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  • Fridge detectives

    August 31, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Podcast |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: Guatemala

    In the first half of this episode, the producers discuss "Tradewaters," an organization that disposes of canisters inside refrigerators. These canisters hold potent greenhouse gases. One 30-pound canister can leak up to 131 tons of Co2, or a year's worth of driving for 54 cars. The organization disposes of thousands of canisters across Central America, Chile, South Africa, and India. The practice of disposing of these canisters saves between one to two percent of global Co2 emissions, according to estimates.

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  • Beirut Is Greening the Aftermath of Disaster

    August 03, 2021 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Lebanon, Beirut

    In 2020, a devastating explosion in Beirut that came from a warehouse released 800,000 and one million tons of construction and demolition waste and 20,000 tons of shattered glass into the city. The waste was being thrown into landfills. However, landfills are notoriously bad for the environment. Out of that rubble an idea was created; disposing waste sustainably. Rubble Mountains was created specifically to do this. They've been able to restore four quarries, use materials to create public amenities, and diverting up to 50 tons of demolition waste from landfills.

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  • In Assam, ATMs purify arsenic-laced water

    July 19, 2021 |

    The Third Pole |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: India, Barigaon, Assam

    A water management committee manages Barigaon’s water ATM, which uses a nanotechnology-based ion exchange resin to remove iron and arsenic from groundwater. Residents, who swipe a pre-paid card to collect water in their own containers, pay 40 cents per 20 liters or a flat monthly fee of less than $3. Water is free for families who can’t afford the fee and delivery is arranged for those who are unable to transport water. Around 250 villagers use the ATM each day and its success inspired five additional ATMs, with plans to install 172 statewide. Fees cover maintenance and the landowner’s electricity costs.

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  • Can Ontario boost EV battery recycling before it's too late?

    April 22, 2021 |

    TVO |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Canada, Kingston, Ontario

    After lithium-ion batteries from iPhones, laptops, or electric cars are used up, the Ontario-based company LiCycle recycles parts of them to be reused in new batteries or in other products. While the recycling process isn’t completely environmentally friendly, the company is able to recover 95 percent of the raw materials and says their operations produces no carbon emissions, wastewater, or solid waste.

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  • Ten years after Fukushima: could new fuels make nuclear power safer?

    February 23, 2021 |

    Physics World |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Urbana, Illinois

    After the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, scientists are looking for ways to ensure the future of nuclear power is safer. One possibility is improving the protective barrier that surrounds the fuel pellets. They coated the fuel road with chromium and in tests, the new coatings performed well. However, modeling suggests that the chromium-coating might not provide enough time to stabilize a power plant during a meltdown. Still, these materials have started to appear in commercial nuclear reactors and could help reduce fuel waste and save money.

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  • How Newark Water Coalition Is Bringing the City Clean Water Without Plastic Waste

    February 18, 2021 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Newark, New Jersey

    Since it was reported that Newark’s lead levels in the city’s drinking water were higher than federal standards, the Newark Water Coalition installed a Water Box. This is a portable filtration system that removes contaminants to provide 10 gallons of clean water each minute. The organization worked with another nonprofit that implemented a Water Box in Flint, Michigan, to secure funding to install three others in the city.

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  • The country rejecting throwaway culture

    January 28, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: France, Paris

    Paris hosts a dozen "repair cafes," which are free, monthly events where residents can fix household objects and electronics with the help and advice of volunteers. The events usually have about 25 attendees who seek to limit the vast amounts of household waste, particularly E-waste, by repairing broken electronics and appliances. France's National Assembly also introduced an index of "repairability" ratings for appliances such as washing machines, lawnmowers, televisions and smartphones, in hopes of increasing the percentage of electronics that are repaired rather than discarded.

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  • Saving Slovenia's "Human Fish"

    December 15, 2020 |

    bioGraphic |

    Multi-Media |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: Slovenia

    Scientists in Slovenia are working to understand the mysteries of salamanders — known as olms — that live in natural caves and how best to protect this vulnerable species. Industrial pollution infiltrates the water systems where these creatures live, however more research is needed to understand how climate change and humans impact them. Recent efforts with captive breeding and rescue programs have shown success, but more international collaboration and funding are needed to fully understand this unique species.

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  • Michigan's weakened environmental laws lead activists to embrace other tactics

    December 10, 2020 |

    Planet Detroit |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

    Environmental deregulation and budget cuts opened the door for a loose coalition of environmental attorneys and activists to do the accountability work for the regulatory system. The groups sue to force companies to follow the law, contest permits, and run media campaigns to raise awareness of corporate misdeeds. Their efforts have been effective, forcing the closure of a toxic incinerator, pushing utilities towards clean energy, and revealing environmental abuses of major companies. The groups work with residents in impacted communities to determine priorities and organize support among neighbors.

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  • Chimney Sweeps Attack Deadly Pollution Crisis

    December 06, 2020 |

    Global Press Journal |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar

    After banning the burning of raw coal as a way to reduce air pollution in Mongolia, residents of Ulaanbaatar switched to refined charcoal to heat their homes. However, that coal also wasn’t the cleanest and contributed to hundreds suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. To fix that, the government teamed up with a private company to hire more than 1,600 people to clean and inspect people’s chimneys and stoves. While critics say the program doesn’t solve the country’s pollution problem, the service has provided jobs to those who didn’t have steady work and helped those who aren't able to clean their stoves.

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