#Recycled plastic netting

[super-fast-safety-nets]

Eco-Friendly Apartment Balcony Netting Options

With growing awareness about environmental sustainability, more people are looking for eco-friendly solutions for their homes, including balcony netting. Super Fast Safety Nets Bangalore offers a range of eco-friendly bird netting options that are not only effective but also environmentally responsible. Here’s a comprehensive guide to eco-friendly apartment balcony netting options.

Why Choose Eco-Friendly Balcony Netting?

Environmental Protection:

Reduces the impact on the environment by using sustainable materials.

Non-Toxic Materials:

Ensures the safety of birds and other wildlife by avoiding harmful chemicals and materials.

Durable and Long-Lasting:

Eco-friendly netting options are designed to be durable and withstand weather conditions, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Aesthetic Appeal:

Provides a clean and unobtrusive look to your balcony while keeping it bird-free.

Eco-Friendly Netting Materials

Biodegradable Netting:

Made from natural fibers that break down over time, reducing landfill waste.

Recycled Plastic Netting:

Made from recycled plastic materials, reducing plastic waste and conserving resources.

UV-Resistant Polyethylene:

A long-lasting and recyclable material that is resistant to UV rays and weather conditions.

Cotton or Jute Netting:

Natural fibers that are biodegradable and have minimal environmental impact.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Balcony Netting

Sustainability:

Contributes to a sustainable lifestyle by using environmentally friendly materials.

Wildlife Protection:

Non-toxic materials ensure the safety of birds and other animals that might come into contact with the netting.

Cost-Effective:

Durable and long-lasting materials reduce the need for frequent replacements, saving money in the long run.

Aesthetic Enhancement:

Blends well with the natural environment, enhancing the overall look of your balcony.

Choosing the Right Eco-Friendly Netting

Assess Your Needs:

Determine the primary purpose of the netting (e.g., bird protection, safety, privacy) to choose the most suitable material.

Measure Accurately:

Measure the dimensions of your balcony to ensure you purchase the correct amount of netting.

Consider the Environment:

Choose materials that are suitable for your local climate and environmental conditions.

Consult Experts:

Seek advice from professionals at Super Fast Safety Nets Bangalore to find the best eco-friendly netting options for your needs.

Installation Tips for Eco-Friendly Netting

Use Eco-Friendly Fasteners:

Choose biodegradable or recycled fasteners to complement the eco-friendly netting.

Ensure Tight Installation:

Keep the netting tight to prevent sagging and potential gaps where birds could enter.

Regular Maintenance:

Inspect and maintain the netting regularly to ensure it remains secure and effective.

Professional Installation:

Consider hiring professionals from Super Fast Safety Nets Bangalore for a precise and secure installation.

Why Choose Super Fast Safety Nets Bangalore?

Expert Installation:

Our experienced technicians ensure precise and secure installation tailored to your specific needs.

Quality Materials:

We use durable, high-quality, eco-friendly netting designed to provide long-lasting protection.

Custom Solutions:

We offer customized solutions based on your unique requirements.

Reliable Service:

Our team provides efficient and reliable service, ensuring your complete satisfaction.

Conclusion

Eco-friendly balcony netting is a practical and responsible choice for keeping your balcony bird-free while protecting the environment. Super Fast Safety Nets Bangalore offers a variety of eco-friendly netting options and professional installation services to meet your needs.

Contact Super Fast Safety Nets Bangalore for expert advice and high-quality eco-friendly bird netting solutions tailored to your needs!

[chemicalmarketwatch-sp]

Rising Demand for Sustainable Plastic Compounds in Key Sectors

The market for plastic compounds is dominated by a number of key drivers. The building & construction and packaging industries are experiencing increasing demand for plastic compounds for various applications. The energy-efficient construction trend has also boosted demand for plastic compounds for the building construction industry. The United Nations Environment Programme's Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction report of 2023 reports that in 2022, there was worldwide investment of US$ 285 billion in the energy efficiency of buildings, up by 14% from 2021 . 

The Plastic Compounds market is estimated at USD 70.81 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 97.27 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2024 to 2029. 

There is a growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable materials from consumers and businesses. Recyclable plastic compounds are being sought as alternatives to conventional plastic compounds. In 2023, LyondellBasell launched eight new product compounds within their CirculenRecover portfolio, which are designed to assist customers in achieving circularity with their plastic packaging. The CirculenRecover brand offers products containing up to 100% Post-Consumer Resin (PCR) that meet the performance standards for various common applications. These compounds are particularly suitable for industrial and food packaging uses, including rigid and flexible consumer packaging like caps, closures, bottles, and films.

Polyamide is projected to be the fastest growing type of plastic compounds, in terms of value, during the forecast period.

Polyamides, or nylons, are also referred to as high-performance plastics due to their excellent temperature and electrical resistances and suitability in automotive, transportation, consumer goods, textiles, and electrical & electronics applications. Toughness, strength, chemical and heat resistance, flexibility, abrasion and corrosion resistance, thermal insulation, and adhesion are the key properties of polyamide contributing to usage. Increasing usage of polyamide in vehicles to achieve weight reduction will result in increasing polyamide demand in the future. Polyamide enables weight saving in a vehicle without reducing the structural strength and safety. Light vehicles help with improved fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.

Bio-based is anticipated to be the fastest growing, by source, in terms of value, during the forecast period.

Bio-based plastic compounds are produced using renewable biomass feedstocks and present a cleaner alternative to the traditional fossil-based plastics. They are produced from vegetable oil and fat renewable natural raw materials, corn starch, straw, woodchips, sawdust, and food wastes from the food processing industry. Bio-plastics are less dependent on finite and geographically unequally distributed fossil fuel resources, which have environmental and geopolitics costs. Life cycle assessment has shown some bioplastics to be more carbon-efficient than fossil-based plastics, especially when biomass is used both as raw material and as an energy source.

Players operating in the bio-based plastic compounds market are adopting various growth strategies in order to strengthen their market position. For instance, in May 2024, EcoCortec (subsidiary of Cortec Corporation), started its new compounding line for bio-resins at its plant in Beli Manastir (Croatia). The company can now produce a variety of concentrated masterbatch products.

Automotive is anticipated to be the third largest segment, by end-use industry, during the forecast period.

Most of the interior, as well as the exterior parts of a modern vehicle, are made with plastic compounds such as PS, PP, PE, and PET. These plastic compounds are used in dashboards, steering wheels, loudspeaker grills, carpets, and door linings, as well as seats, seat belts, and airbags. The use of plastic compounds in various automotive applications helps reduce vehicle weight and fuel consumption. The increasing replacement of conventional materials such as metals and glass by plastic compounds is driving the market for plastic compounds in this segment. Major players in the plastic compounds sector have greatly expanded their production and introduced new materials to supply to the automotive sector. For instance, in 2023, German thermoplastics compounder Mocom launched light diffusing and light guiding mechanically recycled compounds to its Alcom product line, which it says is the world's first. Alcom LD (light diffusing) and LG (light guiding) Eco product lines contain up to 100% post-consumer and post-industrial polymer recyclates. Designed specifically for translucent, light-diffusing automotive applications, the products are offered in a range of polymers including PC, MABS, MBS, copolyester, or PMMA. In Mocom's opinion, the application of mechanically recycled polycarbonate has the potential to decrease Global Warming Potential by up to 80% compared to the use of virgin material.

Middle East & Africa is expected to be the third fastest-growing region in the global plastic compounds market, by region, during the forecast period.

The plastic compounds market has been studied in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.

The Middle East & Africa is one of the emerging markets globally and provides significant opportunities for plastic compounds manufacturers. This region includes the GCC Countries (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Rest of GCC), South Africa, and the Rest of Middle East & Africa. A number of factors, such as growing disposable incomes, expanding industrialization, and swelling population, are likely to propel the plastic compounds market in the region.

Stay ahead with the latest trends – Download the PDF brochure.

The area experiences volatile industrial growth due to geopolitical reasons and volatile crude oil prices. There is, however, expected growth in emerging GCC economies and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that invest heavily in industrial and infrastructural developments. The growing participation of the private sector is also playing an important role in development of various end-use industries. Private companies are being incentivized through public-private partnership (PPP) programs to invest and manage operations in the sector. According to the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association (GCPA), Saudi Arabia was the largest polymer resin producer in the region in 2022. The country holds abundant crude oil reservoirs, which ensures a consistent supply of raw materials for the manufacturing of plastic compounds.

Prominent companies include BASF SE (Germany), The Dow Chemical Company (US), LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V. (Netherlands), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), Covestro AG (Germany), Arkema (France), RTP Company (US), and Westlake Corporation (US).

[scintillating-scales]

Important PSA:

If you live in or around the wilderness, regardless of if you're a therian or not, it is your responsibility to take care of the wildlife by preventing unjust harm. This means picking up netting, old fishing line, anything an animal could get trapped and die in. It's good to pick up other trash as well, but if you're going to do anything at all, netting is your top priority.

I've had to untangle bullfrogs from plastic netting like what I picked up today. My family has had to unwrap groundhogs from cloth netting. I've seen water snakes wrapped up and choked to death by fishing line. Whatever is discarded or washed down in the wilderness will catch and harm animals existing in their natural environments.

Always pick it up, comb through for any trapped animals, then take it back to your house and throw it away/recycle it.

[reasonsforhope]

"For generations, the people of Erakor village in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu would pass their time swimming in the local lagoon. Ken Andrew, a local chief, remembers diving in its depths when he was a child, chasing the fish that spawned in its turquoise waters.

That was decades ago. Now 52, Andrew has noticed a more pernicious entity invading the lagoon: plastic.

“The plastic would form a small island inside the lagoon, it was so thick,” Andrew says. “We used fishing nets to pull some of the trash out, but we didn’t know how to get rid of it all. We couldn’t conquer it, there was just too much.”

While residents were struggling to empty Vanuatu’s waters of plastic, the country’s politicians were considering another solution. Could they stop the waste directly at the source?

Small island nations like Vanuatu face a series of unique challenges when it comes to plastic pollution. Many rely on imported goods to sustain their populations, and receive tonnes of plastic packaging every day as a result. Ocean currents pull plastic waste from around the world into Pacific waters, which eventually end up on the shores of its islands.

Few Pacific island governments have adequate recycling or waste management facilities on their narrow strips of land, so rubbish is often burned or left to wash up in rivers or lagoons like the one in Erakor. It is estimated that Pacific countries generate 1kg of waste per person a day, 40% higher than the global average.

In an attempt to drastically limit the amount of waste generated in Vanuatu, in 2018 the government became one of the first in the world to outlaw the sale and distribution of certain single-use plastics – including a world-first ban on plastic straws.

In the six years since, the results have been impressive. Thin, plastic shopping bags are hardly ever seen, with most shoppers carrying reusable bags at their local market or grocery store. At festivals and outdoor events, food is more often served wrapped in banana leaves instead of polystyrene takeaway boxes. Now-banned items used to make up 35% of Vanuatu’s waste, but now make up less than 2%.

Pictured: Pandanus leaves are now used instead of plastic bags at markets, but supply of the crop can be affected by storms and cyclones, vendors say.

The plastic islands that once choked Erakor lagoon are also shrinking.

“Since they started the ban, you can see the lagoon has become cleaner,” says Andrew.

It is a massive victory for a small island nation made up of just over 300,000 people across 83 islands...

In 2020, a second phase of the policy added seven more items to the list of forbidden plastics, which now covers cutlery, single-use plates and artificial flowers.

“It’s quite difficult to enforce because of the very low capacity of the department of environment,” Regenvanu says. “So we try to work with the municipal authorities and customs and other people as well.”

Compromises had to be made, though. Fishers are still allowed to use plastic to wrap and transport their produce. Plastic bottles are also permitted, even though they often litter coastlines and rivers.

Secondary industries have now developed to provide sustainable alternatives to the banned items. On the island of Pentecost, communities have started replacing plastic planter pots with biodegradable ones made from native pandanus leaves. Mama’s Laef, a social enterprise that began selling fabric sanitary napkins before the ban, has since expanded its range to reusable nappies and bags.

“We came up with these ideas to reduce the amount of plastic in Vanuatu,” says the owner Jack Kalsrap. “We’re a small island state, so we know that pollution can really overwhelm us more than in other, bigger countries.” ...

Willy Sylverio, a coordinator of the Erakor Bridge Youth Association, is trying to find ways to recycle the litter his team regularly dredges up from the lagoon.

“The majority of the plastic waste now comes from noodle packaging or rice packaging, or biscuit packets,” Sylverio says. He hopes the plastic ban will one day include all packaging that covers imported goods. “Banning all plastic is a great idea, because it blocks the main road through which our environment is polluted.”

The Vanuatu government plans to expand the plastic ban to include disposable nappies, and says it will also introduce a plastic bottle deposit scheme this year to help recycle the remaining plastic waste in the country."

-via The Guardian, June 20, 2024

[jasperthehatchet]

🌿indoor garden update: hydroponics edition🌿

I got a grow light, a fan from a yard sale, higher quality soil from my local plant nursery and some hydroponic gardening supplies since my last post. And now i have plenty more plant children!!!

My kitchen scrap radishes and green onions didn't survive, due to a fungus gnat infestation in the soil I used. I managed to save most of my other plants, but the soil those two were in was so infested I had to get rid of them :( but I have added: hot peppers, chives and cherry tomatoes!! Those are the larger pots in the middle of the wood shelf. Two of those started sprouting!! The chives haven't sprouted yet but I have hope. And the tomato plant I had last time got so big I had to separate the seedlings and put them in individual pots:

Theres seven total but i only took a pocture of these six. They're doing very well!! They love the banana fertilizer I made. And I've added some more seedlings to my greenhouse: (first image) more basil, lavender, pepprmint, parsley, catnip and sage. As well as thyme and oregano in the second image here:

I poked holes in the bottom of a recycled spinach container and used that for the thyme and oregano.

Now for my hydroponic jars: butter lettuce (2), Chile peppers (2), cilantro, spinach, bok choy, emerald oak lettuce, and romaine lettuce. These are doing really well too!! This butter lettuce is grown from scraps:

I put it in a coffee filter net i rigged up until my hydroponic supplies arrived, and i transferred it once i got them. So i thought i messed it up and killed the plant but she's growing!! She's strong too. And here's the others that are growing from seeds:

The romaine lettuce and the bok choy are the ones in the back that have the tallest sprouts. I can't wait to take pictures of all the jars once the root systems grow more and I can remove the socks!!!

Oh and here's the orchid. She's doing amazing:

[Image ID: the first image shows my whole indoor greenhouse tent in front of a permanently sealed glass door. All my plants are visible in the image with the pink orchid being the star of the show at the top of a capital A shaped wooden shelf and the sunlight is shining through the glass and feeding all the plants. A table and chair set and a peach tree is somewhat visible, outside in the background.

The second image shows six terracotta colored plastic pots with two-ish inch tall tomato seedlings in each one. They're healthy and happy, and one pot has a yellow gnat sticky trap sticking out of the soil on the side of the pot.

The third image shows a plastic bin full of eleven biodegradable seedling starter pots, these are the basil, parsley, pepprmint, catnip, lavender and sage, and three of the cups towards the top of the image are sprouting but it's hard to see. The fourth image right next to the last image shows a recycled clear plastic spinach container filled with soil with a cardboard divider in the middle and another yellow gnat trap against the divider, sticking out of he soil. No sprouts yet. There's also recycled plastic wrap on one of the edges for trapping the humidity in the planter but it's pulled back for now.

The fifth image shows a wide mouth mason jar full of nutrient water and a beautiful butter lettuce plant growing out the top, out of a black net cup thats touching the water inside the jar. The biggest leaves are about three inches long. My hand is visible in the image as I'm holding the jar.

The sixth image shows six larger wide mouth mason jars with the same arrangement, though the clay pellets im the black net pots are still visible since these are younger plants. The two jars in the back have the tallest sprouts and the two in the middle have smaller sprouts. The two in he front have no sprouts as I planted thoe seeds just yesterday. A part of my grow light is visible in this image, it's got four long lights attached to one base and all the long lights are facing out on different directions but one light is showing. All the plant jars have black socks covering the glass parts which will be removed when strong root systems grow in.

The final image shows my pink orchid. It's hook shaped, so the plant is growing upright and to the left a bit. And she's supported by a stick holding her up. But she's healthy and happy and all her flowers are soft and vibrant. Her leaves at the bottom are a dark but beautiful green and shes currently living in a white pot. End ID]

[solarpunkbusiness]

This new sustainable sewage pipe system focuses on using the circular economy to help achieve emissions savings. Thanks to its construction with 100% recycled polymer made from high-quality polypropylene, it enables a measurable CO2 reduction through its use of sustainable and recyclable materials. Installing 50 kilometres of nevoPP has the potential to save around 360 tonnes of CO2 compared to a system that uses entirely new materials in its construction. This is the equivalent of the annual CO2 emissions from approximately 75 average UK homes. This reduction has been independently calculated and verified certified by TÜV Rheinland, with nevoPP being a huge step towards moving to net zero emissions for the wastewater industry.

[abearinthewoods]

out of sheer, perhaps even morbid curiosity, do you have any political ideology beyond disliking radfems/being a mra? like, do you have any opinions on real issues? environmental degradation? sudan? palestine? the expansion and concentration of wealth? surveillance capitalism? i don't know, take your pick of anything that the discourse isn't purely based on social media debates lmao. i'm curious how similar you are to radfems/zionists/political positions that completely disregard the material conditions of the world pfff

I'm an autistic egalitarian Bernie Sanders stan. I tend to lean heavily into autistic fairness (Its not fair to give sexism protections to one gender but not the other) and individualistic equality (affirmative action may improve the avg to what ever makes the executives warm and fuzzy, but during such a transition an individual student/employee applying for a school/job will have different odds of getting in based on external factors (their race/gender) instead of their qualifications. its just more bigotry and anti-egalitarian. Solving upstream issues causing application rates being low by increasing acceptance rates doesn't actually solve the issue, just leads to justifiable resentment while creating a superstar effect around the non-affirmed group which has to be so much better just to get in)).

Environmental degradation? Personal responsibility is a distraction. The only personal responsibility we all have is to pay the extra price for shit made sustainability. Plastic straw bans are poison pills designed to spoil the taste of environmentalism in the eyes of the lay person. Regulate the corporations more, add more criminal penalties, look into the micro plastics leeching from fishing nets issue, track the use of dirty oil in the sea and fine and tax corporations who deal in goods transported with it. Stop sending our recycling to 3rd world countries to be illegally dumped because we don't want to pay somebody to sort it.

Palestine? Seasons 5 and 6 of The Expanse cover my thoughts well. For a more serious answer. On day one I thought Israel (and their stans) fucked up trying to lean hard into the antisemitism angle and predictably have basically poisoned the taste of the accusation entirely. Oh and there's all the murdering they are doing (and why the fuck are we spending money to support it?) We should stop sending them money, we should relocate the embassy again, and we should give the issys a big old fuck you and put up a Palestinian embassy in Jerusalem because Israel lost the right to win that ideological fight with their recent actions. (ok maybe don't do that last one)

The expansion and concentration of wealth? Bring back the 75% tax bracket. Add restrictions and limitations on the captial gains loophole. Put a tax on assets used to secure loans. Tie min wage to price of rent for that area.

Surveillance capitalism? You have no idea how bad AI is about to make this. We are all so so so very fucked. Ban AI.

[probablyasocialecologist]

In 2012, Dutch teenager Boyan Slat presented a TED Talk on his concept for cleaning up the ocean with simple mechanisms to sweep up all the trash. While scientists and plastics experts cautioned that his ideas were ineffective, Slat’s non-profit the Ocean Cleanup, founded the year after his talk went viral, has gained millions of followers and big-name backers, including Salesforce, Maersk, KIA, and PayPal’s Peter Thiel. But the venture had one major problem: its first two designs didn’t work, despite the group burning through tens of millions of dollars over the course of a decade. The Ocean Cleanup has since pivoted to work with upstream river “interceptors” that are much more efficient at capturing garbage, but its website still prominently features its latest ocean debris “solution”—essentially a trawl fishing net dragged between two boats that has, to date, collected a comparatively miniscule amount of trash. Tech projects like these are more of a curse than a blessing. Even if the Ocean Cleanup one day somehow beats the insurmountable odds and removes all surface-level traces of plastic marine pollution, it’d still be missing the vast majority of waste that sinks to the bottom of the ocean floor, or breaks up into tiny microplastics. While companies like these bring increased attention to the plastics crisis, they’re ultimately flashy gimmicks that lull our public consciousness into thinking a clever gadget can solve a collective-action problem. These projects also allow consumer brands—like Coca-Cola, an official “Global Implementation Partner” of Slat’s group—to greenwash their continued massive plastic production, while lobbying behind-the-scenes against regulations that would actually help the world break its plastic addiction.  “We now know that we can’t start to reduce plastic pollution without a reduction of production,” environmental scientists Imari Walker-Franklin and Jenna Jambeck write in the introduction to their forthcoming study, Plastics. To meaningfully address this crisis and others like it, we need to look upstream, invest in reuse infrastructure, and mandate biodegradable packaging and high material recyclability. At a minimum, we need to start making producers bear the cost for the collection and disposal of their poorly designed goods.

[themakeupbrush]

Miss Earth Namibia 2023 National Costume

The leaves are made of silk organza which is a sustainable fabric, and recycled tulle fabric and green plastic leaves from recycled plastic bags. As for the glitter beaded part, these are recycled beads that have been hand glued onto mesh net. The hat is made of cardboard and covered by the beaded fabric. Now, the aloe plant, with its ability to thrive in harsh conditions of the Namibian climate, embodies the spirit of survival and adaptation that is deeply rooted in our culture. It stands tall in the face of adversity, just as the people of Namibia have for generations. When everything seems barren and desolate, the aloe blooms with vibrant, healing properties, mirroring the optimism and potential for growth that resides within us all. Aloes are not only emblematic of hope; they are also a source of sustenance and healing. For centuries, our people have turned to the aloe for its medicinal properties. Its gel, extracted from the fleshy leaves, soothes and heals, providing a remedy for the ailments of both body and soul. It symbolizes our ancestral knowledge, our respect for nature's gifts, and our commitment to sustainable living in harmony with the Earth. Choosing the Aloe Plant as a representation of Namibia is a testament to our connection with the environment, a reminder that we are the stewards of this remarkable land.

[dailyanarchistposts]

8

What is subsistence? Subsistence means committing to a place and the people who live there. It means generally getting food from your region because that is the geographical area that you understand and are familiar with and therefore you know when and how much of each item or animal is acceptable to gather or hunt.

Subsistence means fishing with friends. It means preserving food with others in your group or village or clan or whatever. Subsistence is getting together, voluntarily, with folks that you have an affinity with, to provide yourself with food and shelter and musical instruments and friendship.

Subsistence means abundance and balance, it means wildness and harmony at once. Subsistence is not an impoverished, depleted existence.

Time spent repairing the fishing nets or pickling vegetables or building a communal smokehouse isn’t alienated time. It is meaningful and joyous. In some places likely characterized by songs and mead, in others by quiet satisfaction. It means providing for yourself where you live.

Subsistence is participatory. It involves understanding your habitat and finding a healthy place within it.

Subsistence could be the bedrock upon which an anarchic culture’s ways rest on. It is the foundation of a healthy, independent, autonomous set ofliving practices, based on the cycles of the place where you live. Sense of place. Sensual wisdom.

This doesn’t mean that primal people don’t make mistakes. But overall, they rely on directly lived experience complimented by generations old wisdom to make their decisions.

Life in nature isn’t nasty brutish and short. This is a lie of the fearful and the fear mongers, of ruling classes set on the conquest of land-based people.

Subsistence means no or very little material waste: no dumpsites, no burning piles of garbage, no necessity of a recycling industry, and no mountains of appliances, gadgets and plastic. It is based in the natural cycles of your group’s land base. It means respecting nature where you live and all of the life forms that you share your habitat with, even the ones that are threatening to you, because we are all interconnected.

Subsistence isn’t about dumpster diving, scams, food banks, stealing and welfare cheques. Subsistence is directly participating in a collectivity’s future and thus ensuring your own.

For now, a group of five or ten folks acquiring food and shelter together is a form of surviving or pioneering. Fifteen or twenty people providing food and shelter for themselves, communally rearing their children, and generally taking care of each other is perhaps the ember of a clan, but true kinship probably takes a few generations.

When fifty or more people spend their lives, within the context of a successful break from the current world of hierarchy and private property and ideology, making sure that everyone within their group is fed and sheltered and nurtured and have built an infrastructure of ways and tools to assist them, anarchy begins to take hold.

This speculative glimpse is just my notion of how an urban area might de-urbanize should the present social order get cast overboard. Today, inhabitants of rural communes and eco-villages can practice some subsistence skills, but these are generally projects of the fortunate, out of reach of the majority, and can’t be viewed as the primary tactic of a thrust toward autonomous, genuine communities embedded in nature. A rural intentional community based around principles of mutual aid, cooperation and ecology might be a qualitatively superior place to live than most others, but truly self-directed people embedded in a habitat requires secession from private property and a refusal to obey the laws of both the market and the nation-state.

Power abhors subsistence. Capitalism depends on obedient producers and consumers spending our lives shopping and at work, not friends and neighbors practicing communal self reliance within a shared habitat. But together we can say no, we can disobey, and in this negativity there will birth a positive and creative force.

[alpaca-clouds]

What's up with all the plastic in the ocean?

Let me talk about one really sad thing - and one where the information out there is just really bad.

A lot of you will have heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. And about how you should not use plastic straws and have to recycle all the plastic you use and what not, because it is killing all the poor animals and what not.

I am here to tell you... it's all a lie. All of it.

Now, let me first say: Recycling is a scam. Because of capitalism. Yes, we could recycle at least some of the plastics we use (not all of them), but for the most part we do not do that, because it just is too expensive. So most of the plastics you and I put into recycling end up in landfills... Most likely in landfills in poor nations, where the stuff gets shipped off to. We do not really do anything good with the recycling stuff. Because making new plastics is cheaper. Simple as that. Capitalism prefers the cheap stuff. So, recycling is not happening.

But also... that plastic usually is still not the biggest problem when it comes to plastic in the ocean. Like, that landfil plastics are a problem and they should not be there. But they are not the reason for the plastics in the ocean.

Now, let me first talk microplastics, even though they are off course not that much of the plastic in volume. But where does that microplastic come from? Media wants you to believe that it is just not-recycled plastic that has somehow been made small by the ocean... But that's not it.

Instead most of the microplastics come from cars. It is abrasions from tires and breaks, that collect on the roads and then through rain get slowly transported into the oceans.

But as you can see from the graph above: Most plastics in the oceans are actually macroplastics and megaplastics. So big pieces of plastic. So, what are those?

Mostly... Fishing waste. So, fishing nets, fishing lines and stuff like that, that after use get just thrown into the oceans. This is because the fishing industry is among the industries least regulated - for the simple fact that most industries that work off the ocean are hard to regulate. And of course in the end people are very unintrested in regulating such industries.

Which is also the reason for other stuff. Overfishing. Bycatch. All those things. It just is not properly regulated - and even what regulations are there are hard to enforce because... well, who is gonna enforce them out there.

So... really. To save the oceans... we gotta eat less fish.

[starrystrawb]

See now: Water Mother Nature. Water has been around as long as the planet has been. She will be here long after we are all gone. She is has seen it all and will witness everything that is to come. She is the depths of the Marianas trench, she has been the shallows of a back-yard creek.

On to the eco-tips!

1. A lot of phone cases are made of plastic. Even ones made of recycled plastic are well... plastic. But worry not friends! Some phone case companies take old cases and recycle them for you! Castify is one of them, and one that I regularly send my old cases to! To get an address to send the old cases to, email them on their website. Pack those old cases up, and ship them off to be reused! They even offer a discount on orders for sending them the old cases, and they take any brand!

2. Speaking of phone cases, Pela is a phone case company that makes compostable phone cases! They are made from plant material and are actually pretty cute. They are a bit pricey, so they're not for everyone. Other companies have similar cases that are made of plants, made from recycled plastics, or made in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner! Re-Castify is castify's version of this, ecoblvd also makes phone cases, and otterbox has a series called Core. And of course, keeping one phone case for a long time and reusing it over and over is always great!

3. Phone cases usually go on phones, so lets talk about those little guys! It feels like every year, the phone you just got is slowing down, dying faster, and is rapidly collecting more and more issues. Technology is always advancing, which is great! But a lot of the components in electronics end up being tossed in the trash. If you have things like old phones or tablets laying around, and you're unsure what to do with them, worry not! Research your options! Some places like zoos, tech shops, or second hand shops might have tech recycling programs. And of course, selling to a shop that refurbishes and sells tech is always an option. A lot of phone companies and providers have started offering trade ins! Don't feel guilty for upgrading, trade in, sell, or recycle your old phones, tablets, and other electronics!

4. Moving on from tech, lets talk about paper! Did you know you can make your own paper? It was a pretty popular trend in 2020-2022. You do need some supplies, like a blender, a picture frame, some sort of netting, and usually glue or tacks of some kind. But I've done it before, and it's actually pretty fun! You can even sprinkle seeds into it to make a card that you can plant! Google and youtube have some very handy and easy to follow tutorials!

5. Talk to people! Online, in person, over the phone. Everywhere! Share eco-tips (like we're doing here), talk about legislation, organize groups, everything! Keep each other moving and keep spreading information and helping others. It is so important to involve your friends, family, and community in eco-friendly living! We all share the planet, friends!

Base

[cemerplayground]

Playgrounds are essential spaces where children can have fun, socialize, and develop physical skills. However, safety is a top priority when designing playground structures for parks. In this guide, we’ll explore the best safe playground equipment, materials, and design tips to ensure a child-friendly and secure play environment.

Why Safe Playground Structures Matter

A well-designed playground minimizes injury risks while maximizing fun. Key factors include:

Durable, non-toxic materials

Impact-absorbing surfaces (rubber, sand, or wood chips)

Age-appropriate designs (separate areas for toddlers and older kids)

Compliance with safety standards (ASTM, EN 1176)

Top Safe Playground Equipment for Parks

1. Swings with Soft Seats and Safety Harnesses

Toddler swings with bucket seats

High-back swings for added support

Rubber-coated chains to prevent pinching

2. Climbing Structures with Fall Protection

Low-height climbing walls with textured grips

Rope nets with secure anchor points

Platforms with guardrails

3. Slides with Safe Landing Zones

Enclosed slides for younger children

Gentle slopes to prevent high-speed falls

Heat-resistant materials to avoid burns

4. Spring Riders and Interactive Play Panels

Sturdy base to prevent tipping

Sensory panels for cognitive development

Rounded edges to avoid injuries

5. Sandboxes with Covers

Shaded designs to protect from sun exposure

Easy-to-clean, non-toxic sand

Covers to keep animals out

Best Materials for Safe Playgrounds

Powder-coated steel (rust-resistant and durable)

Recycled plastic (lightweight and splinter-free)

Natural wood (chemical-free treated for longevity)

Rubber mulch or poured-in-place rubber (excellent shock absorption)

Playground Safety Tips for Parents and Park Planners

✅ Inspect equipment regularly for wear and tear. ✅ Ensure proper surfacing beneath play structures. ✅ Supervise children during playtime. ✅ Follow age guidelines for each play area.

Which Certifications Should Safe Playground Equipment Have?

Playground safety certifications ensure equipment meets international standards for durability, materials, and injury prevention. Look for these key certifications:

1. ASTM F1487 (Standard Consumer Safety Performance for Playground Equipment)

Covers structural integrity & fall protection

Required for public parks in the U.S.

Tests sharp edges, entrapment risks, and load capacity

 2. EN 1176 (European Playground Equipment Standard)

Mandatory for EU countries

Includes:

Part 1: General safety requirements

Part 6: Swing safety

Part 10: Fully enclosed play structures 

2. EN 1176 (European Playground Equipment Standard)

 4. TÜV & CE Marking

CE = Meets EU health/safety standards

TÜV = Additional German safety testing

Conclusion: Building a Safe and Fun Playground

By choosing high-quality, safe playground structures, parks can provide children with a secure and enjoyable play experience. Whether you're a parent, park planner, or community leader, prioritizing safety ensures that kids can explore, learn, and have fun without unnecessary risks.

Looking for durable and safe playground equipment? Explore our range of certified play structures designed for maximum safety and fun!

[wachinyeya]

Since 2019, The Ocean Cleanup has been collecting the floating plastics for later recycling. And with a new $15 million grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust — tied to World Ocean Day on June 8 — the group will continue its efforts to remove the garbage, a $189 million project that aims to ultimately remove 15 million pounds of plastic.

—

The latest iteration of the organization's system, funded by the Helmsley grant, involves a ship, which takes about five days to even reach the site, the largest plastic accumulation zone in the world. The ship then drags a nearly mile-and-a-half-long barrier at about walking pace to collect the plastic. AI monitoring allows the ship to steer toward the areas with the greatest plastic density, and underwater cameras monitor for any marine animal life caught in the "retention zone." If an animal is spotted, a safety hatch opens to allow the animal to escape.

"It was mind blowing," says Egger, who has completed the trip to the patch twice. "You have this pristine environment. It's a beautiful open ocean and you see a toothbrush just floating by, you see a kid's toy floating by. You realize the extent of the pollution that we caused is so vast that we created this garbage patch in the middle of the open ocean far away from human beings."

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch got its name from oceanographer Charles J. Moore, who coined the term after returning from a sailing race in 1997. About 85% of marine litter is plastic, according to the United Nations. Once these plastics enter a gyre, or an ocean vortex, they stay there until they degrade to microplastics.

"That garbage isn't going anywhere, it's staying in that location for the most part, breaking down, and entering our food system," said the trust's Panzierer. "It is so important for us to work collectively as an entire society to remove this because it has not only health problems for America, but has health problems for the entire globe."

Ocean plastics harm marine life, too. Animals often confuse the plastics for food because of their size and color, which can lead to malnutrition. Sea turtles caught in fisheries operating around the patch can have up to 74% of their diets composed of ocean plastics, according to The Ocean Cleanup.

And ocean wildlife can get caught and die in discarded fishing nets, also known as ghost nets, which make up 46 percent of the mass of the garbage patch according to the Ocean Cleanup.

In addition to the health effects of ocean plastic pollution, there are economic costs too — plastics in the ocean cost roughly $13 billion per year, including the clean up costs and financial losses to fisheries and other industries, according to the United Nations. The new funding will help the organization, which relies on donations, transition to using the new, more efficient cleanup system and scale it up.

To clean up the entire patch, Egger said, would cost billions.

The United Nations is currently negotiating a global plastics treaty that aims to develop a legally binding agreement to address plastic pollution by the end 2024.

[cognitivejustice]

While the discussion surrounding marine plastic pollution has largely focused on land-based sources, such as households and industry, a major and often overlooked contributor to ocean plastic waste is marine capture fisheries. Marine fisheries contribute to plastic pollution primarily through the abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), such as nets, lines, ropes, and traps used to catch 2-3 trillion fish and other aquatic animals each year. Commercial industrial fishing is the primary source of ALDFG in the oceans.

‘Ghost gear’ can result from fishing gear getting entangled on reefs, rocks, and bottom obstructions, conflicts with vessels or other fishing gear, and bad weather. It may also be lost due to extended soak times (the time that equipment is submerged during fishing), fishing in deep habitats, or deploying excessive gear that cannot be hauled in regularly. If gear touches the seafloor or is not actively managed by fishermen, the likelihood of loss increases. Additionally, intentional discarding, including from illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, is also believed to contribute significantly to ghost gear in the sea, particularly in the areas beyond national jurisdiction. Vessels conducting IUU fishing often operate in adverse conditions, such as at night or without access to safe harbors during inclement weather, and frequently dispose of their gear to avoid detection, destroy evidence, and gain port access.

Overall, it is estimated that 5.7% of fishing nets, 8.6% of traps and pots, and 29% of fishing lines used globally are lost, abandoned, or otherwise discarded into the environment. All this ghost gear and other fisheries-related operations make up at least 10% of total ocean plastics. Rubbish associated with other marine operations adds at least an additional 10% to global marine litter. For plastics larger than 20 centimeters in size floating on the ocean’s surface, fishing gear accounts for as much as 70% (by weight).

[meangan-thee-lesbian]

Ngl there's something about living an entirely environmentally conscious life, all my power comes from my personal solar panels, I rarely eat animal products & never red meat, all my clothes are 2nd hand, & when they're too worn in I recycle them as rags until they're literally threads, I don't put my fruit & veg in those plastic bags, I have my own reusable net bag, I live minimally & don't buy useless shit, I literally have one fork because that's all I need, I make the smallest impact possible & it's crazy knowing all that is rendered entirely obsolete by someone having just one(1) child.