If You’ve Been Trying To Go Plastic Free For Awhile You’ve Probably Accumulated Quite A Few Jars

Reborn. Nervion Falls, (Alava, Spain) [OC] (2048X2048) - Author: Mr-_-Blue on reddit

Bugs across globe are evolving to eat plastic, study finds

Surprising discovery shows scale of plastic pollution and reveals enzymes that could boost recycling

The increasing amount of plastic being added to our environments has created intense selection pressure for microbes that can break down plastic for energy.

Looking at environmental DNA samples, researchers have found 30,000 different enzymes capable of digesting different types of plastic. Almost 60% did not fit into any known enzyme types.

While previous plastic-eating microbes had primarily been found in garbage dumps or recycling plants (locations with very high levels of plastic), the enzymes in this study were collected from soil and ocean water throughout the world, meaning this phenomenon is even more widespread than we thought.

The goal is to utilize these enzymes for more efficient recycling–essentially breaking plastic down into its basic building blocks to reduce or even eliminate the need for new virgin plastic. An enzyme created in 2020 is already being used to recycle plastic bottles in only a couple of hours.

Thanks to the anonymous individual who sent this in!

Turner Beach - Florida - USA (by Diana Robinson) 

Morning Mists ♥

National Park Laguna del Laja, Antuco, Chile.

the Guardian

Cities need to be redesigned for the climate crisis. Can they make us happy, too?

It’s tempting to draw lines on a map, but we can’t forget that cities should be designed for the people who live there

(Full collection in link)

Blake Zimmerman of Houston, Texas discusses what Liquefied Natural Gas is, how it’s created, and why it’s an essential export for the United States.

How To Join the Zero Waste Movement

If you are reading this article, it means you care about reducing your waste and minimizing your environmental footprint. Good for you! Joining the zero-waste movement is a giant leap in the right direction. If everyone does, it could save the world. And it’s so easy! Everywhere you look, there…

Blake Zimmerman of Houston, Texas explains microgrids and the use of them to promote sustainability. https://blakezimmermanhouston.net/