The hottest Recycling Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

They lie about Plastics. They lie about Fossil Fuel. They'll lie about Anything

Adetokunbo Sees • 206 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Plastics Recycling Circular Economy
  1. Big Oil companies lie about their plans to zero out greenhouse gas emissions and their efforts to address plastic waste challenges.
  2. Despite making colossal profits, Big Oil companies like Shell, ExxonMobil, and Aramco continue to spread misinformation about their environmental impact.
  3. Developing a circular economy, reducing plastic and private vehicle usage, and holding corporations accountable for lies about recycling and pollution can lead to significant positive changes in addressing climate crises.

The Dirty Secret of Recycling

Polymathic Being • 104 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Recycling Plastics Waste Management Environmental Impact Sustainability
  1. Only 10% of plastic put in recycling bins is actually recycled.
  2. Recycling can have high contamination rates and often leads to materials being shipped overseas or dumped in landfills.
  3. To improve recycling, focus on reducing and reusing materials, design products for better recycling, and address the psychological aspect of recycling habits.

Sorry, Davos: e-waste is a tragedy, not an opportunity

Fight to Repair • 138 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment E-Waste Right-to-repair Circular Economy Sustainability Recycling
  1. E-waste is a significant problem globally, causing harm to people and ecological systems through pollution, inhumane extraction of raw materials, and other disasters.
  2. The idea pushed by some, like the World Economic Forum, that e-waste can be seen as a financial opportunity and a way to boost the economy is criticized as overlooking the true impact and complexity of the issue.
  3. Repairing electronics rather than constant disposal is highlighted as a more sustainable solution that could lead to a more resilient community, a reduction in repair costs, and the circulation of money locally.
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We have enough minerals for the energy transition, but medium-term supply is a challenge [Part 2]

Sustainability by numbers • 150 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Minerals Energy transition Supply Recycling
  1. Short- and medium-term supply of minerals for the energy transition is a challenge that requires increased recycling, substitution, mining, and refining capacity.
  2. The time it takes to discover new mineral deposits, open mines, and scale up refining capacity can create bottlenecks in the short- and medium-term.
  3. To meet the growing mineral demand by 2030, there is a need to accelerate new mine openings, build refining capacity, and ensure strong environmental and social oversight.

The low-carbon energy transition will need less mining than fossil fuels, even when adjusted for waste rock

Sustainability by numbers • 201 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy transition Mining Recycling
  1. Low-carbon energy transition requires less mining than fossil fuels, even when accounting for waste rock.
  2. Material requirements for low-carbon technologies are still lower than current mining requirements for fossil fuels.
  3. Electrification for vehicles will increase material requirements, but overall material needs will decrease with an energy transition.

On International Repair Day: Much To Celebrate

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🌐 International Repair Environment Legislation Recycling Sustainability
  1. International Repair Day is an occasion to celebrate repair skills, promote sustainability, and advocate for a more circular economy worldwide.
  2. Significant progress has been observed globally with the adoption of repair laws in various regions, including the US, Canada, India, and the EU.
  3. The movement for the right to repair is growing, aiming for repair accessibility for all, with events, advocacy, and initiatives globally to support a shift towards a more repairable world.

Activation locks send working Macbooks to the trash- Week in Repair

Fight to Repair • 138 implied HN points • 27 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Devices Laws Repairability Recycling Manufacturers
  1. Activation locks on Macbooks are causing perfectly functional devices to be discarded due to the security feature preventing refurbishing or re-selling.
  2. Harvard Business Review article suggests that right to repair laws might lead manufacturers to counterproductive actions, like adjusting prices or promoting device replacement over repair.
  3. Advocates highlight the importance of right to repair laws in promoting refurbishing and reusing devices to reduce e-waste and keep toxic chemicals out of landfills.

Are Bicycles Becoming Less Sustainable?

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Repair Recycling Emissions Circular Economy
  1. Some argue the sustainability of bicycles is decreasing with the introduction of e-bikes and resource-intensive materials, prompting a need to return to simpler designs and materials.
  2. Not all bicycles have the same environmental impact, especially when considering their lifecycle, repairability, and the materials they are made of.
  3. Repairing bicycles is a crucial way to extend their lifespan and combat the disposable culture in the cycling industry, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing repair over constant innovation.

Eco-Inspired Fonts, and Turning Scallop Shell Waste into Innovative Materials

Green Graphic Design • 58 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🪑 Design Fonts Sustainability Recycling Materials Creative
  1. Discovering inspiring eco-themed fonts can add a unique touch to design projects.
  2. Repurposing scallop shells into helmets for fishermen showcases innovative recycling solutions.
  3. Localized recycling initiatives can have a significant positive impact on specific communities and environmental sustainability.

Fight to Repair Daily: Friday October 14, 2022

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 14 Oct 22
🌞 Climate & Environment E-Waste Recycling Circular Economy Right-to-repair Technology
  1. International E-waste Day brings attention to the impact of trashing electronics, especially in countries with high e-waste generation.
  2. The need to focus on the pre-consumer stage and the importance of using recycled materials and completing the circular economy in tech.
  3. Efforts are being made to promote repair-friendly practices, such as Framework introducing a refurbished program to reuse consumer waste.

Fight to Repair Daily: Friday, September 30, 2022

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 30 Sep 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Agriculture Renewables Recycling Economy Waste Management
  1. Statehouses are addressing agricultural repair issues as Congress stalls; focus on complex farm equipment repair and fair requirements
  2. New federal funds support increased antitrust enforcement in agriculture, improving competition in the livestock industry through collaboration with state attorneys general
  3. Solar panel e-waste management gains attention as more panels enter the waste stream; emergence of producer responsibility standards to address recycling challenges

Fight to Repair Daily: Friday, September 16 2022

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 17 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Repair Legislation Recycling Sustainability
  1. Several Right to Repair bills are stalled in Congress, impacting access to repair information and options for consumers and independent repair providers.
  2. The New York Right to Repair Act aims to change the repair landscape by giving independent repair providers access to diagnostic and repair information previously limited to OEM-authorized providers.
  3. Reusing old phones and gadgets is more beneficial than recycling, as current methods do not efficiently recover all materials. Finding ways to repurpose old devices is encouraged for environmental sustainability.

With eye on sustainability, EU agrees to new battery regulations - Week in Repair

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability Regulations Recycling Corporate Responsibility
  1. EU's new battery regulations aim to make devices more sustainable and durable by ensuring batteries are easier to remove and replace.
  2. Consumers will be educated on sustainability through carbon footprint declarations and information labels on batteries.
  3. Large companies will be held accountable for social and environmental risks associated with batteries, promoting reuse of materials and reducing negative impacts.

Fight to Repair Weekly: Week of November 14, 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 16 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Repair Circular Economy Right-to-repair Electronics Recycling
  1. France is offering cash bonuses to consumers to repair their electronics, leading the way towards a circular economy.
  2. Washington D.C. has launched an interactive map to promote repair, reuse, and second-hand shopping, showing a commitment to reducing waste.
  3. Repair initiatives like these show a shift towards prioritizing sustainability and waste reduction over convenience and consumerism.

Fight to Repair Daily: August 1, 2022

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 01 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Repair E-Waste Batteries Podcast Recycling
  1. Samsung has introduced 'repair mode' for its Galaxy smartphones in South Korea to aid technicians in fixing devices without accessing user data, enhancing customer data security.
  2. The rapid turnover of tech products due to planned obsolescence has led to a surge in electronic waste, urging consumers to consider repairing or upgrading devices before recycling.
  3. Electric vehicle batteries are outlasting cars, leading to delays in recycling programs but also presenting opportunities for second-life use before recycling.