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  • News & article

    'Insect apocalypse' coming to your neighbourhood

    Oped, Adam Minter, Published on 03/08/2023

    » An unusually large influx of tiny insects called aphids have been sucking on Dallas-area pecan trees in recent weeks. After they've had their fill, they "excrete" the waste out their back ends and onto cars, driveways and sidewalks. "Texas is covered in a sticky, icky goo," declared a Dallas Morning News headline. Other news outlets offered tips on how to clean up the mess.

  • News & article

    Old phones may pose a 'security risk'

    News, Adam Minter, Published on 12/11/2018

    » That obsolete smartphone stashed away in a drawer or closet may not look like a national security risk, but the Trump administration is contemplating treating it as one.

  • News & article

    Solution to chronic marine plastic crisis starts in Asia

    News, Adam Minter, Published on 27/06/2018

    » Since Jan 1, when China stopped accepting the rich world's recyclable plastic waste, it's gotten a load of criticism for worsening the already deep crisis of ocean plastic pollution. But China isn't the only culprit here. This is a crisis made -- and growing worse -- throughout developing Asia.

  • News & article

    Africa's ban on plastic bags won't solve anything

    News, Adam Minter, Published on 10/11/2017

    » In Africa, the plastic shopping bag is an endangered species. Last week, tiny Benin became the latest African country to restrict the import, production and even use of such bags. It's not messing around, either. Following in the steps of Rwanda (where plastic bag importers are publicly shamed) and Kenya (where bags users can be subject to four years in jail), Benin plans to fine bag importers as much as US$87,000 (2.8 million baht).

  • News & article

    China trashes its recycling industry

    News, Adam Minter, Published on 10/10/2017

    » For 30 years China has recycled more cardboard boxes, plastic bottles and old computers than any other nation. By doing so, it's saved millions of tonnes of resources and indirectly funded thousands of recycling programmes and companies globally. But now it wants to stop. In July, China notified the World Trade Organisation that it will soon prohibit the import of many types of recyclables. As a result, recycling programmes and companies around the world are scrambling to find new destinations for the junk they once sent to China. In an increasing number of cases, that destination is a landfill.

  • News & article

    China's hidden pollution oozes its way to the surface

    News, Adam Minter, Published on 12/05/2017

    » Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping directed his government to build a new city for the "millennium to come". It would rise on rural land about 100km south of Beijing, guided by the principles of "ecological protection and green development". And it would become a model for a new kind of urban expansion.

  • News & article

    Why people still live, and die, on rubbish dumps

    News, Adam Minter, Published on 17/03/2017

    » When a mountain of trash collapsed at the fetid Reppi dump outside of Addis Ababa on Monday, at least 82 people died. It could've been worse: Hundreds of people live atop Reppi, Ethiopia's biggest waste dump, trying to make a living from salvaging what city residents throw away. Despite well-known dangers, and the best efforts of the government, they've done so for decades.

  • News & article

    Despite anger, Beijing isn't in the mood for protests

    News, Adam Minter, Published on 15/07/2016

    » Chinese didn't waste any time venting their anger at The Hague's ruling against their country's territorial claims in the South China Sea. Within minutes of the news, Chinese social media was flooded with thousands of comments parroting a testy, often profane nationalism.

  • News & article

    Beijing could use a stronger, more connected Taiwan

    News, Adam Minter, Published on 14/05/2016

    » Next week's inauguration of Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan's new president has got China agitated.

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