What is Pre-cycling? Pre-cycling is eliminating the need to recycle or dispose of waste by not creating waste. This is a step that should be taken before you have to recycle. Ways to Pre-cycle: Packing meals in reusable containers instead of buying food in takeout container or packing meals in plastic bags Avoid using paper by reading on a screen instead of printing Purchasing items in bulk to reduce the amount of individual packaging Using reusable bags while shopping to avoid using plastic bags All…

What is Poultry Litter? August 16, 2016 Poultry litter is organic waste produced from chickens and turkeys like manure, spilled feed, feathers, and bedding materials. This material is enriched with plant nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, though the overall composition will depend on the type of poultry, littler used, and collection and storage of the litter. Poultry litter has some uses which prevent it from having to be sent to the landfill. First, it can be utilized as a source of fertilizer for plants…

What is Post-Combustion Carbon Capture? August 16, 2016 Post-combustion carbon capture is a method of collecting carbon dioxide emissions that are produced from the burning of fossil fuels. This method can be used on large-scale emission points like coal and gas-powered plants or the manufacturing of industrial materials like cement. Post-combustion carbon capture systems serve to prevent carbon from entering the atmosphere and are often retrofitted onto older carbon exhaust systems. In the process, exhaust gases from burning fossil fuels are channelled into a capturing…

What are the Polar Ice Caps? August 16, 2016 The polar ice caps are ice sheets that cover the north and south poles and provide ice to other glacial formations. They remain frozen year round and feed ice into the polar seas. At the same time, ice caps are major stores of the Earth’s water supply with estimates of three-quarters of global freshwater. Due to the growing impact of climate change, the polar ice caps have been receding at an alarming rate. Throughout the twentieth…

What is Point Source Pollution? August 16, 2016 Point source pollution is anything that emits pollution directly into the environment like factories, ships, or farms. This is because the pollutants produced can be traced back to that particular point. One example of point source pollution is scale farms. The livestock of these farms produces waste that can find its way into nearby water sources if it is not treated properly. One side effect of point source pollution can be what is known as nonpoint source…