A real case for upcycling instead of landfilling

As more companies look for ways to upcycle their unwanted materials, they divert waste from our landfills

I was perusing old emails and came across one that not only was interesting but inspiring.

I’ve written a number of articles about the growing trend of upcycling. It’s much more than simply recycling something. It’s taking what once was considered trash and turning it into something useful, giving it a second life. 

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We need to solve the rate of wildlife kill at solar panel farms

Large solar arrays are killing wildlife at an alarming rate, with no solution in sight

There’s an aphorism that’s played out over and over again these days.” Every solution brings new problems.”

For every new innovation, a whole array of issues pop up needing to be solved. Such is proving to be the case with the large solar arrays that exist and/or are on the drawing board.

Are you eating GMOs?

photo by Margarita Persico @ http://www.thehealthydish.com

There are plenty of headlines about GMO labeling and the mega-money being thrown against it by giant food manufacturers. For consumers, the information is often misleading and confusing.

The environmental hazards of microbeads

Plastic microbeads  – tiny, toxic, plastic beads – are in many of our personal care products, like face scrub and toothpaste. They’re so tiny that they are washing down the drains and into our precious waterways.

graphic courtesy of 5 Gyres Institute

Straight talk, inspiration and hope – never give up these 3 keys to help you meet big challenges

A northern California lakebed devastated by drought – just one of the many symptoms of climate change

The facts about climate change are looking pretty dire. With the Antarctic ice shelf melting, the continued rise in greenhouse gases and big governments effectively hamstrung and/or side-stepping the serious issues in favor of posturing and “talking a good game”, if you said we’re in serious trouble you’d be right. But as a writer I’ve learned that focusing on the negative – as pronounced and apparent as it may be – won’t help us reach the solutions we so desperately need.

USDA poised to approve new GMO seed

GMO corn field, photo by Bob Bell, flickr

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) may well give its approval to a new genetically modified (GMO) seed which is manipulated to live through sprayings of Dow’s Enlist Duo herbicide, a chemical cocktail containing both glyphosate and an older toxic chemical 2,4-D.

A bridge made of discarded plastic bottles

Plastic is everywhere. Last month 5 Gyres institute completed  a three-week sail from Bermuda to Iceland and found microplastic particles in every surface sample collected during the trip.