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In Istanbul, You Can Pay Your Subway Fare with Recyclables

Rachel Kaufman

October 30, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Turkey, Istanbul

A pilot program in Istanbul, Turkey allows subway commuters to pay for their fares with bottles and cans instead of cash. While a one way fare via the "reverse vending machines" costs about 28 1.5 liter bottles, the government is working to make the recycling system more efficient and easy for travelers.

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A Baseball Bat Dies, and Chopsticks Are Born

Jeré Longman

October 25, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan, Tokyo

When baseball bats break, as they often do during games, they don't always find another purpose. As part of a recycling and conservation effort in Japan, though, these bats are repurposed into chopsticks that don't just serve a practical purpose, but also raise awareness about the kind of wood used to make the bats.

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'Zero waste' town recycles most of its trash

Sonia Narang

October 18, 2018 |

WHYY |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Japan, Kamikatsu

Kamikatsu, a small town in rural Japan, went from incinerating trash to recycling about 80 percent of it--all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving money. The program is run by Zero Waste Academy, a nonprofit that helps train residents and businesses on best recycling practices. Now, Kamikatsu's success has drawn planners from around the world to learn.

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Iowa company that turns recycled cartons into building materials coming to Colorado

Liz Forster

October 18, 2018 |

Colorado Springs Gazette |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

In Colorado, trash either ends up in a landfill or is recycled by being shipped to another state. To increase efficiency and implement better recycling practices, an Iowa-born company that turns recycled cartons into building materials is crossing state lines with the help of funding from from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.

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Istanbul Vending Machines Offer Subway Credit for Recycled Bottles and Cans

Ceylan Yeginsu

October 17, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Turkey, Istanbul

In an attempt to lessen their role in contributing to waste, Istanbul has installed “reverse vending machines” at metro stations that incentivize recycling. For every plastic bottle or aluminum can inserted into the machine, public transportation users earn cash to redeem for trips.

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Why aren't we mining landfills for valuable materials like metals and soil?

Ucilia Wang

October 16, 2018 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Cantonment, Florida

Across the country, projects that mine landfills for reusable metals and soils are underway. Can such mining prove profitable enough to spur similar efforts on a grand scale? So far, some projects have seen profits while others have not. But as society increasingly values pollution and greenhouse gas reduction, incentives for refuse mining can only grow.

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Ocean plastic is a huge problem. Blockchain could be part of the solution.

Lynne Peeples

October 16, 2018 |

NBC News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Haiti

Plastic waste often ends up in oceans which in turn impacts not only the health of the coastal ecosystem, but human health as well when people consume fish that have ingested the plastic fragments. To keep plastic out of the oceans, Plastic Bank, a company based in Vancouver, has created and launched a blockchain-based recycling system in Haiti that exchanges cryptocurrency via an app when plastic is deposited in a recycling center.

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Mending Our Disposable Culture

Nick Holland

October 02, 2018 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Netherlands, Bussum

When something breaks, most people go to the store to replace it. In Amsterdam, the UK, and elsewhere, people take their broken goods to repair cafes. Led by volunteers who want to preserve the art of repairs while also reducing waste, these organizations can make a big difference. There are now at least 1600 repair cafes around the world.

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Pot luck: the paint recyclers who put leftover litres to good use

Helen Pidd

October 01, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

Home improvement projects often start with paint, but what happens when all of the purchased paint doesn't get used? Typically, it sits in someone's basement or storage closet with no plan for further use in sight. Community Repaint in the United Kingdom is committed to promoting the recycling of this paint, however, and has implemented 74 projects that work to re-sell or re-color unused paint, thus reducing the amount that's sent to landfills after it molds.

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Why this father-son team is "trash fishing" in the Detroit River

Anthony Lanzilote

October 01, 2018 |

Model D |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

On an annual basis, tens of thousands of tons of plastic ends up in the Great Lakes. One man and his son are inspiring change and action amongst others in Detroit, Michigan by regularly fishing the trash out of the Detroit River.

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