These Countries Are the Best and Worst Recyclers in the World

Data on global waste management is hard to gather in a meaningful way because there are so many sources, journeys, and endpoints for waste.  The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has made a valiant effort to track municipal waste management throughout its 35 member states. And the results are striking.

10 Worst Practices in Used Electronics Recycling ("e-waste")

The official Ten Worst "E-waste recycling" Practices have been codified by the knowledgeable insider who thought of writing this first.  There may be some that haven't even occurred to me.

Construction of South Africa’s first plastic road has begun

Construction of Africa’s first eco-friendly road, incorporating recycled waste plastic, started in Jeffreys Bay earlier this month. This could mean the end of potholes, create jobs in the region and contribute to saving the planet.

Federal grant to fund e-scrap metals recovery research

A $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation will support research into better separation of metals in consumer electronics.

How a company in Berlin is turning coffee grounds into recycled reusable cups

Kaffeeform, a Berlin-based start-up, has been creating coffee cups from recycled coffee grounds for the past three years.  We learn how the founder, Julian Lechner, got started and how he makes his products.

The e-waste problem

The amount of electronic products discarded globally has skyrocketed recently, with 20-50 million tonnes generated every year. If such a huge figure is hard to imagine, think of it like this - if the estimated amount of e-waste generated every year would be put into containers on a train it would go once around the world!

8 Projects Turning Deadly E-waste Into Beautiful, Non-deadly Works Of Art

Here are examples of eight artworks that give us an idea of the range of possibilities for what old computers, cellphones, televisions, and common electronic parts can become.

Victorian electronic waste (e-waste) ban in full swing

The e-waste ban means anything with a plug, battery or power cord that is no longer working or wanted must be taken to a council or business collection point rather than thrown into your household bin.

The world’s e-waste is a huge problem. It’s also a golden opportunity

While more electronic devices are part of the problem, they also can be a big part of the solution. A more digital and connected world will help us accelerate progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering unprecedented opportunities for emerging economies.

Global Ban on Exporting Hazardous Waste to Developing Countries Becomes Law

The agreement, called for by European and developing countries, with the strong support from environmental and human rights groups in the early 1990s -- has been hailed as a landmark agreement for global environmental justice.

Desco - The responsible e-waste recycler (Written by 3SMedia)

Reaching its 20-year milestone, Desco Electronic Recyclers has made strides in the e-waste industry, setting benchmark standards in the education and recycling of electronic waste products in South Africa

The Electronic Waste Challenge: A Global Perspective (GIZ Video)

This film was developed by GIZ Sector Project “Concepts for Sustainable Waste Management and Circular Economy”, on behalf of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and in cooperation with the United Nations University SCYCLE Programme.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic medals made from recycled mobile phones

The Tokyo 2020 Medal Project sparked the collection of nearly 80,000 tons of mobile phones and small electronic devices around Japan, which will be used in the crafting of every gold, silver and bronze Olympic and Paralympic medal awarded to athletes at next year's games.

A solar-powered system can turn salt water into fresh drinking water

A solar-powered system can turn salt water into fresh drinking water for 25,000 people per day. It could help address the world’s looming water crisis.

Australia came up with a way to save the oceans from plastic pollution & garbage

Government authorities from the Australian city of Kwinana have recently installed a new filtration system in the Henley Reserve. This is something that many countries have been attempting to do for years now. The best part is, this system is unbelievably simple, effective, and helpful.