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Can Dirt Save the Earth?

Moises Velasquez-Manoff

April 18, 2018 |

The New York Times Magazine |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Marin, California

One tactic for combatting climate change has to do with soil health. Soil can withdraw and store carbon from the atmosphere—at a higher rate when covered by manure—and also supports long-term soil sustainability and saves farmers money. Because agriculture already consumes much of the world's surface, proponents of carbon farming envision a world where large swathes of land act as a carbon sink. Potential drawbacks and things left to explore include how to produce compost without creating more energy than it saves and how to use cows effectively when they also contribute much of the carbon in the atmosphere.

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In North Carolina, Hog Waste Is Becoming A Streamlined Fuel Source

James Morrison

April 17, 2018 |

NPR |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

Swine biogas are making an appearance across North Carolina, a state with more hogs than any other state in the U.S. Turning methane from hog waste into electricity has allowed the state to earn valuable carbon offset credits as they work towards brining emissions to zero.

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Scientists accidentally created an enzyme that eats plastic and it could be the answer to our waste crisis

Josh Gabbatiss

April 16, 2018 |

The Independent |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Japan

Plastic is a leading cause of much of the world's pollution problem. But thanks to a discovery in a Japanese recycling center, scientists believe they may have identified a substance that can drastically reduce the amount.

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Can we fix it? The repair cafes waging war on throwaway culture

Kate Lyons

March 15, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Scotland, Edinburgh

Instead of throwing broken items away, what if those items could be repaired? The Edinburgh Remakery and the Reading Repair Cafe are attempting just that. Different remake shops have different approaches: some rely on volunteers and provide repair services for free, others charge a fee to make the company more sustainable. What they all have in common is a passion for remaking what is old into what is new again and helping the planet at the same time.

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The chewing gum you don't mind stuck to your shoe

Dougal Shaw

March 06, 2018 |

BBC |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Winchester, Greater London

Did you know that the main ingredient in most chewing gum is a synthetic rubber, which resembles a close relationship to plastic? "It's called polyisobutylene," explains Anna Bullus, a British designer, "the same stuff you find in the inner tube of bicycle wheels." After realizing this, Anna decided to embark on a mission to recycle used chewing gum as a means of cleaning up the streets. What resulted was a way to create everyday products that include at least 20% gum, while simultaneously saving institutions money on what otherwise would have gone toward cleanup efforts.

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Dutch Supermarket Introduces Plastic-Free Aisle

Christopher F. Schuetze

February 28, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Amsterdam

As part of a global initiative to reduce the use of plastic, a supermarket in Amsterdam has implemented a plastic-free aisle that houses approximately 700 items packaged in compostable materials, glass, metal or cardboard. “There is absolutely no logic in wrapping something as fleeting as food in something as indestructible as plastic," explains Sian Sutherland, the co-founder of advocacy group A Plastic Planet. Although the first of its kind in Amsterdam, similar efforts are simultaneously underway in other parts of the world.

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It turns out vodka and icy roads can be a good mix

Matt Rocheleau

January 30, 2018 |

The Boston Globe |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Although alcohol and driving don't typically go hand-in-hand, researchers found one way to successfully and safely combine the two. By taking the by-products of the distilling process and combining them with the typical road salt that is used to help melt snow during winter conditions, these researchers created a super mixture which enhances the capabilities of melting the ice.

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P Is For Phosphorus

Robert Smith

January 26, 2018 |

NPR |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Vermont

Phosphate is used for fertilizer on many farms. However, once the phosphorus washes away, it is next to impossible to recover, thus creating a phosphorus depletion. Using a very on the ground, grassroots approach, a small group of local citizens started asking other citizens to donate their urine to be recycled for the phosphate. After just a year, the group had 600 gallons of urine and after filtering it, it's being used on a local Vermont farm to fertilize hay on a dairy.

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Bioeconomy: A global trend?

Vijay Shankar Balakrishnan

January 22, 2018 |

Deutsche Welle (DW) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Finland

Bioeconomy is the practice of using biological processes and organic materials to reduce waste, and it's gaining traction as a means of business. Finland is home to one of the largest bioproduct mills, where "a whole ecosystem of companies" work together on projects such as converting sustainably logged wood into pulp before selling it to Europe and Asia and producing solid biofuels which will eventually create electricity.

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These women in the Philippines scour a dump site for trash to turn into 'something beautiful'

Rina Diane Caballar

December 11, 2017 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Philippines

After a typhoon hit Dumaguete City in the Philippines’ Central Visayas region, Whitney Fleming began to work with local women “ to create jewelry from materials found in the local dump site.” Eventually their collaboration led to the creation of Lumago Designs, a social enterprise. The jewelry is made from found reusable items and the local women are paid fair wages.

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