Good News Notes: “Single-use plastic scrap continues to be a growing problem internationally with only 9 percent of the 8.3 billion tons of plastic produced in the last 65 years being recycled. One of the biggest contributors to this issue is polyolefins, such as polypropylene and polyethylene. Researchers at Purdue University are working to solve that problem…
Tag: polyethylene
Scientists develop method to recycle plastic bottles into aviation fuel using less energy
Good News Notes: “Humans produce more than 6 billion tons of plastic every year, and its accumulation in landfills and oceans is considered by many to be an environmental crisis. Only 9% of plastics are recycled in the U.S., and while bans on single-use plastic bags and straws have some benefits, we’re nowhere near addressing the volume…
Anchorage engineer plans to recycle ocean garbage into plastic lumber
Good News Notes: “The cost of lumber and other building materials is sky-high, and it’s even more expensive when shipped to small coastal communities in Alaska. Patrick Simpson of Anchorage has an idea that might help. He wants to create artificial lumber from an abundant material no one wants: Plastic ocean debris. Simpson, an engineer,…
‘Deceptively simple’ process could boost plastics recycling
Good News Notes: “Plastics are a victim of their own success, so inexpensive, easy to use and versatile that the world is awash in plastic waste. Now researchers from the University of Houston have reported a new method of producing polyolefins—made from hydrocarbons and the most common building block of plastics—structured to address one of…
Upcycling polyethylene plastic waste into lubricant oils | EurekAlert! Science News
Good News Notes: “Plastics pervade almost every aspect of modern life, but once they have served their purpose, it’s tough to get rid of them. That’s because the polymers degrade very slowly in landfills or the environment, and recycling is inefficient.” “Now researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have developed a catalyst that can transform…