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Beer Waste Helps Montana Town Save Money On Water Treatment

Rachel Cramer

February 12, 2020 |

NPR |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Havre, Montana

Finding ways to reuse brewery waste can save water treatment plants money. In Havre, Montana, Triple Dog Brewing has entered into a partnership with the town’s wastewater treatment plant, supplying discarded barley to feed the plant’s microbes. The barley replaces commercial bacteria feed, which would have cost the plant thousands of dollars. The town was also able to avoid having to do costly upgrades to its water treatment plant. Other towns are looking to this process for inspiration.

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How Is Plastic Getting Into Hawaii's Soil?

Claire Caulfield

February 10, 2020 |

Honolulu Civil Beat |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Hawaii

Hawaiian farmers are increasingly concerned about the amount of plastic they’re finding in their compost, which can have long-term effects on their crop growth. Hawaii Earth Recycling, the island’s largest compost provider, turns more than 140,000 tons of yard clippings and food scraps into compost and mulch that farmers can use for plants and crops. However, changes in where people can drop off their green waste and a lack of education among residents about proper plastic waste management have resulted in microplastics ending up in the organic soil.

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Havre's Wastewater Woes Solved By Beer

Rachel Cramer

February 10, 2020 |

Yellowstone Public Radio |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Havre, Montana

Upcycling spent barley helps to ease wastewater treatment. In Havre, Montana, the town’s wastewater treatment plant uses barley from a local brewery, Triple Dog Brewing, to feed bacteria. The nutrients from the barley give the bacteria a boost, helping to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous levels in the water. The collaboration means that Havre can save on expensive solutions and upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant.

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Volunteers are gathering to clean up public areas in Brisbane

Rodrigo Pereira

February 04, 2020 |

Reading Radio |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Australia, Brisbane, Queensland

While environmentalists continue to call for drastic measures to combat climate change, a Brisbane volunteer community has taken matters into its own hands by organizing weekly beach clean-up sessions. The group uses social media to organize and has recycled or thrown away more than 330kg of litter.

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Valentine's Day Flowers Don't Have to Be So Bad for the Earth After All

Claire Ballentine

January 28, 2020 |

Bloomberg |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

The supply chain for Valentine's Day flowers is incredibly toxic for the environment and produces mass amounts of waste. In response, a "floral gifting" service industry emerged in which flowers from special events can get repurposed or recycled. One such company, NYC-based Repeat Roses, has a special service that restyles the flowers into petite bouquets to donate to hospitals, nursing homes, and family shelters. Their efforts have diverted more than 98 tons of waste from landfills and delivered almost 53,000 floral arrangements to people in need.

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From trash to treasure: the South African community taking ownership of waste

Imani Dlamini

January 24, 2020 |

Pioneers Post |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: South Africa, Melkhoutfontein

A community in South Africa tackles waste management and unemployment at the same time by hiring workers to find new uses for waste that would otherwise be burned or dumped in a landfill. Some workers - most of whom are local women - make mosaics and other art out of plastics; others make hangers, stools, and more out of discarded materials.

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The Philippines Is Making Roads and Cement With Plastic Garbage

Claire Jiao

January 23, 2020 |

Bloomberg |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Philippines

Discarded plastic can serve as construction material for major infrastructure and public works projects. In the Philippines, private companies like San Miguel are stepping in to participate in the government’s infrastructure projects. Companies are increasingly looking at closed-loop systems as a way to address plastic waste and drive construction projects. Nestlé and Unilver are among the other companies working to recover discarded plastics. Some of the programs offer incentives like cash for returned plastic waste.

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Mending Coastal Marshes

Kerry Rose Graning

January 20, 2020 |

Hakai Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Louisiana

Martin Ecosystems uses recycled plastic bottles to manufacture artificial islands and shorelines, allowing native vegetation to grow and preventing land erosion, which has restored Louisiana’s wetlands and barrier islands. Plastic mats are layered, injected with Coast Guard approved foam for buoyancy, and planted with native vegetation. Once anchored in rows of up to 20 or more, they act as breakwaters reducing wave height by up to 80% and minimizing erosion. The mats also provide cover for nesting birds and a complex ecosystem for aquatic life. They have withstood years of hurricanes and tropical storms.

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Solar Panels, Sustainable Workplaces Bring New Energy to Athens

Madeline Shepard

January 06, 2020 |

Grady Newsource |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Athens, Georgia

The town of Athens, Georgia has committed to a 100% renewable energy pledge. Both the local government and local businesses are working towards it by implementing sustainable practices such as solar panels and wastewater pretreatment systems.

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Fashion has a waste problem. These companies want to fix it

Rachel Cernansky

January 06, 2020 |

Vogue Business |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Fashion has long been known as a major contributor to climate change, but brands (from fast fashion to luxury houses alike) are taking steps to address their carbon footprint. This article lists several initiatives working on reducing fabric waste, such as FabScrap, a NY organization that collects and resells 6,000 pounds of discarded fabric weekly.

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