After more than 50 years of pulp-mill pollution, regulators have proposed restoring North Carolina’s Roanoke River, including contaminated floodplain habitat damaged by toxic discharges

After more than 50 years of pulp-mill pollution, regulators have proposed restoring North Carolina's Roanoke River, including contaminated floodplain habitat damaged by toxic discharges

The Plymouth Mill began operating in 1937 as a wood and paper products manufacturing facility. Over subsequent decades, industrial operations at the site resulted in hazardous substances being released into groundwater, soil, Welch Creek and the Roanoke River (Image Credit: Domtar) For more than half a century, pollution from a pulp and paper mill has … Read more

After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, scientists planted sunflowers to pull radioactive material from contaminated water and soil; the flowers actually absorbed radioactive isotopes

After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, scientists planted sunflowers to pull radioactive material from contaminated water and soil; the flowers actually absorbed radioactive isotopes

After the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, scientists explored an unusual way of dealing with radioactive contamination by using plants to absorb radionuclides from the environment. Sunflowers emerged as a promising candidate because their roots can take up certain radioactive elements, including cesium and strontium, from contaminated water. Experiments near Chernobyl showed that sunflowers could remove … Read more

A Connecticut brass mill closed in 1986 and left behind a contaminated 66-acre site; 40 years later the town plans to turn it into a public works campus while converting its old yard into a riverside park

A Connecticut brass mill closed in 1986 and left behind a contaminated 66-acre site; 40 years later the town plans to turn it into a public works campus while converting its old yard into a riverside park

Nearly 40 years after a brass mill shut down on the banks of the West Aspetuck River, the long-vacant industrial property in New Milford is finally being lined up for a new purpose, one that could turn a contaminated brownfield into a working municipal campus and, eventually, help create new public riverfront space elsewhere in … Read more

In 1934, a gun club opened on 9.5 acres beside San Francisco’s Lake Merced; 81 years later it closed, contaminated soil was cleaned up and the lakeside land is now being opened for public recreation

In 1934, a gun club opened on 9.5 acres beside San Francisco’s Lake Merced; 81 years later it closed, contaminated soil was cleaned up and the lakeside land is now being opened for public recreation

Aerial view of Lake Merced and surrounding coastal landscape San Francisco city officials have opened a search for private partners to redevelop a 9.5-acre lakeside property that was used as a private shooting range for more than 80 years. The move marks the final stage of a major environmental transformation along the western shore of … Read more

Scotland recycles 72,000 contaminated single-use plastic bottles in a world-first move as new technology targets Petri dishes and pipette tips

Scotland recycles 72,000 contaminated single-use plastic bottles in a world-first move as new technology targets Petri dishes and pipette tips

Scotland is taking a new approach to laboratory plastic waste. A new recycling system has already processed around 72,000 contaminated plastic sample bottles. The technology is now being expanded to Petri dishes and pipette tips. Scottish Water has become the first utility in the world to adopt Envetec Sustainable Technologies’ GENERATIONS technology. The system disinfects … Read more