarter and m...
The heat from city trash dumps is a big deal. In Tamil Nadu, India, cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Erode are feeling the burn. These places have huge piles of trash that are not managed well. This trash is not just an eyesore; it's also a fire hazard. The heat from the trash can get so high that it can start fires on its own. This is a big problem because it ca...
Denim is everywhere. It's tough, it's blue, and it's a staple in closets worldwide. But what happens when our favorite jeans wear out? Most end up in landfills or are burned, which is a huge waste. Over 80% of discarded denim meets this fate. That's a lot of wasted material. Imagine if we could give old denim a new life. A recent strategy shows promise. Firs...