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Solving the Problem of Renewable Energy Waste: A Circular Economy Approach to Sustainable Batteries
Despite its many benefits, the clean energy revolution has one notable downside: The battery-based storage systems that underpin localised renewable energy have a limited lifespan, contributing to a large and growing e-waste problem. In response, Aceleron set out to develop a more sustainable battery technology. The company's CEO, Amrit Chandan, discusses its impact.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
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Ugandans Melt Plastic Waste into Coronavirus Face Shields
When the Ugandan government ordered all non-essential workplaces shut to contain the coronavirus pandemic in late March, Peter Okwoko and his colleague Paige Balcom began manufacturing makeshift plastic face shields from discarded plastic bottles.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- manufacturing, public health, waste
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Pandemic-Proof Projects? Spring Lane Looks to Sustainable Waste
This impact investor is backing startups that promise to divert organic waste from landfills and turn it into clean energy and compost.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Investing
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Rwanda’s Trash Warrior Tackles E-Waste With Blockchain
his week, the 19-year-old will join climate activist Greta Thunberg at the U.N. Youth Climate Summit in New York as one of 100 selected young people offering solutions on climate change.
- Categories
- Environment, WASH
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Beyond ‘Take-Make-Waste’ Supply Chains: MIT Solve Seeks Circular Economy Solutions
Most of the products we use today — clothing, furniture, electronics and more — come from “take-make-waste” linear supply chains. These systems result in 2 billion tons of solid waste each year, produce major carbon emissions, and often involve toxic working conditions. MIT Solve is seeking new models through its Circular Economy Challenge, which will give $10,000 grants to the eight most promising solutions - the application deadline is July 1.
- Categories
- Environment, Transportation
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Rotten Eggs: E-Waste From Europe Poisons Ghana’s Food Chain
According to a new report by two environmental groups tracking the disposal of e-waste, chicken eggs from the Agbogbloshie slum in Ghana’s capital, Accra – where residents break up waste to recover metals – contain dangerous levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), among other harmful substances.
- Categories
- Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- waste
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China says bitcoin is wasteful. Now it wants to ban mining.
An executive who works closely with Chinese mining firms told WIRED that although the ban was widely expected to move forward, miners expect it will take years for the government to fully rein in their operations.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Reimagining the World’s Dirtiest Job: How Pit Vidura is Professionalizing Waste Management
Around 2.7 billion people – 35 percent of the world’s population – use on-site sanitation systems that are not connected to sewers. When they become full, they need to be emptied – a job that’s often done manually, presenting hazards to both the workers and their communities. Pit Vidura is tackling this challenge in Kigali, Rwanda, offering safe hygienic pit latrine and septic tank emptying for people in hard-to-reach areas. Katie Sottilare discusses the company’s innovative approach, and the impact it’s having.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise, WASH