http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/recycling_and_waste/ All about recycling and managing waste. Learn about waste management issues and new methods of recycling waste. Recycle! en-us Sat, 17 May 2008 01:05:01 EDT Sat, 17 May 2008 01:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/recycling_and_waste/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080516100942.htm People's concern in maintaining germ-free homes has led to the widespread use of anti-bacterial soaps and cleaning agents. But the active ingredients of those antiseptic soaps have come under scrutiny due to environmental and human health concerns. Now, researchers have shown that antimicrobial ingredients used a half a century ago persist today in estuarine sediments into which New York City and Baltimore have discharged their treated domestic wastewater. Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080516100942.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080515145345.htm Engineers have improved the power output of one type of fuel cell by more than 50 percent through technology that could help these environmentally friendly energy storage devices find a much broader market, particularly in portable electronics. Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080515145345.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513101555.htm A study of Florida beaches has shown that wet sand and dry sand above the intertidal zone have significantly more fecal bacteria than near-shore seawater. Scientists researched whether indicator bacteria survive longer in sand relative to open water and found that all feces-derived bacteria were capable of enhanced growth and survival in sand, while in seawater the bacterial populations steadily decreased over time. Wed, 14 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513101555.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080514171807.htm You might think that stocking the Great Lakes with things like trout and salmon would be good for the herring gull. The birds often eat from the water, so it would be natural to assume that more fish would mean better dining. But a new report published in the journal Ecology says that restoring fish has not been good for the birds. Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080514171807.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512105739.htm Reducing the level of contamination of water is the aim of a new line of research. Chemists are investigating chemical treatment capable of eliminating contaminants dumped by industry, in order to reuse the waste water. Industrial activity is one of the principal causes of contamination in water, given that industry dumps large amounts of chemical compounds into rivers that are not capable of degrading by themselves. Tue, 13 May 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512105739.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512090630.htm Discarded computer parts could one day wind up fueling your car. That's because researchers in Romania and Turkey have developed a simple, efficient method for recycling printed circuit boards into environmentally-friendly raw materials for use in fuel, plastic, and other useful consumer products. Mon, 12 May 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512090630.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512092420.htm Scientists in Louisiana are reporting development and successful testing of a new cost-effective system to kill unwanted plants and animals that hitch a ride to the United States in the ballast water of merchant ships. These so-called "invasive species," such as the notorious zebra mussel, devastate native organisms and infrastructure and cost taxpayers billions of dollars annually. Mon, 12 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512092420.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508115835.htm A novel gas sensor system makes it possible to monitor large areas cost-effectively the first time. The patented gas sensor is based on the principle of diffusion, according to which certain gases pass through a membrane faster than others. Using a tube-like sensor it is possible to measure an average gas concentration value over a certain distance without influencing or distorting conditions in the measuring environment. Fri, 09 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508115835.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507133314.htm National Geographic and the international polling firm GlobeScan will unveil results of a new mechanism for measuring and comparing consumer behavior concerning the environment. Fourteen thousand consumers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Spain and the United States were polled in this first-ever study of environmentally sustainable consumption and behavior. The study will be conducted annually and will assess progress people are making to protect the environment. Thu, 08 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507133314.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080506100325.htm Brightly colored dyes such as the shimmering Congo Red commonly used in silk clothing manufacture are notoriously difficult to dispose of in an environmentally benign way. Wed, 07 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080506100325.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080506163915.htm A recent study shows that mercury releases from products in the US declined dramatically between 1990 and 2005, but that they continue to be a significant source of environmental contamination. Mercury released from products contributes nearly one-third of total mercury emissions to the air in the US The findings offer a new view into the relative magnitudes of the different sources of mercury release. Wed, 07 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080506163915.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502172258.htm Detecting antibiotics in the environment could become easier to do, thanks to portable field kits developed and validated by a team of scientists. The team conducted studies showing that the kits, called enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), accurately detected trace amounts of sulfonamides, also known as "sulfa drugs," in wastewater samples. When these drugs are excreted in urine, for example, they can persist in the environment unchanged or as metabolites. Tue, 06 May 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502172258.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505072838.htm Fungi may have an important role to play in the fate of potentially dangerous depleted uranium left in the environment after recent war campaigns, according to a new report in Current Biology. Fungi can "lock" depleted uranium into a mineral form that may be less likely to find its way into plants, animals, or the water supply. Tue, 06 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505072838.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080430103945.htm Researchers have now quantified the amount of excess nitrogen removed from an urban stream during environmental restoration projects. This breakthrough allows environmental managers to assess the pollution-reducing benefits of storm water management and urban stream restoration, and could lead to new nitrogen reduction opportunities as public works managers make repairs to our nation's aging urban infrastructure. Tue, 06 May 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080430103945.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501133444.htm Montana State University research about pollution in the Ganges River has reached the Supreme Court of India, producing some optimism among MSU scientists. Sat, 03 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501133444.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501110008.htm Bacteria that feed on seaweed could help in the disposal of pollutants in the world's oceans, according to a new study. Researchers explain that as marine pollution is on the increase novel approaches to removing toxic contaminants is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. Fri, 02 May 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501110008.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080429135502.htm For years, scientists have known about silver's ability to kill harmful bacteria. Now, researchers have found that silver nanoparticles also may destroy benign bacteria that are used to remove ammonia from wastewater treatment systems. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080429135502.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080424113456.htm Recent advances in technology have made removing salt from seawater and groundwater a realistic option for increasing water supplies in some parts of the US, and desalination will likely have a niche in meeting the nation's future water needs, says a new report. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080424113456.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080424103217.htm Scientists have developed a highly energy-efficient method of converting waste carbon dioxide into chemical compounds known as cyclic carbonates. Cyclic carbonates are widely used in the manufacture of products including solvents, paint-strippers, biodegradable packaging, as well as having applications in the chemical industry. The team estimates that the technology has the potential to use up to 48m tons of waste carbon dioxide per year, reducing the UK's emissions by about four percent. Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080424103217.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421123231.htm Rising energy and environmental costs may prevent nuclear power from being a sustainable alternative energy source in the fight against global warming, according to a new study. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421123231.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416211436.htm Every year, more than 30 billion water bottles are added to America's landfills, creating a mountainous environmental problem. But if new research is successful, the plastic bottles of the future could literally disappear within four months of being discarded. Scientists are constructing new breeds of biodegradable and bioavailable plastics in an effort to reduce the tons of plastic waste that ends up in the nation's landfills each year. Bioavailable plastics contain substances that can be absorbed by living systems during their normal physiological functions. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416211436.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080417095919.htm A fuzzy logic approach to analyzing water quality could help reduce the number of people in the developing world forced to drink polluted and diseased water for survival. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080417095919.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416214912.htm Ocean Conservancy released its annual report on trash in the ocean with new data from the 2007 International Coastal Cleanup the most comprehensive snapshot of the harmful impacts of marine debris. The mission of Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup is to engage people to remove trash from the world's beaches and waterways, to identify the sources of debris and to change the behaviors that cause pollution. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416214912.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408160640.htm Even large amounts of manufactured nanoparticles, also known as Buckyballs, don't faze microscopic organisms that are charged with cleaning up the environment, according to new research. Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408160640.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408144812.htm Escalating oil and gas prices along with the global challenge of climate change has in the past few years spurred a generation of scientists to pursue alternative energy sources while redirecting the focus away from fossil fuels. What is the current status, limitations and future challenges of alternative energy sources? Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408144812.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080406175050.htm Nanotechnology is now available in a store near you. Valued for it's antibacterial and odor-fighting properties, nanoparticle silver is becoming the star attraction in a range of products from socks to bandages to washing machines. But as silver's benefits propel it to the forefront of consumer nanomaterials, scientists are recommending a closer examination of the unforeseen environmental and health consequences of nanosilver. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080406175050.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402101704.htm The cost of treating wastewater contaminated with nitrogen could be lowered in future. Soil scientists have developed a new mathematical model which can help determine the optimum conditions for microbiological water treatment. Using the stable natural nitrogen isotope, this mathematical model is the most accurate to date. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402101704.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401172339.htm Researchers have confirmed for the first time that a "dead zone" has existed off the Texas coast for at least the past 23 years and will likely remain there, causing potential harmful effects to marine life in the area. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401172339.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331092500.htm In a case study on how not to recycle electronic waste (e-waste), scientists in the United States and Hong Kong have documented serious environmental contamination with potentially toxic metals from crude e-waste recycling in a village located in southeast China. Recycling methods used in family-run workshops could pose a serious health risk to residents of the area through ingestion and inhalation of contaminated dust, the researchers say. Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331092500.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080321125832.htm As growing demand for clean water stretches even the resources of the world's largest industrialized nations, scientists and engineers are turning to new technology and novel ideas to find solutions. Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080321125832.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080320150039.htm The ubiquity of tiny particles of minerals -- mineral nanoparticles -- in oceans and rivers, atmosphere and soils, and in living cells are providing scientists with new ways of understanding Earth's workings. Our planet's physical, chemical, and biological processes are influenced or driven by the properties of these minerals. Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080320150039.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080320095022.htm World Water Day, to be marked March 20, focuses this International Sanitation Year on the 2.6 billion people with inadequate access to toilets. UN estimates show that achieving its sanitation goal, agreed in 2000 -- to simply halve number of people without access to a toilet by 2015 -- would cost $38 billion, less than 1% of annual world military spending. That investment, however, would yield $347 billion worth of benefits -- much of it related to higher productivity and improved health. Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080320095022.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317114050.htm Researchers report an advance toward the next generation of plastic solar cells, which are widely heralded as a low cost, environmentally-friendly alternative to inorganic solar cells for meeting rising energy demands. Plastic solar cells, fabricated from bulk heterojunction materials comprising semiconducting polymers and fullerenes, have already demonstrated promising performance. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317114050.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080311123417.htm Researchers are investigating the remarkable survival of birds in contaminated Indian waters. Ecologists are setting out to discover why flamingos are so in the pink of health, considering their less than pristine habitat. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080311123417.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080313140108.htm Promoting the green design, construction, renovation and operation of buildings could cut North American carbon dioxide emissions more deeply, quickly and cheaply than any other available measure, according to a new report. Buildings are responsible for over one-third of continent's carbon dioxide emissions. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080313140108.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310181559.htm Goldfish are able to dash after food flakes at mealtime, reaching them before they sink or are eaten by other fish. Researchers recently proved in lab experiments that marine bacteria behave in a similar fashion at mealtime, using their swimming skills to reach tiny food patches that appear randomly in the ocean blue. This behavior at small scales could have global implications for the oceans' carbon cycle. Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310181559.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310164901.htm Research that started with bacteria from the Chesapeake Bay has led to a process that may be able to convert large volumes of all kinds of plant products, from leftover brewer's mash to paper trash, into ethanol and other biofuel alternatives to gasoline. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310164901.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310094352.htm The Federal Government may need at least 20 years longer than previously planned -- and an additional $50 billion -- to clean up radioactive and hazardous wastes at nuclear weapons sites, according to a new article. Clean-up costs may reach $305 billion at about 25 sites where nuclear weapons materials were manufactured. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310094352.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306143000.htm Companies which participate in voluntary environmental programs actually do worse in their attempts to help the environment than those that do not take on these programs. Companies that are self-monitored — as opposed certified by an external third party — appear to do even worse in their overall environmental goals. Nonparticipating companies outperformed companies participating in self-monitored voluntary environmental programs by 24 percent. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306143000.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307110345.htm A newly defined biochemical pathway in plants may provide the scientific tools to design plants that will yield larger quantities of alternative transportation fuels than currently can be produced, according to researchers. Sun, 09 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307110345.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303190649.htm Nuclear power has advantages, but, if this method of making power is to be viable long term, discovering new solutions to radioactive waste disposal and other problems are critical. Chemists are now focusing on metal sulfide materials as a possible source for nuclear waste remediation methods. The new material is extremely successful in removing strontium from a sodium-heavy solution, which has concentrations similar to those in real liquid nuclear waste. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303190649.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303163804.htm Researchers have developed a new, low-cost material for capturing carbon dioxide from the smokestacks of coal-fired power plants and other generators of the greenhouse gas. Produced with a simple one-step chemical process, the new material has a high capacity for absorbing carbon dioxide – and can be reused many times. Combined with improved heat management techniques, the new material could provide a cost-effective way to capture large quantities of carbon dioxide from coal-burning facilities. Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303163804.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229102046.htm Soils under desert pavement have an unusually high concentration of nitrate, a type of salt, close to the surface. Vulnerable to erosion by rain and wind if the desert pavement is disrupted, this vast source of nitrate could contaminate surface and groundwaters, posing an environmental risk. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229102046.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080228100728.htm The chlorinated solvent trichloroethene (TCE) has been found to be an increasingly problematic contaminant in groundwater. The detection of TCE recently forced the shut down of the water supply for the Greater Phoenix area municipalities of Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. TCE has been widely used as a cleaning agent and solvent for many military, commercial, and industrial applications. Its widespread use, along with its improper handling, storage, and disposal, has resulted in frequent detection of TCE in the groundwater. TCE has the potential to cause liver damage, malfunctions in the central nervous system and it is considered a likely human carcinogen. Now researchers have found an effective way to remove TCE from groundwater. Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080228100728.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080223112253.htm Earthworms studied in agricultural fields have been found to contain organic chemicals from household products and manure, indicating that such substances are entering the food chain. Manure and biosolids, the solid byproduct of wastewater treatment, were applied to the fields as fertilizer. Earthworms continuously ingest soils for nourishment and can accumulate the chemicals present in the soil. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080223112253.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080222095403.htm Bacteria often get bad press, with those found in water often linked to illness and disease. But researchers are now using these tiny organisms alongside the very latest membrane filtration techniques to improve and refine water cleaning technology. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080222095403.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080225072624.htm Applying organic fertilizers, such as those resulting from composting, to agricultural land could increase the amount of carbon stored in these soils and contribute significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, according to new research. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080225072624.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080220094656.htm Tiny particles of pure silica coated with an active material could be used to remove toxic chemicals, bacteria, viruses, and other hazardous materials from water much more effectively and at lower cost than conventional water purification methods, according to new research. Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080220094656.htm