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Great Lakes Echo - Environmental news of the Great Lakes region

Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/category/waste/page/4/)

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Waste

Everything from litter to nuclear waste.

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Contaminants

Michigan polluter ordered to jail for illegally discharging untreated waste

By Eric Freedman | May 28, 2021

By Eric Freedman

A federal judge has sentenced a Flint, Michigan, polluter to one year behind bars for illegally discharging more than 47 million gallons of untreated waste into the city’s sewer system. Robert Massey, the 70-year-old president and owner of family-owned Oil Chem Inc., pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act over an 8½ year period between 2007 and 2015. “That amounts to over 72 Olympic-size swimming pools. The crime was driven by greed. Oil Chem received over a million dollars to dispose of the (material),” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in its sentencing memorandum to U.S. District Judge Stephanie Davis.

Waste

Algae may vacuum microplastics, but also indicates greater health threat

By Hannah Brock | May 5, 2021

A type of algae that a recent study found collects microfibers brings up questions about microplastic pollution impacts and how it could affect human health.

Homepage Featured

Pandemic, China trash-ban push recyclers to robots

By Marshall Lee Weimer | March 22, 2021

There is an emerging new worker that could make a career out of sorting recyclables: robots. 

Waste

New uses for cherry pits makes landfilling a “waste of a waste”

By Eric Freedman | January 27, 2021

Michigan’s cherry industry may have a way to make money from, of all things, the pits.

Homepage Featured

From lakes to shores, microplastics are spreading everywhere

By Lillian Young | December 17, 2020

Microplastic particles, typically studied as aquatic pollutants, are also common in coastal dunes on Great Lakes’ shorelines, according to a new study. 

COVID-19

Project begins testing sewage for COVID-19 across Michigan

By Taylor Haelterman | November 10, 2020

Michigan is searching the state’s sewers for the virus that causes COVID-19.

Urban

Scooping poop improves water quality

By Ri’An Jackson | March 5, 2020

Neglecting to pick up pet waste can contaminate water and threaten public health.

Birds

Microplastics are filling the Great Lakes and birds’ bellies

By admin | February 3, 2020

Researchers found man-made debris in the stomachs of baby cormorants from both urban and remote areas.

Homepage Featured

Companies say bye to polystyrene foam

By Tasia Bass | January 7, 2020

The second of two stories exploring the effects of polystyrene on the environment, organizations fighting to ban it and companies adapting environment-friendly alternatives. 

Homepage Featured

Polystyrene products threaten the environment, organizations fight back

By Helen Korneffel | January 6, 2020

The first of two stories exploring the effects of polystyrene on the environment, organizations fighting to ban it and companies adapting environment-friendly alternatives.

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About Great Lakes Echo

Environmental news of the Great Lakes region from the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University.

Recent Articles

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  • Great Lakes Echo

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