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Shredding is unappreciated microplastics source

Envirotec Magazine

Line for washing shredded PET plastic at a recycling facility. Australian researchers have identified a new, or previously overlooked, culprit in the release of microplastics into the environment: The shredding process used to recycle plastics. They subsequently discussed this in a commentary published in Science.

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Using microbes to remove microplastics

Envirotec Magazine

Researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed a seemingly new technique to trap and recover microplastics. The method uses bacterial biofilms, a sticky substance created by micro-organisms, to trap microplastic particles. In bioreactors, this makes the microplastics more convenient to collect, according to Liu.

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Washing machine filter captures microplastic without the need for disposables

Envirotec Magazine

Bristol based microplastic technology company Matter is launching Gulp, “the first sustainable, long-lasting washing machine microfibre filter” on Kickstarter from 11 October. and recycling of microplastics, and says it is focused on “cradle-to-cradle solutions”, with a mission to stop microplastic pollution at source.

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Hidden threats to soil apparent from sewage sludge research

Envirotec Magazine

million tonnes of sewage sludge produced in the UK is recycled to agricultural land. If we wish to support a clean and safe circular economy, then the quality of these resources must be improved prior to their recycling to agricultural land. Around 87% of the 3.6 More information on the project can be found here: [link]

Soil 221
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Recycling charity expands laboratory analysis and other capabilities

Envirotec Magazine

New laboratory capabilities include microscopy techiques to better support the examination of microplastics. In particular, the RECOUP laboratory uses near-infrared (NIR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify the constituent components of a pack and help determine recyclability.

Recycling 273
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Microplastics: Six surprising everyday things that contain and release them

Envirotec Magazine

Microplastics have become so widespread that they have been discovered in fresh Antarctic snow. Microplastics are minute pieces of plastic – less than five millimeters in length. However, typical plastic waste isn’t the only source of microplastics. Its ingredients cannot be collected and recycled. Nail polish.

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Microplastic pollution in landfill leachate: A few drips of progress?

Envirotec Magazine

The microplastic pollution that turns up in landfill leachate has received much less attention than the stuff appearing in wastewater, and there seem to be far fewer studies exploring it. According to the OECD, in 2019, 50% of the world’s plastic waste was landfilled, 19% was incinerated, 9% was recycled and 22% was mismanaged.