University College Cork’s Post

Need help sorting plastics for your recycling or trash bins? Start with the cover of the OCRRA Fall 2024 Newsletter. Pick up a copy at Onondaga County libraries or village and town halls. Find the digital version here: https://lnkd.in/eu3wx_pB Next, check out the step-by-step video guide on our YouTube page: https://lnkd.in/exq8PXPx Then, test your knowledge by taking our plastics sorting quiz: www.OCRRA.org/quiz Remember, donate or reuse items when possible. At the item's end-of-life, the chart below offers some guidance.

Life In Plastic Not So Fantastic 🌎 🌱 Mangroves are true marvels, they capture carbon, provide essential habitats for marine life, and protect coastal communities. 🌊 But what happens when this vibrant ecosystem becomes overwhelmed by an ocean of waste? At Malizia Mangrove Park in Mati, Philippines, we're working to restore these vital forests with the help of donations and the dedication of the local community. Discover in our latest article how the entire community is coming together to create solutions that benefit everyone: planet, people, and prosperity. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ekeGwWip

This week, Ecotricity donated our pre-loved laptops to the amazing Recycle A Device program. 💻♻️🤝 RAD is a creative recycling initiative that aims to make technology accessible for all communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. Donated devices are refurbished by high school student volunteers who get upskilled in digital tech, sustainability, social responsibility and problem solving. These devices are then gifted to those who need them most through schools and community organisations.  Check out what they achieved in 2024: 💻2920 laptops donated to the community 💻658 rangatahi upskilled in STEM knowledge 💻5.8 tonnes of e-waste saved and reused We are proud to work with the RAD team and work together to build a better future for our community and our planet!💚 Learn more about how you can get involved in this epic work: https://lnkd.in/gA-CGnYu 

♻ Why Choose Us for Your E-waste Disposal Needs? ♻ At Electronic Recycling Association, we specialize in making E-waste disposal a seamless experience for businesses of all sizes. Here’s why you should choose us: - Quick and Easy Process: From start to finish, we make the entire process smooth and hassle-free. Simply get in touch with me, and we’ll handle the rest. - Data Security: We ensure that all sensitive data on your devices is securely destroyed/wiped, providing you with a certificate as well. - Environmental Impact: By recycling your electronics, you’re reducing the amount of harmful e-waste that ends up in landfills. - Giving Back to the Community: We don’t just recycle your equipment, we give it a second life. Through our work with local charities, we donate functioning devices to those in need, helping communities thrive. Reach out to me at mirza@era.ca to make a difference!

How can we use bacteria to solve the problem of plastic waste? How can food waste be prevented? With beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship, a fellowship program funded by us and implemented by a non-profit organization. This initiative supports young people in developing and implementing innovative and sustainable projects through knowledge, coaching, and scholarships. Discover the sustainable ideas of young pioneers from all over the world: mb.mb4.me/beVisioneers

Imagine a world where darkness reigns supreme, where even the simplest tasks become a challenge. So today, come and join CharityPhilippines.org as it celebrates the International Day of Light, a day to shine a bright spotlight on the importance of light in every aspect of our lives, from science and culture to art and education. And like the NGO Liter of Light, a partner of CharityPhilippines.org, let's not forget to spread the light to underserved communities! Liter of Light, founded in 2011 by social entrepreneur Illac Diaz, uses simple, eco-friendly technology to repurpose plastic bottles filled with water and bleach as solar-powered light bulbs that refract sunlight into homes during the day, providing free, natural light. Celebrate the International Day of Light by supporting the mission of Liter of Light! Find out how here: https://lnkd.in/dysFxzRb. #CharityPhilippinesOrg #GoodDeedForPinoysInNeed

We are Superheroes too! We are Talesca are serious advocates in banning single-use plastics becuase these things significantly harm the environment by contributing to pollution in landfills, rivers, lakes, and oceans. They take a long time to decompose, releasing harmful chemicals in the process. An estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the marine environment annually, posing a major threat to marine life. Web search results on impact of single-use plastics on the environment How Single Use Plastics Hurt Our Oceans and Warm Our Planet pbs.org • 8 min read Plastic pollution facts and information nationalgeographic.com

The changing landscape of Red #40 - Continued We’ve come a long way, knowledge, and technology continually improve our lives making them safer and healthier. Where we once measured ppm, we now measure ppb, the ability to study the effects of certain additives in the development of children’s behavior has brought to question the use of many materials. I’m not going to question the validity of these studies, that is for people better attuned to measuring these effects, suffice to say that there are enough studies that point in the direction of caution. We as humans have a long history of consuming or doing things to our bodies that are, well, questionable (if you disagree, look up the practice of ‘Blowing smoke up one’s arse’ in cheery old England). Now, if you are a fan of history, looking into Carmine, or Carminic Acid, (the pigment) is intriguing. Its use dates back thousands of years in applications of food, cosmetics, and dye textiles, and it was also used as paint in portraits. As the lower-cost synthetic dyes became popular the use of carmine decreased. Over time as synthetic dyes were being questioned and the desire for a natural dye was asked for, carminic acid was approved for use in food. The controversy over Carminic Acid, Carmine, and Cochineal has remained. The source of the dye is the Cochineal Bug (Dactylopius coccus), and the process is somewhat labor intensive, from Collection of the bugs to Drying, Milling, and Extraction using salts (Calcium, Aluminum) to obtain carminic acid. The remaining amount of insect is said to be much lower than the amount of insect filth allowed in spices, however, its presence is deemed unwanted by various religious groups, and many deplore the idea of eating insects. It is unlikely the use of carminic acid will disappear any time soon as we like our food to be colorful, and our world to be bright. There aren’t many natural colors that can compare to the strength and vibrancy of carmine. Research is being conducted on producing carminic acid through genetic engineering, still years away from being commercially viable, but then this leads to another dilemma, doesn’t it? This is off-topic and more personal. I’m a long-time fundraiser for Movember, if you can please donate to the cause, https://lnkd.in/gg_g6GTJ    If not to me, find another Movember Bro and give what you can. The Movember Foundation is the leading charity focused on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Testicular Cancer, and Prostate Cancer in men. Do it for yourself, do it for the man in your life.      

Season's Greetings! Learn more about giving to The Sonder Project who empowers impoverished communities through high-impact, sustainable development through this link: https://lnkd.in/eKYqgu3x