Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 462 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

House That! Your Dream Home Could Be Made Out of Plastic

Deepa Padmanaban

November 25, 2018 |

News18 India |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Hyderabad, Telangana

A social entrepreneur in India is taking plastic waste and using it to make housing structures. Prashanth Lingam takes the waste and turns it into roofing sheets, tiles, and other objects. For example, he built a house for parking staff at a local metro station and 5 million plastic bags were used just on the roof. The cost of these structures are higher than regular houses, but repurposing plastic into other objects could be a potential sustainability solution for the country.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Sucking Carbon Out of the Air Is One Way to Help Save Our Planet

Hallie Steiner

November 21, 2018 |

NationSwell |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Iceland

While many organizations and individuals are working on solutions to address climate change worldwide, a company in Iceland is focusing on removing carbon dioxide directly from the air. Although small in scale, this new technology known as direct air capture has made it possible to suck the carbon dioxide from the air and turn the emissions into stone.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Nepalese entrepreneurs turn trash into treasure

Deepak Adhikari

November 18, 2018 |

Nikkei Asian Review |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nepal, Kathmandu

Kathmandu Valley, like many other heavily populated areas in Nepal, has a trash problem. As the designated landfill becomes overfull, local entrepreneurs are turning to creative thinking in order to make a difference. From turning trash into household items to creating furniture out of tires, these artists and innovators are showing that recycling is beneficial in more than one way.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Ramsey Walk tackles fly-tipping with guerrilla gardening

Dina Aboughazala

November 08, 2018 |

Islington Now |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Islington

In a neighborhood in the United Kingdom called Ramsey Walk, one resident was tired of illegal dumping, also called fly-tipping, in her community. On a hunch, she formed a guerilla gardening group to plant flowers where the dumping was occurring to deter would-be fly-tippers. Their success rate has been 100 percent, and their new motto is "from fly-tipping to floewr picking."

Read More
Go to Original Story
In Istanbul, You Can Pay Your Subway Fare with Recyclables

Rachel Kaufman

October 30, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Turkey, Istanbul

A pilot program in Istanbul, Turkey allows subway commuters to pay for their fares with bottles and cans instead of cash. While a one way fare via the "reverse vending machines" costs about 28 1.5 liter bottles, the government is working to make the recycling system more efficient and easy for travelers.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The cost of keeping Singapore squeaky clean

Tim McDonald

October 29, 2018 |

BBC |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Singapore

Singapore maintains its state of cleanliness through fines, public education, and an army of low-paid cleaners. Fifty years ago, the Keep Singapore Clean campaign was the first time the government used fines as a method of social control. Now that the city is wealthier, the fines aren’t as effective. Singaporeans rely on cleaners to do the majority of the work.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Baseball Bat Dies, and Chopsticks Are Born

Jeré Longman

October 25, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan, Tokyo

When baseball bats break, as they often do during games, they don't always find another purpose. As part of a recycling and conservation effort in Japan, though, these bats are repurposed into chopsticks that don't just serve a practical purpose, but also raise awareness about the kind of wood used to make the bats.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Iowa company that turns recycled cartons into building materials coming to Colorado

Liz Forster

October 18, 2018 |

Colorado Springs Gazette |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

In Colorado, trash either ends up in a landfill or is recycled by being shipped to another state. To increase efficiency and implement better recycling practices, an Iowa-born company that turns recycled cartons into building materials is crossing state lines with the help of funding from from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.

Read More
Go to Original Story
'Zero waste' town recycles most of its trash

Sonia Narang

October 18, 2018 |

WHYY |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Japan, Kamikatsu

Kamikatsu, a small town in rural Japan, went from incinerating trash to recycling about 80 percent of it--all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving money. The program is run by Zero Waste Academy, a nonprofit that helps train residents and businesses on best recycling practices. Now, Kamikatsu's success has drawn planners from around the world to learn.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Istanbul Vending Machines Offer Subway Credit for Recycled Bottles and Cans

Ceylan Yeginsu

October 17, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Turkey, Istanbul

In an attempt to lessen their role in contributing to waste, Istanbul has installed “reverse vending machines” at metro stations that incentivize recycling. For every plastic bottle or aluminum can inserted into the machine, public transportation users earn cash to redeem for trips.

Read More
Go to Original Story