Packing peanuts to be banned in NJ under new law

Good News Notes: “More recycled plastic, glass and paper will be used in everyday products — from trash bags to beer bottles — under anew law Gov. Phil Murphy signed Tuesday. The law also prohibits the sale of polystyrene packing peanuts in New Jersey within two years — a move supporters say will help keep the easily blown…

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Has Become Haven for Endangered Eagles, Study Finds

Good News Notes : “The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has become a haven for a rare species of endangered eagles, a study has found. The study, published in the journal Restoration Ecology, found that although Greater Spotted Eagles were completely extinct in Western Europe before the nuclear disaster in 1986, they have now colonized the exclusion zone and…

Casa Bonita Paying Employees To Perform Community Service During Renovation Period

Good News Notes: “While Casa Bonita remains closed for renovations, the iconic restaurant and entertainment venue in Lakewood’s workers are staying busy. Since November, several dozen employees have been paid to serve the community in the Denver metro area full time.   On Tuesday, the wait for a helping hand stretched dozens of cars deep in the parking…

Longhead darter: Species believed locally extinct rediscovered

Good News Notes: “…Fish management crews captured two of them this fall during Ohio River electrofishing bass surveys, signaling their return to the state. “Who dis? Believe it or not, it’s a longhead darter,” wildlife officials wrote in a social media post. “Why are we so excited? This striking creature, native to Ohio, was thought to…

Recycling Soda Bottles Into Filament To Print Smaller Soda Bottles

Good News Notes: “…Soda bottles are usually made out of PET plastic, or polyethylene terephthalate, which is one of the most popular thermoplastics in modern society. A soda bottle can be cut into a continuous long, thin strip with the use of a simple hand-operated machine that slices the bottle with a blade. This strip…

Council Bluffs nonprofit Promise 4 Paws cares for senior dogs

Good News Notes: “Cathy Graeve’s life’s purpose is bringing care and comfort to dogs who need it most. “I love all dogs, but old dogs, they just get me. Even when they’re peeing on the floor, it’s just like, what do you do?” Graeve laughed. Her passion was sparked about fifteen years ago as a…

A sweet breakthrough: Scientists develop recyclable plastics based on sugars

Good News Notes: “Researchers from the University of Birmingham, U.K., and Duke University, U.S., have created a new family of polymers from sustainable sources that retain all of the qualities of common plastics, but are also degradable and mechanically recyclable. The scientists used sugar-based starting materials rather than petrochemical derivatives to make two new polymers,…