Tag Archives: rubbish

University of Vienna: Sponges made from plastic waste can be made from materials that draw water from the air.

By | October 18th 2026
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Plastic waste and water scarcity are among humanity's biggest problems. Credits: Anna Shvets, pexels

Discarded plastic packaging, old CDs, and even LEGO bricks can be transformed into materials that absorb significant amounts of humidity. Materials chemists Anastasiia Naryshkina, Paul Schweng, and Robert Woodward from the University of Vienna have converted various types of plastic waste into water-attracting polymer networks. These absorb water even in dry climates and release it again when moderately warmed, for example, by sunlight… Read more »

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Plastic waste in fields and meadows – the overlooked heavy load

By | October 6th 2026
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Plastic waste on and around fields has become a common sight. Credits: Pugnalom

The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT estimates that approximately 556 tons of plastic waste from agricultural sources such as films, nets, fleeces, and silage coatings remain in the soil each year. Of this, about 180 tons are attributable to crop production, primarily asparagus and strawberry films, and 376 tons to forage and energy crops. Extrapolated to the agricultural land area in Germany, this results in… Read more »

Intelligent hydrogel can clean waters of microplastics

By | August 19, 2025
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Credits: FlyD, unsplash

Researchers at Leibniz University Hannover have developed a novel hydrogel that autonomously absorbs and degrades microplastics in water. Microplastics, which pollute seas, lakes, and rivers, cause inflammation and oxidative stress in organisms. Conventional filter systems for their removal are costly and energy-intensive. The new material, a thermoresponsive hydrogel with porous organosilicate particles and a photocatalyst, works independently. It sinks into polluted water… Read more »

No comment: Pugnalom gives facts about the plastic planet Earth

By | August 18, 2025
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Credits: Iqro Rinaldi, unsplash

The UN negotiations in August 2025 may have raised awareness of the global plastic problem, at least temporarily, but humanity is still far from a global solution. Without a radical change of course, the amount and toxicity of plastic in the environment, as well as in humans and animals, will continue to increase exponentially. We have compiled some figures and facts that… Read more »

Negligent disposal of green waste endangers the environment and health

By | July 31, 2025
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Credits: Soester Anzeiger

Gardeners and farmers are familiar with the problem: potting soil and compost containing waste residues. Whether the substrates come from garden centers, discount stores, or waste disposal companies, practically every batch contains shredded binding material, unidentifiable plastic scraps, or polystyrene. Composting organic waste is a central component of the German circular economy. According to the Federal/State Working Group on Waste, around 60 million tons of organic waste were composted in 2019… Read more »

Berlin: Autonomous cleaning robot vacuums small waste in Spreebogenpark

By | June 24, 2025
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Credits: Barbara Halstenberg

An orange flashing light, a quiet vacuuming sound – a compact white box slowly moves across the grass in the middle of Spreebogenpark. Between Berlin's main train station and the Chancellery, an unusual helper is attracting attention: an autonomous cleaning robot from the Berlin waste management company (BSR), vacuuming up cigarette butts, bottle caps, and other small litter from the grass. It was developed by the company Angsa Robotics, accompanied… Read more »

Fewer battery fires in recycling plants thanks to sensor-based waste sorting

By | May 6
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Credits: Paul Pulkert, Fraunhofer IIS

More and more electronic products are being disposed of improperly, ending up in recycling bins along with plastic waste. If the batteries and accumulators inside are damaged, they can cause fires in landfills. In the DangerSort project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS aim to remove these hazardous objects and thus make recycling plants safer – thanks to a sensor-based sorting system. According to… Read more »

Germany: Plastic waste exports above all else

By | April 27, 2025
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Germany is considered a pioneer in recycling and environmental protection. But a closer look at waste management reveals an uncomfortable truth: A significant portion of the plastic waste generated in Germany is not recycled but exported – often to countries with inadequate waste infrastructure. This investigative report illuminates the dimensions of the problem, analyzes official statistics and scientific studies, and uncovers the ecological consequences… Read more »

Third-generation degradable plastics should help solve the global plastics problem

By | April 8, 2025
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Credits: Rebecca Lahl, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT)

For more than two years, UN member states have been struggling to reach a global agreement on plastics. Negotiations will continue in Geneva in August. The goal is a treaty with globally binding measures against worldwide plastic pollution. Researchers at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) have now examined existing strategies and are outlining complementary approaches to tackling the plastic waste problem… Read more »

German Federal Environmental Foundation seeks ideas for resource-saving healthcare

By | April 7, 2025
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Credits: Tom Fisk, pexels

On today's World Health Day, the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) is calling for greater attention to be paid to the health sector. "Rapid consumption of raw materials and resources, tons of waste every day, and enormous greenhouse gas emissions threaten the environment and climate," says DBU Secretary General Alexander Bonde. "We must change this." A start has been made with the DBU's "CirculAid" funding initiative for a more circular economy in healthcare. From now on, interested parties can… Read more »