Recycling news: 2026

Research & science More than half of Earth’s migratory bird species are declining – here’s how we can still save them A new global assessment of the world’s migratory species finds reason for alarm, but also hope – and a road map for helping them survive. The Conversation US — Environment · 23 Jul 2026 Industry news Defra rejects Sea Use Framework proposal The policy had been proposed as part of the committee’s ‘Resetting the relationship with fish communities’ report The Grocer — sustainability · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science U.S. rivers are transporting more suspended sediment, often in less time Communications Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Effects of financial inclusion on household climate change vulnerability in Ghana Climate change remains a major threat to livelihood and survival in many developing countries. The study examines the effect of household financial inclusion on climate change vulnerability in Ghana. Using climate series from the Ghana Meteorological Agency and data from the Ghana Living Standard Survey 7, the study used a recursive mixed process model and several other approaches to address en… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Technology inclusion, political risk, and climate action for sustainable development in MENA regions This study examines the evolving relationships between climate action and four principal factors: digital financial inclusion, political stability, sustainable industrialisation, and technological innovation, within four lower-middle-income MENA countries (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia) over the period from 2000 to 2024. Using wavelet coherence analysis, we examine how these variables int… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Paludiculture - a scoping review of the agricultural, economic and social science literature IntroductionPaludiculture has emerged as a science-initiated land use concept for wet peatlands more than 25 years ago. While research accumulates especially for natural science topics, a recent synthesis for agricultural, economic and social science topics is lacking. We review agricultural, economic, and social science literature on paludiculture with three goals: (1) to explore the current e… Frontiers in Environmental Science · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Improving learning and science outcomes in the Reservoir Observer Student Scientists (ROSS) program through reflection and skill building exercises The Reservoir Observer Student Scientists (ROSS) program engages high school students in year-round water quality monitoring to detect and understand cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs). This place-based participatory science program combines hands-on sampling, data analysis, and reflective learning to foster scientific literacy and contribute to environmental research. A mid-year d… Frontiers in Environmental Science · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Concentrating human urine intrinsically inhibits urease activity Urea is the dominant nitrogen compound in human urine and represents a valuable fertiliser resource if enzymatic hydrolysis can be controlled during storage and processing. One method to recover urea and other plant-essential nutrients from urine for agricultural use is evaporative concentration. Here, we tested the hypothesis that evaporatively concentrating urine intrinsically suppresses urea… Frontiers in Environmental Science · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Disentangling the drivers of green total factor productivity growth: how environmental protection tax acts through pollution reduction, factor allocation, and digital intelligence Within the context of high-quality development imperatives, understanding mechanisms through which environmental regulation elevates corporate green total factor productivity (GTFP) represents a critical research priority. Adopting an endogenous policy shock lens, this study examines Chinese A-share listed firms spanning 2013–2023. Leveraging the 2018 implementation of China’s Environmental Pro… Frontiers in Environmental Science · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Toward inclusive and sustainable digital growth: linking e-commerce, social capital, and community development IntroductionThe growth of e-commerce has reshaped how people participate in the economy, interact online, and develop their communities in both developed and emerging economies. However, studies on the social and developmental impacts of digital commerce remain fragmented across disciplines, regions, and conceptual traditions. This study examines two interconnected research streams: e-commerce … Frontiers in Sustainability · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Divergent Temporal Trends in Brown Bear Survival and Reproductive Indices Shaped By Seasonal Vegetation Dynamics and Urban Expansion Long-term monitoring of threatened carnivores provides rare insight into how environmental change shapes population dynamics. We analyzed 27 years (1997–2023) of standardized visual observations from the Golestanak Core Zone, a high-altitude, strictly protected area within the Central Alborz Protected Area (CAPA) in northern Iran, which represents one of the most reproductively active habitats … Environmental Management (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Comparative pilot-scale synthesis of methyl and ethyl ester from waste cooking oil using hydrodynamic cavitation: techno-economic insights Despite extensive research on biodiesel synthesis, very few pilot-scale studies have evaluated hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) reactors-especially venturi-based systems which remain limited, and performance comparisons between methanol and ethanol in terms of energy consumption, reaction time, and scalability have not been adequately explored. To address the research gap, this study presents a pil… Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Phyto-mediated synthesis of Zn/Mg co-doped Ag₂O nanocomposites and their antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities This work highlights the eco-friendly synthesis of silver oxide nanoparticles along with Zn/Mg co-doped silver oxide nanoparticles using Citrus hystrix peel extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. SEM analysis demonstrated that the pure silver oxide nanoparticles possessed a rough, aggregated surface with irregular particle shapes, whereas the doped nanocomposites exhibited a compa… Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Mapping the waste network and data uncertainties: a detailed examination of textile waste data in the Czech Republic The European Union mandate for separate textile waste collection necessitates the development of robust infrastructural and processing frameworks to advance circular economy objectives. Strategic planning for this systemic transition inherently relies on rigorous baseline analyses. To support these analytical demands, current monitoring mechanisms are undergoing systematic refinement through th… Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Household livelihood improvements through agroforestry under climate variability in semi-arid Indonesia Agroforestry is widely promoted as a nature-based solution for enhancing rural resilience under climate change, yet empirical evidence on its relationship with livelihood outcomes across multiple dimensions remains limited, particularly in semi-arid regions. This study examines the association between agroforestry characteristics and household livelihood outcomes through ecological, economic, s… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Artificial intelligence, moral imagination, and intergenerational justice in sustainable education This study examines the different perceptions between students and lecturers in artificial intelligence (AI) usage, how AI would be reflected on future generation (FG) mediated by sustainable development (SD), testing role of ethics and justice as moderators between AI and SD. Current AI revolution threaten the FG in education by higher plagiarism, losing critical skills, inequitable access, bi… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Sustainable self-compacting concrete incorporating fly ash and rice husk ash: experimental, statistical, and environmental assessment The manufacturing process of normal concrete is highly responsible for producing carbon dioxide, resulting in a larger carbon footprint, thus leading to the need for alternative materials to be used in the construction industry. The current research focuses on analyzing the impact and effect of the addition of fly ash (FA) and rice husk ash (RHA) as partial substitution of ordinary Portland cem… Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science The politics of measuring sustainability progress and citizen science Nature Sustainability · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Research priorities for addressing global absorbent hygiene product waste Nature Sustainability · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science On the relevance of post-growth in China Nature Sustainability · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Unexpected spatial inequality of fatal landslide impacts Communications Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Fire weather waves drive extreme fires globally Communications Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Projected declines in zooplankton energy supporting Northwest European Shelf ecosystems Communications Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science The use, fate and environmental impacts of plastic films in agriculture Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science AI-driven hybrid recommender model for personalized residential property selection in chennai based on flood risk, sustainability, and proximity The real estate sector in Chennai is going through a dramatic change and home-buyers are looking for homes that embody their notions of safety, sustainability and access to services. However, traditional property search engines are unable to take into account all factors affecting the selection of properties, including flood and sustainability risk. The paper will be discussing a hybrid recomme… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Neutrosophic reliability assessment of smart grid power generation system using universal generating function under Weibull distribution Reliability is essential for each complex system. The key objective of the present study is to use a neutrosophic framework to handle data uncertainty in reliability modeling of power generation systems in smart grids. Numerous traditional approaches are capable of characterizing epistemic uncertainty, yet each owns respective limitations. To overcome the limitation of classical model problem, … Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Building resilient and sustainable project outcomes through mitigation strategies and project characteristics Purpose Sustainable delivery of public infrastructure projects is increasingly challenged by systemic risks, resource constraints, and persistent supply chain disruptions. This study investigates how project mitigation strategies and project characteristics contribute to sustainable project outcomes and risk reduction in public infrastructure projects, while examining the moderating role of sup… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Sources of urban land disputes and their management in Hawassa City Ethiopia Urban land is a critical resource for socio-economic development, yet increasing competition over its use has intensified land-related disputes in rapidly urbanizing cities of developing countries. This study examined the status, sources, management, and implications of urban land disputes in Hawassa City using a mixed-methods case study design. Data were collected through household surveys, KI… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Prospective life cycle assessment of emerging two-terminal tandem architectures of silicon/CIGS solar cells Purpose Tandem photovoltaic (PV) devices such as Si/Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) tandem architectures have the potential for higher conversion efficiency compared to single-junction silicon modules. This study evaluates the environmental performance of two emerging two-terminal (2T) Si/CIGS tandem architectures: circuitry 2T (C2T) and bonded 2T (B2T). The goal is to quantify their envi… The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science pH—Viscosity Stability of Water-Based Flexography Inks with Bio-binder: Full Acrylic Replacement The replacement of petroleum‑derived acrylic binders with sustainable bio‑based alternatives is of increasing interest in water‑based flexographic inks; however, successful adoption requires preservation of storage stability and printed color fidelity. In this study, a bio-binder based on soy protein was evaluated as a partial and full replacement of a conventional acrylic emulsion binder in cy… Journal of Polymers and the Environment (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Electroactive Thermally-Induced Shape Memory PEG-Plasticized Polymer Nanocomposites Based on TPU/PLA with CNC and MWCNT Responsive polymers have attracted considerable attention over the past two decades due to their potential in advanced functional applications. The practical implementation of these materials often requires multicomponent systems comprising polymer blends and functional nanofillers. In this study, a highly efficient stimuli-responsive nanocomposite was developed, based on thermoplastic polyuret… Journal of Polymers and the Environment (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Sustainable Lignin–Acrylonitrile Copolymers via Aqueous Free Radical Polymerization for Carbon Materials Development This study investigates a bio-based precursor for carbon materials by directly copolymerizing unmodified LignoBoost lignin (LB) with non-fossil derived acrylonitrile (AN) via aqueous free radical polymerization (FRP), forming lignin–polyacrylonitrile (PAN) graft-type copolymers. In contrast to conventional approaches, the process avoids organic solvents and lignin functionalization. Key paramet… Journal of Polymers and the Environment (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Synthesis and Application of Xanthan Gum based Supported Magnetic Ionic Liquids as a Green Catalyst for one-pot Synthesis of Thioether linked 4-Hydroxycoumarin Derivatives Compared to neat magnetic ionic liquids (MILs), supported ionic liquids (SILs) provide notable provide notable benefits, particularly in terms of facile separation and reusability, while significantly mitigating common limitations. MILs often suffer from disadvantages such as high cost, potential toxicity, and challenges associated with product isolation. To address this issue, a xanthan gum ba… Journal of Polymers and the Environment (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Two-Stage Microwave-Thermal Treatment Process for Depolymerization of Polyurethane in Deep Eutectic Solvents Polyurethane (PU) is widely used across various industrial sectors. Its strong chemical resistance renders conventional recycling methods inefficient. Developing greener and more energy-efficient depolymerization strategies is therefore essential. Previous methods for DES-based depolymerization of PU usually require high temperatures and long reaction times. This study proposes a two-stage micr… Journal of Polymers and the Environment (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Enhanced weathering of lizardite-rich sand in seawater: effects of pH and CO ₂ pressure on carbonate formation for climate change mitigation Enhanced weathering (EW) of serpentinized peridotites is being investigated as a potential approach for ex situ CO ₂ sequestration in both coastal and open-ocean environments. Previous studies on serpentine minerals have provided important insights into their geochemical reactivity, highlighting their preferential dissolution behavior and enhanced weathering potential under natural conditions. … Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Structural abnormalities in erythrocytes and a potential denucleation process induced by metformin, compromising cell viability in specimens of Astyanax lacustris (Pisces, Characidae) Hematological studies in fish are sensitive indicators of physiological and pathological changes caused by aquatic pollution, including pharmaceutical contaminants. Among these pollutants, metformin is one of the most prevalent and has been associated with adverse effects on aquatic organisms. However, its impact on fish erythrocyte morphology remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the… Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Emissions from a diesel engine with an air intake system under obstructed conditions Incomplete combustion in internal combustion engines leads to efficiency losses and increases in pollutant emission levels. For combustion to be complete, a well-balanced air–fuel mixture is essential, and this balance depends on the characteristics of the air intake system. In this context, the present study investigated the effect of five restriction levels (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%) applie… Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Iceberg-driven constraints on colony–foraging connectivity result in severe decline in chick counts for the Coulman Island emperor penguin colony Communications Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio) · 23 Jul 2026 Research & science Status, threats and conservation of Earth’s migratory birds - Nature Nature subject feed — Environmental Sciences · 22 Jul 2026 Research & science How to use AI to make a graphical abstract in minutes - Nature Nature subject feed — Environmental Sciences · 22 Jul 2026