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 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:05:01 EST Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:05:01 EST 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/2009/11/091110171647.htm The American health-care sector accounts for 8 percent of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, according to a first-of-its-kind calculation of health care's carbon footprint. Researchers used expenditures from different parts of the health care sector to measure the industry's potential effect upon global warming through the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091110171647.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091110112438.htm Agricultural soils accumulate trace metals from waste and fungicide application. Regulations for soil concentrations of these potentially plant-toxic elements consider the individual elements, but not their interactions. A new study evaluates whether the copper-zinc interaction in soils is additive as defined by the toxicity response in soybeans. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091110112438.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091103102402.htm The Environmental Restoration Project at Sandia National Laboratories reports the successful construction of an alternative evapotranspirative cover at the Mixed Waste Landfill in September. The 2.6-acre site is located in Technical Area 3 in the west-central part of Kirtland Air Force Base. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091103102402.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091028090528.htm Marine biologists examined whether Laysan albatrosses nesting on Kure Atoll and Oahu, Hawaii, 2,150 km away, ingested different amounts of plastic by putting miniaturized tracking devices on birds to follow them at sea and examining their regurgitated stomach contents. Surprisingly, birds from Kure Atoll ingested almost ten times the amount of plastic compared to birds from Oahu. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091028090528.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001095606.htm By re-thinking ideas about packaging size and shape, major environmental gains can be made. Smaller-sized, more easily handled boxes require less goods transport. Focusing on size will get us further than the usual preoccupation with recycling packaging materials. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001095606.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029160737.htm Sugarcane biomass, a significant waste product from sugar production, could be a renewable energy source for electricity production, according to researchers. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029160737.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091022114321.htm Geologists are finding that the most important tools in their fieldwork on groundwater arsenic pollution are women and children armed with pamphlets and testing kits. The research examines arsenic levels in the groundwater in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. While trying to understand how the naturally occurring arsenic gets into groundwater, the researchers are helping Bengalis identify contaminated water sources so they can make more informed decisions about where to dig wells. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091022114321.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091013105317.htm Houses on stilts, small scale energy generation and recycling our dishwater are just some of the measures that are being proposed to prepare our cities for the effects of global warming. A new study outlines how major cities must respond if they are to continue to grow in the face of climate change. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091013105317.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001095717.htm There is a scientific consensus that safe geological disposal of high-level nuclear waste is technically feasible, while public acceptance has still not been achieved in most Member States. Researchers have analyzed the state of the art of science, technology and procedures needed across the EU for implementation. They have identified no major conceptual or research gap for the host rocks and repository systems envisaged, namely those in clays, hard rocks and salt. Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001095717.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908103623.htm Peat has been used in container plant production since the 1960s. Highly porous and able to hold water, peat makes an ideal rooting and growing medium. But harvesting peat (and draining valuable peatlands in the process) releases carbon stored in peat into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Researchers have worked for years to find alternative organic materials that can be used as partial or complete substitutes for peat and are now testing composted dairy manure. Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908103623.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091013105631.htm Could sustainable architecture address pollution, climate change and resource depletion by helping us build self-sufficient, off-grid, housing from "waste," including vehicle tires and metal drinks containers? That's the question researchers in Australia are trying to answer. Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091013105631.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005161332.htm The first demonstration of a renewable method for hydrogen production from wastewater using a microbial electrolysis system is underway at the Napa Wine Company in Oakville. The refrigerator-sized hydrogen generator will take winery wastewater, and using bacteria and a small amount of electrical energy, convert the organic material into hydrogen. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005161332.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090929100654.htm Converting the rubbish that fills the world's landfills into biofuel may be the answer to both the growing energy crisis and to tackling carbon emissions, claim scientists in Singapore and Switzerland. New research reveals how replacing gasoline with biofuel from processed waste could cut global carbon emissions by 80%. Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090929100654.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091002104341.htm Powerful machines that have moving parts--your car's engine or the hydraulic pump of a huge earthmover, for instance--almost always require lubricants. Today, most of those lubricants are made of so-called "base oil" that's blended with additives to boost performance. Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091002104341.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090930102530.htm Wild salmon and farmed salmon can now be distinguished from each other by a technique that examines the chemistry of their scales. Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090930102530.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090930132656.htm Tiny organisms known as archaea play a central role in the planet's nitrogen cycle, according to new research. Experiments show that archaea appear play a key ecological role in both upper and deep ocean ecosystems. This could affect calculations made by global climate models. Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090930132656.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090929141534.htm Researchers in Louisiana are conducting innovative research on geopolymer concrete and providing ways to use a waste byproduct from coal fired power plants and help curb carbon dioxide emissions. Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090929141534.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090929181810.htm Researchers and developers have established the first Bahamian project that employs on-site environmental scientists to guide the construction of a sustainable development called the Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club. This case study documents best practices and construction impacts, especially on the marine environment. Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090929181810.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090918100006.htm Australian researchers have discovered that micro-organisms that help break down contaminants under the soil can actually get too hot for their own good. Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090918100006.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915140919.htm Processes and policies governing the reuse and recycling of electronic products need to be standardized worldwide to stem and reverse the growing problem of illegal and harmful e-waste processing practices in developing countries, according to experts behind the world's first international e-waste academy. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915140919.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916123513.htm Levels of chloride, a component of salt, are elevated in many urban streams and groundwater across the northern United States, according to a new government study. Chloride levels above the recommended federal criteria set to protect aquatic life were found in more than 40 percent of urban streams tested. The study was released today by the US Geological Survey. Elevated chloride can inhibit plant growth, impair reproduction, and reduce the diversity of organisms in streams. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916123513.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915101353.htm In Sweden alone, 52 million tons of carbon dioxide is emitted every year. To mitigate the negative impacts of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide sequestration has come to the fore as a hot new method. However, the process is hotly debated, and according to doctoral candidate Mårten Lind at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, it is of the utmost importance that energy companies not use the method as an excuse to delay conversion to more environmentally friendly energy forms. Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915101353.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090907013806.htm Researchers have identified novel bacterial strains capable of neutralizing toxins produced by blue-green algae. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090907013806.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090904103340.htm Disposal and recycling standards for old computer equipment and other electronic waste must be harmonized for this rapidly growing problem to be dealt with effectively across national borders, as discussed in a recently published analysis of the current rules and regulations. Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090904103340.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090902112752.htm More computers discarded by consumers in the United States are getting a second life in developing countries than previously believed, according to a new study -- the most comprehensive ever done on the topic. The findings may ease growing concerns about environmental pollution with toxic metals that can result from dismantling and recycling computer components in developing countries. Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090902112752.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831130709.htm Contaminants from natural coal deposits in the Gulf of Alaska are not easily bioavailable, unlike the crude oil from the Exxon Valdez tanker catastrophe, according to a new study. The findings challenge the theory that natural coal deposits were the cause of observed environmental damage. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831130709.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818130414.htm A scientific trend to view the world's biggest cities as analogous to living, breathing organisms is fostering a deep new understanding of how poor air quality in megacities can harm residents, people living far downwind and also play a major role in global climate change. Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818130414.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090827180747.htm Scientists have just completed an unprecedented journey into the vast and little-explored "Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch." The researchers encountered a large amount of debris including a large net entwined with plastic and various marine organisms. Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090827180747.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826152721.htm If it has already rained, it's going to continue to pour, according to a study of how ocean-origin storms behave when they come ashore. More than 30 years of monsoon data from India showed that ground moisture where the storms make landfall is a major indicator of what the storm will do from there. If the ground is wet, the storm is likely to sustain, while dry conditions should calm the storm. Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826152721.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818130607.htm After a big earthquake, it's key to keep the water system afloat. Water is necessary for life, and it fights the fires that often accompany such disasters. Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818130607.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090821163515.htm NASA and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research have successfully launched a small rocket using an environmentally-friendly, safe propellant comprised of aluminum powder and water ice, called ALICE. Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090821163515.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819125323.htm As companies create new bottles for brands of beer, they need to calculate the cost of sorting their trendy bottles from the rest on the market in the recycling process. One Dutch-German project found a way to keep the cost down. Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819125323.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090709110546.htm Brewing beer creates tons of leftover used grains. But that waste can be turned into fuel, as developers have shown. Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090709110546.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090813142345.htm High-rate digestion with microfiltration is state-of-the-art in large sewage plants. It effectively removes accumulated sludge and produces biogas to generate energy. A study now reveals that even small plants can benefit from this process. Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090813142345.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819110008.htm Scientists are reporting some unsettling news about homes in the residential areas of California. The typical home there -- and probably elsewhere in the country -- is an alarming and probably underestimated source of water pollution, according to a new study. Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819110008.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819234651.htm In the first study to look at what happens over the years to the billions of pounds of plastic waste floating in the world's oceans, scientists are reporting that plastics -- reputed to be virtually indestructible -- decompose with surprising speed and release potentially toxic substances into the water. Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819234651.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818150020.htm Naturally occurring organic matter in water and sediment appears to play a key role in helping microbes convert tiny particles of mercury in the environment into a form that is dangerous to most living creatures. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818150020.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819153920.htm A business is more likely to "over-comply" with environmental regulations if its senior management believes in protecting the environment and that it makes financial sense in the long term, according to a new study by an economist at Oregon State University. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819153920.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819135444.htm A scholar suggests that the popular environmental sport known as competitive birding -- conducted at Superfund sites, landfills and sewage ponds -- may not be as eco-friendly as it purports to be. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819135444.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090817143638.htm A rare "thought experiment" -- using a computer game format -- is being carried out in order to focus the creative genius of hundreds of scientists on solutions to one of the 21st century's most daunting problems: Finding sustainable new sources of energy. Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090817143638.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810162105.htm In a groundbreaking study, civil engineering researchers have discovered that certain industries may be a significant source of plant-based estrogens, called phytoestrogens, in surface water. Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810162105.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090806112601.htm A process that cleans wastewater and generates electricity can also remove 90 percent of salt from brackish water or seawater, according to an international team of researchers from China and the US. Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090806112601.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721122846.htm Automobile owners around the world may some day soon be driving on tires that are partly made out of trees -- which could cost less, perform better and save on fuel and energy. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721122846.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090731090015.htm New research highlights the potential utility of iron isotopes for addressing important questions in ocean science. Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090731090015.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803091917.htm Sewage overflows are a fact of life in urban areas, and in many cities, excess sewage water enters streams and lakes with rain runoff. Although this pollution is harmful to most organisms, there is one group of insects that thrives on it: mosquitoes. Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803091917.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090729210821.htm In their most recent experiments with Geobacter, the sediment-loving microbe whose hairlike filaments help it to produce electric current from mud and wastewater, scientists supervised the evolution of a new strain that dramatically increases power output per cell and overall bulk power. It also works with a thinner biofilm than earlier strains, cutting the time to reach electricity-producing concentrations on the electrode. Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090729210821.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090623090358.htm Scientists have shown that using mud from waste water treatment plants as a partial alternative fuel can enable cement factories to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and comply with the Kyoto Protocol, as well as posing no risk to human health and being profitable. These are the results of an environmental impact assessment. Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090623090358.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727135532.htm Using electrolyzed water rather than harsh chemicals could be a more effective and environmentally friendly method in the pretreatment of ethanol waste products to produce an acetone-butanol-ethanol fuel mix, according to new research. Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727135532.htm