This month’s environmental news round-up spans the globe, including everything from updated recycling programs in New York City to revised electronic waste disposal protocols in Rwanda.
“Seven Spectacular Places Saved by the Environmental Movement”
Jennifer Weeks did an inspiring Earth Day round-up for Slate magazine, compiling a list of seven beautiful places around the world that would have been destroyed if not for the efforts of various environmental movements.
One highlight is the story of the protection of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal in Maryland, which was going to be paved over until former Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas spearheaded a 185-mile hike to protect it.
“Rwanda: New Policy for Electronic Waste Disposal in Offing”
Rwanda, which has become a popular destination for electronic waste, is working on revising their laws concerning its disposal. The incineration of such waste in open spaces releases harmful toxins into the environment, and any movement toward more environmentally friendly practices will be a huge step in the right direction.
“Why can’t we quit fossil fuels?”
This story is based overseas, but it is extremely relevant to the global community. The Guardian’s Duncan Clark launched a discussion earlier this month about our current use of and dependence on fossil fuels and how it relates to global climate change. He argues that while “we often hear more about green technology, consumption levels or population growth, leaving fuel in the ground is the crux of the issue.”
“City Expands Recycling Program to Include Hard Plastics”
In the most extensive expansion of its recycling program in a quarter of a century, New York City recently announced that it would begin recycling hard plastics like shampoo bottles, clothes hangers, and some toys. The city expects the new program to keep an extra 50,000 tons of waste out of landfills and save $850,000 a year in disposal costs.
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