The dumping and burning of e-waste in Agbogloshie has attracted significant attention from environmental groups, researchers and journalists, writes Clair MacDougall, a journalist in Monrovia, Liberia.
Recycling
The festive season of waste?
For many of us Christmas is inherently about excess, family, presents and, importantly, food. And all of this would not be such a bad thing, if so much of it didn’t go to waste, writes Larissa Ocampo.
Why aren’t bottles recycled? ‘People don’t want water that tastes funny’
Australians were urged to recycle the more than 260 litres of bottled water they consumed last year. Yet none of those bottles were made from recycled plastic, writes Nicole Gooch.
Bottled water: some hospitals pay big time, some tap into savings
Several of Sydney’s largest hospitals pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for bottled water, while other hospitals around the state buy tap water for reasons of cost and the environment, writes freelance journalist Elise Dalley.
How to green your dead Christmas tree
Christmas is officially over, the turkey is eaten and all the leftover ham sandwiches eaten. But what to do with the rotting Christmas tree still sitting in a bucket of water in the lounge room? Crikey intern Grace Ryan explains which councils do Christmas tree recycling.
The hall of shame of food packaging
Fancy yourself as environmentally friendly? Rate your environmental credentials against this list of the six least green types of packaging from The Daily Green. Time to make some changes?
Take your cans to the recycling depot — win free beer!
In case Victoria — where the Brumby government is trying to resist a national drink bottle refund scheme — hasn’t noticed, Adelaide’s curbside recycling program works wonderfully, writes Ben Hagemann.
The future of recycling: reverse vending machines
Can bribery encourage more people to recycle? In the US, “reverse vending machines” reward punters for putting in used bottles and cans with everything from food vouchers to iPods. Sure beats the old 5c cash-a-can.
How recycled toilet paper is being wiped out
The rise of the electronic office, coupled with China’s growing demand for paper products, means supplies of the nice, white office paper we recycle into the rough, brown stuff with which to wipe our bums are dwindling.
Green bags and composting won’t save the planet
Buying environmentally friendly products and recycling may be better than doing nothing, but “lazy environmentalism” isn’t going to save Earth, says Sharon Begley: we can’t consume our way out of climate change.
My life with no money
For the last 15 months Mark Boyle has not spent a single cent, instead he grows his own food, uses a compost toilet and lives in a caravan he picked up for free. The only thing he misses? A drink at the pub.
How to recycle basically everything
Can you recycle aerosol cans? How about iPods? Real Simple provides an A-Z guide to the plethora of recyclable items that you may otherwise be tossing straight into the bin.
Coke searches for a better bottle
Coca-Cola is on a quest to create a 100% renewable and recyclable bottle. The company’s latest effort — a 100% recycled, 30% plant-based bottle — is a good first step, but an entirely carbon neutral container remains elusive.
What really happens to your gadgets after you “recycle” them?
Think you’re doing the “green” thing by sending your old electronics to a recycling facility? According to WebEcoist, they often end up in a country like China or India, where local workers salvage the reusable parts and throw away the rest.
TV and PC recycling: Australia finally gets with the program
Currently, only 10% of PCs or TVs in Australia are actually recycled, but the introduction of a new mandatory recycling scheme should see that number soar to over 80% — and industry is actually getting on board.
A slice of genius: the multi-purpose pizza box
Check out the GreenBox, an environmentally friendly pizza box made from 100% recycled materials that transforms into plates and a storage container for leftovers.
50 ways to stop wasting good food
Australians throw away $5b worth of food every year — despite our mothers’ protestations that there are “children starving in Africa”. Here’s 50 ways to cut down on the waste and enjoy some good meals in the process.
The ATM that pays you for your recycling
As we become more obsessed with having the latest gadgets, the high-tech trash we discard is becoming a big problem for the environment. Enter The ecoATM: deposit your old mobile phone, and get cash in return.
Recycling an old idea: mixing business with charity
Combine smart business ideas with social causes and you’ve got one of the most significant global economic trends to emerge in the last 50 years. But what do social entrepreneurs need to succeed? A lot of dough.
Bums vs. the planet: the battle against fluffy toilet paper
Everyone’s a greenie these days — except when it comes to wiping our rear ends. We know we should be using the brown, recycled sandpaper stuff, so why won’t we sacrifice softness to save the environment?
Plastic planet: bag bans around the world
As more Australian stores get on the reusable bag bandwagon, take a look at how other countries are dealing with the plastic peril.
San Francisco may fine non-recyclers
San Francisco city officials are likely to introduce a law making recycling and composting mandatory, with a $500 fine for people who don’t comply.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: More rubbish from Crikey: our readers weigh in
Readers let us have it over recycling, the NBN, being nasty to pollies and more.
Guy Rundle: Recycled RIP
Slate’s designation for an old article being run again is “recycled”. But perhaps they should have added an exception.
