waste
Newsletter
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Extreme heat worsens conditions for India's waste pickers
Millions of India's waste pickers face increased dangers from extreme heat as they sort through toxic landfills for recyclable materials, earning barely enough to survive.
Channi Anand, Piyush Nagpal, and Sibi Arasu report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- It is estimated that 1.5 to 4 million people make a living searching through India’s waste.
- Waste pickers in Jammu, a city in northern India, endure severe heat and toxic fumes while scavenging for recyclables, risking their health for minimal income.
- Rising temperatures and poorly managed landfills increase the frequency of hazardous landfill fires and gas emissions.
- Experts emphasize the need for basic amenities like water, shade and medical care for waste pickers to mitigate health risks.
Key quote:
“It’s really very sad to look at how the poor are trying to live somehow, just take their bodies and try to reach the end of this heat wave in some form of being intact.”
— Bharati Chaturvedi, founder of Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group in New Delhi.
Why this matters:
As global temperatures soar, waste pickers, the unsung heroes of urban recycling, find themselves in increasingly perilous conditions. Extreme heat amplifies the already harsh realities of their work, exposing them to severe health risks and underscoring the urgent need for dignified working conditions.
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Transforming excess carbon into bio-oil
A company aims to reverse the carbon cycle by converting biomass into bio-oil and storing it underground to fight climate change.
In short:
- Charm Industrial, a startup, is experimenting with turning agricultural waste into bio-oil through a process called pyrolysis.
- The company then stores this bio-oil in underground wells, mimicking natural fossil fuel formation but in reverse.
- Despite technical challenges, Charm has started collaborating with major tech companies for carbon storage solutions.
Key quote:
“All through my career, I’ve helped industries deal with the things that come out of the back side of a plant that nobody wants to talk about.”
— Monte Markley, geologist from Wichita, Kansas
Why this matters:
Reversing the carbon cycle can significantly reduce atmospheric CO2 levels, essential for combating global warming.
If implemented on a large scale, this technology has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. In addition, the use of biomass for bio-oil production promotes the sustainable management of organic waste materials, turning potential pollutants into valuable resources.
Related EHN coverage:
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Is fungus fabric really taking off?
Despite growing interest, biodegradable materials like mycelium leather face challenges in significantly reducing fashion waste due to scalability and overproduction issues.
In short:
- The fashion industry generates an estimated 92 million tons of waste annually, largely from polyester and cotton fabrics.
- Innovative materials like mycelium leather are being developed but struggle to scale up due to financial and production challenges.
- Experts argue that reducing overall production is essential to addressing the environmental impact of fashion.
Key quote:
“I genuinely think the biggest solution isn’t the easy one because it’s the one that requires these large fashion companies to make significantly less money. It’s just to make less stuff and to pay more for that stuff and to look after what we have.”
— Monica Buchan-Ng, head of knowledge exchange at the Centre for Sustainable Fashion
Why this matters:
Biodegradable fabrics have the potential to lessen environmental damage, but without addressing the root issue of overproduction, the fashion industry's significant waste problem will persist. Overproduction is a deeply ingrained issue, driven by fast fashion's relentless cycle of new trends and disposable clothing. Even if mycelium leather were to be produced at scale, the industry's wasteful practices need to be addressed to see a meaningful reduction in waste. Sustainable materials alone cannot solve the problem if the overarching consumption patterns remain unchanged.
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Half of the world's plastic pollution can be traced back to 56 companies
New research shows a few multinational companies, including Philip Morris International and Coca-Cola, are major contributors to global plastic pollution, a study finds.
In short:
- Researchers identified 56 major companies responsible for half of all plastic waste, with six companies –Altria, Philip Morris International, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Danone and PepsiCo– producing a quarter of that.
- Over five years, the team collected 1,870,000 items of plastic waste across 84 countries.
- Companies are making efforts to increase recyclability and reduce virgin plastic use.
- Despite corporate initiatives, plastic production and pollution have risen in lockstep, challenging the effectiveness of current recycling efforts.
Key quote:
"The industry likes to put the responsibility on the individual (...) But it’s the brands, it’s their choice for the kinds of packaging [they use] and for embracing this throwaway model of delivering their goods. That’s what’s causing the greatest abundance of trash."
— Marcus Eriksen, plastic pollution expert from The 5 Gyres Institute and co-author of the study.
Why this matters:
Identifying major contributors to plastic pollution allows for greater accountability. Public awareness can lead to pressure on these companies to implement sustainable practices, invest in research and development of alternative materials, and take corporate social responsibility seriously.
Plastics manufacturing is currently one of the largest industries in the U.S.
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India's solar waste management faces challenges
The rapid expansion of solar parks in India brings a mounting problem of panel waste, with projections suggesting 19 million tonnes by 2050.
In short:
- India plans to increase its solar energy capacity significantly by 2030, yet the longevity of solar panels is often less than expected.
- Waste from these solar panels, including glass and metals, is poorly regulated, leading to reliance on informal recycling networks.
- Safety and environmental concerns are rampant among workers in the informal sector, who often operate without proper protection or oversight.
Key quote:
"Most solar plants are located in remote areas, so the logistics and transportation is expensive, and once dismantled there is hardly any money from each individual part."
— Srinivas Vedula, EPragathi, a Bengaluru-based e-waste recycling company
Why this matters:
Solar panels, which typically have a lifespan of about 25 to 30 years, eventually reach an end-of-life phase where they must be disposed of. Concerns arise because these panels contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium, and selenium, which can pose environmental hazards if not properly managed.
E-waste grew 8 percent in just 2 years. Just one-fifth was recycled.
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Seeking alternatives to plastic for produce packaging
In an era where plastic dominates the grocery aisles, a shift toward more environmentally friendly packaging for fruits and vegetables emerges as a pressing concern.
In short:
- Produce professionals are rallying for biodegradable packaging, with initiatives like Driscoll’s paper containers leading the charge.
- New regulations in various countries and states aim to drastically reduce or tax plastic packaging, spurring innovation in eco-friendly alternatives.
- Alternatives being explored include biodegradable bags, edible coatings for produce, and innovative shipping containers designed to reduce waste and extend shelf life.
Key quote:
“The pushback you are getting is that if you eliminate plastic and go to fiber, it depletes the shelf life really fast.”
— Scott Crawford, vice president of merchandising for Baldor Specialty Foods
Why this matters:
Plastic food packaging, especially those types used for produce, has become a staple in grocery stores and markets worldwide, offering convenience and extending the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, this convenience comes with environmental and health considerations that are increasingly coming under scrutiny. Huge economic pressures continue the exponential growth curve of plastic production, with – so far – no solutions capable of dealing with the problem at scale.
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Landfills release more methane than expected
A recent study reveals that U.S. landfills emit methane at rates nearly triple those previously reported to regulators, shedding light on their significant role in climate change.
In short:
- Landfills are now identified as a major source of methane emissions, significantly contributing to climate change.
- This revelation comes from direct measurements using imaging spectrometers, not just computer models.
- The study's findings highlight the importance of addressing landfill emissions as part of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.
Key quote:
"We've largely been in the dark, as a society, about actual emissions from landfills."
— Riley Duren, former NASA engineer and scientist and founder of Carbon Mapper
Why this matters:
Given that methane is over 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 100-year period, its release from landfills poses a substantial challenge to climate change mitigation efforts.
Meanwhile, oil and gas methane emissions in US are at least 15% higher than we thought.
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