#recycle

[this-user-is-sus]

someone fucking hire me, I speak the language of the people

[reasonsforhope]

"The Netherlands is pulling even further ahead of its peers in the shift to a recycling-driven circular economy, new data shows.

According to the European Commission’s statistics office, 27.5% of the material resources used in the country come from recycled waste.

For context, Belgium is a distant second, with a “circularity rate” of 22.2%, while the EU average is 11.5% – a mere 0.8 percentage point increase from 2010.

“We are a frontrunner, but we have a very long way to go still, and we’re fully aware of that,” Martijn Tak, a policy advisor in the Dutch ministry of infrastructure and water management, tells The Progress Playbook. 

The Netherlands aims to halve the use of primary abiotic raw materials by 2030 and run the economy entirely on recycled materials by 2050. Amsterdam, a pioneer of the “doughnut economics” concept, is behind much of the progress.

Why it matters

The world produces some 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste each year, and this could rise to 3.4 billion tonnes annually by 2050, according to the World Bank.

Landfills are already a major contributor to planet-heating greenhouse gases, and discarded trash takes a heavy toll on both biodiversity and human health.

“A circular economy is not the goal itself,” Tak says. “It’s a solution for societal issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, and resource-security for the country.”

A fresh approach

While the Netherlands initially focused primarily on waste management, “we realised years ago that’s not good enough for a circular economy.”

In 2017, the state signed a “raw materials agreement” with municipalities, manufacturers, trade unions and environmental organisations to collaborate more closely on circular economy projects.

It followed that up with a national implementation programme, and in early 2023, published a roadmap to 2030, which includes specific targets for product groups like furniture and textiles. An English version was produced so that policymakers in other markets could learn from the Netherlands’ experiences, Tak says.

The programme is focused on reducing the volume of materials used throughout the economy partly by enhancing efficiencies, substituting raw materials for bio-based and recycled ones, extending the lifetimes of products wherever possible, and recycling.

It also aims to factor environmental damage into product prices, require a certain percentage of second-hand materials in the manufacturing process, and promote design methods that extend the lifetimes of products by making them easier to repair.

There’s also an element of subsidisation, including funding for “circular craft centres and repair cafés”.

This idea is already in play. In Amsterdam, a repair centre run by refugees, and backed by the city and outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, is helping big brands breathe new life into old clothes.

Meanwhile, government ministries aim to aid progress by prioritising the procurement of recycled or recyclable electrical equipment and construction materials, for instance.

State support is critical to levelling the playing field, analysts say...

Long Road Ahead

The government also wants manufacturers – including clothing and beverages companies – to take full responsibility for products discarded by consumers.

“Producer responsibility for textiles is already in place, but it’s work in progress to fully implement it,” Tak says.

And the household waste collection process remains a challenge considering that small city apartments aren’t conducive to having multiple bins, and sparsely populated rural areas are tougher to service.

“Getting the collection system right is a challenge, but again, it’s work in progress.”

...Nevertheless, Tak says wealthy countries should be leading the way towards a fully circular economy as they’re historically the biggest consumers of natural resources."

-via The Progress Playbook, December 13, 2023

[sowingsimplicity]

✨ veggie garden year 3 ✨ made almost entirely of recycled & upcycled materials. So far, lots of leafy greens and baby bunnies!

[tamapalace]

Bandai Japan Announces Sustainable Tamagotchi Original Made From Real Egg Shells & Eco Friendly Mametchi Plush

Tamagotchi goes eco friendly! Bandai Japan has just announced a Tamagotchi Original shell that is the most eco friendly one to date. This new shell which is set to appear on Saturday, February 8th, 2025, is made of recycled eggshells. Not only that, but the packaging is made of recycled paper too! The texture of the Tamagotchi Original shells is unquestionably too, it feels just like an eggshell!

If you’re attending the 2024 Tokyo Toy Show, you’ll be first to see it! It will be exhibited at the Bandai Spirts Future Creation Booth. This shell will launch on Saturday, February 8th, 2025 at Bandai Namco Cross locations in Tokyo, Umeda, Osaka, Hakata, and Yokohama for ¥3,520 including tax.

That’s not everything! Bandai Japan has also announced an eco friendly Mametchi plush made from recycled materials!

The official name of this product is Eco Nui Mametchi. This push is made by Bandai Namco Nui, and features a unique Mametchi where the typical blue color is swapped for green, and Mametchi is holding “the earth”! Preorders will be available from Saturday, November 23rd, 2024! With official release scheduled for September, 2025.

[recycledmoviecostumes]

Okay, so this costume didn’t come from any kind of spooky movie or gothic tale, but it was seen on an extra in the classic 1997 episode of Frasier entitled—what else?—Halloween!

The costume was further altered, with the beautiful sleeves being removed and replaced when it was worn by Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore in the 2001 episode of Gilmore Girls entitled Run Away, Little Boy. 

The dress was seen again throughout the 2013 first season of Reign, where Katy Grabstas wore it as Sarah.

This costume has been seen in another comedy production - find out where at bit.ly/TudEliz164

[brooklynbridgebirds]

This Gray Catbird looks concerned for the environment. But on the plus side, this Pier 1 marsh at Brooklyn Bridge Park "traps" a lot of trash, removing it from the East River. 😃

[dizzymaiden]

Just feel like I need this in my life right now.

[lilithism1848]

[urban-homesteading]

[webdiggerxxx]

ೃ༄ੈ✩‧₊˚

[millionmovieproject]

Austin Community College in Austin, TX

MORE. OF. THIS.

[yourcoffeeguru]

Out of old doors ..fabulous creation

[moonhedgegarden]

[oldinterneticons]

I've been used

[pokemon-cards-hourly]