plastics

Even Your Sea Salt Contains Microplastics

Even Your Sea Salt Contains Microplastics

Sea salt may be healthy and rich in minerals, but a new study found it is also rich in plastic. Sea salt has gained some popularity in the past few years for mega health benefits like increased energy and immunity, and improved skin and dental health. But, a team of researchers tested 17 sea salt […]

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    Edible Water Globes Set to Replace Plastic Bottles

    Edible Water Globes Set to Replace Plastic Bottles

    Bottled water is bad for the planet in many ways, especially since it tends to leave behind a mountain of plastic waste and other wasteful packaging material. To help make this problem disappear, London-based startup Skipping Rocks Lab created the Ooho, a biodegradable and fully edible capsule for water. These golf ball-sized sachets are made […]

    Kenya Joins Growing Fight Against Plastic Pollution

    Kenya Joins Growing Fight Against Plastic Pollution

    Kenya just became the latest country to ban plastic bags. According to Environment Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu, “The ministry has banned the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging.” Kenya’s ban follows the United Nations‘ new Clean Seas initiative, which has already inspired 10 governments to address plastic […]

    Microplastics in Oceans Outnumber Stars in Our Galaxy by 500 Times

    Microplastics in Oceans Outnumber Stars in Our Galaxy by 500 Times

    The United Nations is “declaring war” on the biggest sources of planetary pollution—ocean plastic. On Thursday, the intergovernmental organization’s environment program (UNEP) launched its #CleanSeas campaign at the World Ocean Summit hosted by The Economist in Bali, Indonesia. The unprecedented global initiative urges governments and businesses to take measures to eliminate microplastics from cosmetics and […]

    Solar-Powered Water Wheels Prevented 1 Million Pounds of Trash From Entering Baltimore Harbor

    Solar-Powered Water Wheels Prevented 1 Million Pounds of Trash From Entering Baltimore Harbor

    Meet Mr. Trash Wheel and Professor Trash Wheel—a pair of floating, solar and hydro-powered trash interceptors keeping Baltimore’s waters clean. These frankly adorable trash wheels can collect as much as 38,000 pounds of debris in a single day. [facebook https://facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/1462252590454340/ expand=1] Mr. Trash Wheel, located at the mouth of Jones Falls, has stopped more than […]

    20 Most Read Posts of the Year

    20 Most Read Posts of the Year

    From Noam Chomsky’s epic post on his fears of the coming Trump Administration to Michael Moore’s damnation of the Flint water crisis to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s first-hand account of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, 2016 was jam-packed with news once again showing our continued disregard for the health […]

    Michigan Bans Local Plastic Bag Bans

    Michigan Bans Local Plastic Bag Bans

    Another state has officially banned plastic bag bans—yes, you read that correctly. It is now illegal for local governments in Michigan to enact ordinances that ban or place fees on plastic bags or disposable containers used by stores and restaurants. One-time usage, plastic bags are a major cause of plastic pollution. Flickr The bill was […]

    22 Million Pounds of Plastic Enters the Great Lakes Each Year

    22 Million Pounds of Plastic Enters the Great Lakes Each Year

    U.S. and Canada together discard 22 million pounds of plastic into the waters of the Great Lakes each year, according to a new Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) study. Most of it washes up along the shores, accounting for 80 percent of the litter found there. Researchers said that Chicago, Toronto, Cleveland and Detroit are […]

    5 Big Wins, 2 Big Losses on Key Eco-Ballot Initiatives

    5 Big Wins, 2 Big Losses on Key Eco-Ballot Initiatives

    Key environmentally-related ballot measures in six states received mixed results yesterday. On the plus side, Florida voters saw through utility industry efforts to thwart the state’s burgeoning solar energy business and California voters appeared to affirm the state’s ban on single-use plastic bags. Both Massachusetts and Oregon passed key animal protection laws. But, two historically […]