Green but noisy

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Potato peel, fruit waste turned into packaging material

Scientists at the Tezpur University in Assam have made thin biopolymer films from potato peels and fruit waste to store food items

Biodegradable at last

Use of organic catalysts to usher in a new range of plastics  

Make wealth from waste

Residential societies can set up their own composting plants to tackle biodegradable waste profitably

Where will segregated waste go? Cities are clueless

A country-wide waste segregation campaign also needs to be backed up by a plan for treatment and processing

Update

Third dumpsite fire in a month points to systemic failure of waste management in Delhi

Recent fire at Bhalswa raging for 72 hours; previous two fires at Ghazipur led to spike in air pollution

Biodegradable film developed from whey, isabgol and lotus stem starch

It can be used to replace petroleum-based plastic packaging

Implementation of waste management laws remains woefully inadequate: Experts

Waste management experts had gathered at the launch of the book State of Waste in India

Silent pandemic needs agenda for change

The rise of antimicrobial resistance is as catastrophic as COVID-19 or climate change  

Caterpillars could hold the key to managing plastic waste: study

Moth caterpillars, which bio-degrade polyethylene found in plastic bags, can help scientists find a viable solution to the plastic waste problem

Why innovative cool roofing is becoming popular among Ahmedabad’s urban poor

The city’s residents strategically use shade, ventilation and building materials to keep their homes comfortable; and it does not cost the earth

Can bioplastics save us from drowning in our own waste?

Alternatives like paper, cloth, biodegradable plastics, glass, etc have relative merits and no single alternative can be the solution to what is …

Stop looking to government

Individual initiatives can go a long way in solving the energy crisis  

Cool packaging: IIT Kharagpur has a new use for cucumber peels

Cellulose nanomaterial developed from the peels has strength and elongation, could replace single-use plastic, according to researchers

10 methods companies bet on to cut single-use plastic use

Several firms claim to have either started or plan to use eco-friendly cutlery, recycled plastic, biodegradable lids and other ways firms are …

How a noxious aquatic weed was used to make eco-friendly products, generate employment in rural Bengal

Demand for woven baskets, cups, plates, boxes and other cottage industry products is high in the state, neighbouring areas

Burn it all

That is NITI Aayog's solution to India's solid waste management woes

Ahead of elections, Odisha waives off sal leaf royalty

Imposition of GST and royalty had together almost stopped the procurement of the leaves, which are used to make biodegradable plates

Maharashtra's ambitious plastic ban continues to confuse

Rushed up notifications, illegal raids, and lack of alternatives have marred Maharashtra's plastic ban 

Mismanaged solid waste in Tanzania’s Mwanza city is polluting Lake Victoria

Critical for Mwanza to invest in source separation of waste, developing infrastructure for ensuring 100% collection coverage and efficient …

Bagful of doubts

India has no fool-proof test for biodegradable plastic

An Indian consumes 11kg plastic every year and an average American 109kg

But that doesn’t mean you get to consume more because even if India's per capita consumption is low compared to developed countries, …

States commit to waste segregation at source, but decentralisation not yet a priority

Decentralised solutions will cut transportation costs and make households and institutions part of the solution

Wasted wealth

Organic composting is filthy business. Facilities flout norms, produce poor quality manure