WasteSharks are smart, solar-powered aqua drones that collect garbage from rivers, canals and harbors. They're designed for use in areas where waste is known to collect and increase their efficiency as they learn about each environment. The machine-learning capability, combined with on-board sensors and cameras, help keep the WasteSharks out of the way of larger crafts. Collected garbage is passed on to recycling and waste-management partners for processing. www.rantech.nl
A 2023 start-up aiming to make recycling convenient and accessible to all is about to go national. The aim is to provide people with a home pick-up option for some of the "trickier" items the normal recycling bins can't handle - including soft plastics. https://wastemanagementreview.com.au/recyclesmart-goes-national/
A Kyushu University study (2021) estimated there were 24.4 trillion pieces of microplastics in the world's upper oceans or roughly 30 billion 500-ml plastic water bottles. Microplastics are tiny, toxic and very hard to remove from the environment. But researchers in the US have discovered that some Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) can attract and bind microplastics, making it easier to remove them from the environment. And the N in NADES is key - natural - in this instance, think extracts from plants. https://www.research.uky.edu/news/researchers-develop-eco-friendly-magnet-battle-microplastics
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