All articles tagged with #waste management
In many low- and middle-income countries, waste collection is incomplete—less than half of household waste is collected in some places, and when it is collected, a large share (often over 80%) ends up in open dumps or is burned, causing pollution. Improving basic waste management presents a major opportunity to reduce environmental and air pollution and curb plastic leakage.
In Ethiopian cities like Harar and Mekelle, spotted hyenas and other scavengers help clean up urban waste by scavenging leftovers, reducing disposal costs and emissions, and potentially limiting disease spread. Studies show these urban hyenas process thousands of metric tons of waste annually, a mutual benefit locals largely view as positive, though attitudes vary by city. In Harar, a centuries-old hyena-feeding tradition persists inside the ancient walls and has become a tourism draw, while Mekelle’s hyenas commute nightly to landfills. Researchers caution that excessive habituation could provoke conflict, urging planners to balance ecosystems with initiatives like controlled eco-parks to sustain coexistence.
The US blockade has slashed fuel and crippled Havana's waste collection, forcing open-air burning of rubbish and creating toxic smoke, flies and disease risks (notably chikungunya and hepatitis). Doctors warn of worsening public health as the city relies on limited incineration points and a massive landfill, with a new recycling drive and other measures attempting to avert a broader crisis.
UK waste firms are turning to robotics and AI to cope with hazardous, high-turnover work and staff shortages (turnover around 40%). At Sharp Group's Rainham plant, a humanoid robot called Alpha is being trained to pick and sort rubbish using VR data and AI vision. Other companies such as TeknTrash/AMP and GlacierAI are marketing AI-powered sorting and air-jet guidance. Industry experts say automation is increasingly necessary and should upskill workers to maintain and oversee robots, though concerns persist about job losses and working conditions.
Seattle's Clean City 2025 report details major cleanup achievements: 5.3 million pounds of waste removed, 661,105 sharps collected, and 31,938 Adopt a Street volunteer hours worth over $1.28 million in 2025, plus 34,700 service requests. A data-driven, multi-department effort expanded partnerships and piloted illegal-dumping cameras that cut hotspots to zero. The city is sharpening strategies ahead of the 2026 World Cup to keep streets clean and safe for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Britain is weighing police-style powers for Environment Agency officers to tackle fly-tipping, including warrantless searches, asset seizures and arrests; illegal waste transport could face up to five years in prison, with expanded use of PACE and the Proceeds of Crime Act. The move, linked to the upcoming Waste Crime Action Plan, follows enforcement data (1.26 million fly-tipping incidents in 2024-25, largely household waste) and could pair with measures like driver-licence penalty points and vehicle seizure to deter waste crime.
Eleven people died and more than 20 remain missing after a landslide at Cebu City's Binaliw landfill trapped workers; over 100 were on site. Rescuers have recovered some injured, authorities suspended the operator and ordered a 90-day compliance plan while investigations begin. Lawmakers and officials are calling for a full review of waste-management practices and working conditions amid preliminary findings that heavy rainfall and other engineering factors contributed to the collapse.
The Gates Foundation's roughly $38 billion of publicly traded stocks is heavily concentrated in three names—Berkshire Hathaway (29.1%), Waste Management (16.7%), and Canadian National Railway (13.6%)—making up about 59% of the portfolio. About 21.8 million Berkshire shares, worth around $10.9 billion, come from Buffett's donations, reflecting a Buffett-influenced, value-oriented investment approach focused on durable, cash-generating businesses rather than flashy tech stocks.
The article investigates the widespread practice of burning plastic waste as household fuel in low-income urban communities across the Global South, highlighting its prevalence, drivers such as inadequate waste management and energy poverty, and associated health and environmental risks, while emphasizing the need for improved waste systems and clean energy access to mitigate this issue.
Waste Management CEO Jim Fish emphasizes the importance of hands-on leadership and safety, regularly visiting job sites and engaging with workers to better understand operational challenges and improve safety outcomes, highlighting that true company strength lies in its field employees and their well-being.
Waste Management CEO Jim Fish emphasizes the importance of safety and employee rapport by regularly participating in safety briefings and riding along with workers, demonstrating that safety investments benefit long-term company health and employee well-being.
Nepal is scrapping its failed waste deposit scheme on Mount Everest after 11 years, due to its ineffectiveness in reducing high-altitude trash, and plans to implement a new non-refundable clean-up fee to better address the mountain's growing waste problem.
A massive 100-tonne fatberg has been discovered in east London sewers, measuring about 100 meters long, highlighting the ongoing issue of fats, oils, and grease clogging sewer systems. Thames Water is working to remove it, which could take weeks, and emphasizes the importance of proper waste disposal to prevent further blockages and costly repairs.
The city of Brea is monitoring trash bins at randomly selected addresses to enforce proper waste disposal under Senate Bill 1383, with violations resulting in warnings, tags, and potential fees starting at $50 for improper trash placement.
Sending Earth's garbage into space is not feasible due to high costs, environmental concerns, and safety risks. Launching trash into space would require significant fuel and thrust, leading to pollution and potential damage to the ozone layer. Additionally, the risk of space debris and Kessler syndrome, where space becomes unusable due to collisions, poses a threat. While ideas like sending waste to the moon or Mars are considered, they are impractical due to future colonization plans and logistical challenges. Recycling remains the most viable solution for now.