Circular economy & zero waste

Oregon governor signs nation’s first right-to-repair bill that bans parts pairing

March 27, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The law, like those passed in New York, California, and Minnesota, will require many manufacturers to provide the same parts, tools, and documentation to individuals and repair shops that they provide to their own repair teams. But Oregon’s bill goes further, preventing companies from implementing schemes that require parts to be verified through encrypted software checks before they will function.

Oregon governor signs nation’s first right-to-repair bill that bans parts pairing Read more

Woman putting organic waste in the compost bin

France implements compulsory composting

February 1, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

As of January 2024, municipalities in France must now provide residents with ways to sort bio-waste, which includes food scraps, vegetable peels, expired food and garden waste. Households and businesses are required to dispose of organic matter either in a dedicated small bin for home collection or at a municipal collection point. The waste will then be turned into biogas or compost to replace chemical fertilizers.

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South Korea to require producers of organic waste resources to make biogas

December 28, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

According to the East Asian nation’s Environment Ministry’s new biogas law, public and private industries that generate organic waste such as livestock manure and food waste will now be required to produce them in the form of biogas. Biogas is a gaseous renewable energy source produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, plant material and manure and can be used in vehicles that operate on natural gas.

South Korea to require producers of organic waste resources to make biogas Read more

California becomes third U.S. state to pass right-to-repair legislation

September 29, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

California will now require corporations to offer access to repair resources like parts, tools, documentation, and software for three years for products priced between $50 and $99.99 and seven years for those priced at $100 or higher. The act applies to gadgets and appliances made after July 1, 2021.

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Zimbabwe sees recycling boom as waste picking becomes lucrative business

August 21, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Community-based recycling organizations, which handpick litter, quadrupled in the last few years, now picking up 15% of all plastic waste generated in the country.

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Indonesia cracks down on imported plastic waste

August 1, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Faced with an unending stream of unrecyclable waste from wealthy nations, Indonesia has tightened its regulations and has begun to make progress in stemming the plastics flow.

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Plastic bag with "bio compostable" written on it

Scientists create novel edible, biodegradable food packaging to replace plastic

July 2, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The developers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong believe the new bacterial-cellulose-based material can offer a sustainable, easily available and non-toxic solution to plastics in food packaging.

Scientists create novel edible, biodegradable food packaging to replace plastic Read more

New Zealand bans thin plastic fruit and vegetable bags in world first

June 29, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The new ban will also extend to plastic straws and cutlery, as the nation’s government expands its campaign against single-use plastics, which began in 2019 when it banned plastic carrier bags.

New Zealand bans thin plastic fruit and vegetable bags in world first Read more

E.U. requires smartphones to have user-replaceable batteries by 2027

June 22, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

For “portable batteries” used in devices such as smartphones, tablets, and cameras, consumers must be able to “easily remove and replace them,” reducing costs for consumers and reducing e-waste.

E.U. requires smartphones to have user-replaceable batteries by 2027 Read more

Minnesota enacts right-to-repair law that covers more devices than any other U.S. state

June 1, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Companies that sell in Minnesota but don’t offer customers or independent repair shops the materials needed to fix devices within 60 days can be found in violation of state law.

Minnesota enacts right-to-repair law that covers more devices than any other U.S. state Read more

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