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Recycled Newspaper Insulation: An Affordable Solution for Thermal Regulation

The looming threat of climate change has underscored the urgent need for sustainable practices, especially within the construction industry. Passive architecture has emerged as a pivotal approach in the fight against climate change, integrating conventional architectural principles with renewable energy sources and innovative building materials. This amalgamation not only fosters comfortable indoor environments year-round but also significantly reduces energy consumption.


Insulation panels play a crucial role in this sustainable construction narrative. Traditionally, these panels were crafted from materials like fiberglass or rock wool, which posed challenges in terms of recyclability and environmental impact. However, a paradigm shift is underway, with researchers exploring more eco-friendly alternatives to traditional insulation materials.


A team of researchers from the Technological University of Panama (UTP) has made significant strides in this arena, uncovering a highly efficient and readily accessible insulating material: recycled newspaper combined with rice husks. Nacarí Marín, a lead researcher, highlights the competitive thermal conductivity of this novel material compared to conventional insulation options.


This breakthrough represents a significant leap towards sustainable insulation solutions. Unlike its predecessors, which often relied on energy-intensive manufacturing processes, this innovative material leverages readily available agricultural byproducts, such as rice husks. By repurposing these otherwise discarded materials, researchers aim to minimize environmental impact while maximizing thermal performance.


To create this pioneering insulation material, the research team pulverized rice husks into fine particles, which were then combined with shredded cellulose from recycled newspapers. This mixture was fortified with adhesive and borax to enhance structural integrity and fire-resistant properties, yielding thermal panels suitable for construction applications.


Notably, this eco-friendly insulation material boasts impressive attributes, weighing half as much as aluminum yet offering three times the strength of steel. Such characteristics position it as a viable alternative to conventional insulation materials, promising both environmental sustainability and structural resilience.


In testing, the material exhibited favorable thermal conductivity values and robust mechanical properties, validating its suitability for insulation applications in various climates. These promising results underscore the potential of eco-friendly insulation solutions in mitigating the environmental impact of construction activities.


As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, innovations like recycled newspaper insulation offer tangible pathways towards more sustainable construction practices. By harnessing the potential of recycled materials and embracing eco-conscious design principles, the construction industry can contribute significantly to global efforts to combat climate change.

Recycling techniques

Recycling is a process in which materials are collected and processed to be reused in the production of new products. It is an important way to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and conserve natural resources. Over time, new recycling techniques have been developed to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact, essential alongside the pursuit of renewable energy systems to have a cleaner and pollution-free planet.

Thermal recycling

One of the most recent techniques is thermal recycling. This process uses heat to convert waste into fuel, which can then be used to generate energy or in useful materials. Thermal recycling is especially useful for organic waste and plastic waste that are difficult to recycle through other methods.


thermal recycling plant

Some examples of thermal recycling include:

  • Incineration: a thermal process that burns waste at high temperatures to generate electricity or heat. The heat generated is used to produce steam, which in turn is used to generate electricity in a thermal power plant.
  • Gasification: a thermal process that converts waste into a combustible gas through the application of high temperatures and pressure. The gas generated can be used to produce electricity or heat.
  • Pyrolysis: a thermal process that converts waste into a mixture of gases and liquids through the application of high temperatures and pressure. The resulting products can be used to produce electricity or heat, or to produce chemical products.
  • Thermal recycling of tires: a thermal process that converts used tires into fuel, recycled rubber, and gases. The fuel can be used in a thermal power plant to generate electricity, while the recycled rubber is used to produce new tires.

It is important to note that thermal recycling can generate pollutants and toxic waste, so it is important to use appropriate technologies and practices to minimize these environmental impacts. In addition, it is important to classify and separate waste before processing it through thermal recycling.


Mechanical recycling

Another technique that has gained popularity in recent years is mechanical recycling. This process uses machinery to separate the different components of waste, such as paper, glass, and metal. These materials are then cleaned and processed for reuse. Mechanical recycling is efficient and allows for the collection of a variety of different materials.

mechanical recycling of polymers

Examples of mechanical recycling include:

  • Paper recycling: paper is shredded, cleaned, and bleached to create new paper.
  • Glass recycling: glass is shredded and then melted to create new bottles and glasses.
  • Metal recycling: metals such as aluminum and steel are shredded and then melted to create new objects.
  • Plastic recycling: plastics are shredded and then melted to create new objects such as bottles and toys.
  • Tire recycling: tires are shredded and used to build roads and paths.


Chemical recycling

Chemical recycling is another technique that is being used increasingly. This process uses chemicals to break down waste into its basic components, which can then be used to produce new products. Chemical recycling is especially useful for plastic waste, as it allows for the collection of a variety of different types of plastic. Some examples of chemical recycling include:

  • Plastic recycling: Chemicals agents are used to break down plastics into monomers, which can then be used to produce new plastics. This process is especially useful for low-quality plastics or plastics that contain a mix of different types of plastic.
  • Battery recycling: Chemical processes are used to separate the components of batteries, such as lead, cobalt, and nickel, which can then be reused in the production of new batteries.
  • Tire recycling: Chemical processes are used to separate the components of tires, such as rubber and steel, which can then be reused in the production of new tires or other products.
  • Paper recycling: Chemical processes are used to separate the components of paper, such as wood pulp and fibers, which can then be used to produce new paper.
chemical recycling plant

It is important to note that these chemical recycling techniques require a cleaning and purification process to ensure that the resulting products are safe and suitable for use. It is also important to keep in mind that these processes can generate toxic waste and emissions that can be harmful to the environment if not handled properly.


e-waste recycling

In addition to these techniques, new methods of recycling for electronic waste are also being developed. Electronic waste is a growing problem because it contains a variety of dangerous materials and cannot be recycled using traditional methods. However, new methods are being researched to collect and process electronic waste, such as flotation separation and crushing.

e-waste recycling

Electronic waste, also known as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), includes a wide variety of products, from mobile phones and computers to televisions and appliances. Thermal recycling can be an effective way to deal with this waste and convert it into energy or useful materials. Some examples of thermal recycling for WEEE include:

  • Incineration: WEEE is burned at high temperatures to generate electricity or heat. The heat generated is used to produce steam, which in turn is used to generate electricity in a thermal power plant.
  • Gasification: WEEE is converted into a fuel gas by applying high temperatures and pressure. The gas generated can be used to produce electricity or heat.
  • Pyrolysis: WEEE is converted into a mixture of gases and liquids by applying high temperatures and pressure. The resulting products can be used to produce electricity or heat, or to produce chemicals.
  • Thermal recycling of metals: WEEE is subjected to high temperatures to separate valuable metals such as copper, aluminum, gold and silver, which can then be reused.

It is important to note that thermal recycling of electronic waste requires a cleaning and purification process to ensure that the resulting products are safe and suitable for use. It is also important to take into account that these processes can generate toxic waste and emissions that can be harmful to the environment if not handled properly.



Cruise ships and environment pollution: which shipping companies fight for sustainability

Major shipping companies strive to find a balance between respect for the environment and what is economically viable.

A series of proudly announced new ocean liners promise to protect the sea, the air and the climate. Is it possible to make the dream of enjoying a cruise vacation without worrying about the environment come true?


Luxury cruise ship

Major shipping companies strive to find a balance between respect for the environment and what is economically viable. A series of proudly announced new ocean liners promise to protect the sea, the air and the climate. Is it possible to make the dream of enjoying a cruise vacation without worrying about the environment come true?

The new generations of ships at least reduce their harmful emissions, for example, through an energy efficient combination of fossil fuels with a battery system or fuel cells. Many details in the design of the ship and the operation on board improve the climatic balance. Sönke Diesener of the German Union for Nature and Biodiversity Conservation (NABU) speaks of "promising solutions".

Some shipping companies have optimized their fleets. "But cruise vacations are still not environmentally friendly," says NABU's head of environmental and transport policy. Highly polluting heavy fuel oil continues to dominate the world's oceans.



Heavy fuel oil powered engines damage the environment with emissions of sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and soot, and contribute to the climate crisis with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Lower emitting fuels, such as marine gas oils, are more expensive and emit slightly less CO2.

Even the least polluting LNG or liquefied natural gas, which is seen as a transition solution for cruise ships aiming to reduce environmental impact, only achieves a CO2 reduction of around 20 percent. And it also has drawbacks, as Katharina Koppe of the German Environment Agency explains: "During production, transport and operation, climate-damaging methane escapes into the atmosphere, reducing the CO2 advantage and makes the climate balance, in some cases, even worse than that of ships with marine diesel".

Some shipping companies comply with the regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations body responsible for maritime transport, equipping their ships with gas washing systems or "scrubbers", which, however, increase energy consumption. In addition, contaminated wash waters are often disposed of in the sea.

German cruise operator Tui Cruises says that thanks to scrubbers, nitrogen oxide catalytic converters and soot particulate filters, six ships in its fleet emit up to 99 percent less sulfur, 75 less less nitrogen oxide and 60 percent less harmful particles. The company also ensures that the waste is properly disposed of on land.

TUI's goals are ambitious. By 2030, the first ships in its fleet will be completely climate-neutral, Tui Cruises CEO Wybcke Meier recently told the German newspaper "Tagesspiegel". According to Meier, however, there is a big unknown: the sufficient availability of biofuels.

The German cruise line Aida Cruises bets mainly on fossil LNG, which could one day be replaced by synthetic or biogenic fuel. Other German companies, such as Hapag Lloyd or Plantours, sail with marine gas oil.

Grid power from renewable sources is now seen as a ray of hope. The possibility of connecting the ships to the port's electrical network will help reduce emissions and reduce noise and vibrations.



"Environmentally produced grid energy will be very important in the green energy mix of cruise travel," says German professor Harald Zeiss, who specializes in sustainability and tourism.

However, while nearly half of all ships will soon be able to have shore power or can quickly adapt to it, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), so far there are only 14 ports worldwide with corresponding connections. Among them are Germans from Hamburg, Kiel and Rostock-Warnemünde, as well as Bergen and Trondheim in Norway and Southampton in England.

Rerouting and efficient driving aided by sophisticated software, as well as exterior coatings to reduce aerodynamic drag, can help reduce fuel consumption. In addition, there are new innocuous techniques to avoid the encrustation of marine vegetation and fauna in the cooling system. In the management of hotels, which consume up to 50 percent of the ship's energy, changes are also being introduced.

"Some ocean giants have better waste disposal and sewage treatment systems than a small municipality," says NABU consultant Diesener. Details such as biodegradable cleaning and care products, optimization of air conditioning systems or recovery of braking energy from elevators and green and fair shore excursions are other steps towards greater environmental protection and sustainability. .

Norway is currently considered a pioneer country on the path to climate-friendly shipping. The ships on the Hurtigruten commuter express line run on marine diesel, which is blended with up to 20 percent biodiesel from food waste.



By 2030, the shipping company wants to be able to offer emission-free cruises. New competitor on the so-called "fast lane", Havila Kystruten, is betting on computer-controlled energy management of its combined LNG and battery system. The boats can run in purely electric mode for up to four hours.

In international waters, ships are authorized to navigate with heavy fuel oil. In coastal areas and in special areas designated by the IMO as Emission Control Areas (ECZs), stricter regulations apply regarding the emission of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. These include the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, the coasts of the United States and Canada, including the waters surrounding Hawaii and the American Caribbean, some areas of China and, in general, all ports of the European Union.

In the Antarctic and, in the future, in the Arctic, ships cannot carry heavy fuel oil on board as a precautionary measure.

German cruise journalist Franz Neumeier suggests "short cruises in the vicinity and arriving by train" as an environmentally friendly option for tourists. In fact, long flights considerably worsen the CO2 footprint of the holidays.

Cruise passengers can voluntarily offset the CO2 with an additional sum of money and thus balance at least the greenhouse gases emitted per head during the trip.


Travel recycling

The Turkish metro hosts a pilot program of vending machines that exchange tickets for plastic containers to encourage recycling in the country.


Travel recycling

Containers to separate all types of waste, clean points in each city, returnable containers ... Of a time to this part who does not recycle or reuse is because he does not want. The truth is that the administrations have put the batteries to facilitate the task and that there are no excuses, but there are still those who refuse to do so.


The accumulation and treatment of waste is one of the most serious problems affecting the planet, the human footprint is very deep and harmful, so that all initiatives that are aimed at changing that are welcome, as the genius they have put in practice last week in Turkey for those who only care about their pocket.

Vending machines have been installed in public transport stations in the country where you can buy the ticket at your destination, but with a different use: a hole through which to insert plastic bottles or cans of soda to recycle and to get us cheaper, even gratuitous.
Containers to separate all types of waste, clean points in each city, returnable containers ... Of a time to this part who does not recycle or reuse is because he does not want. The truth is that the administrations have put the batteries to facilitate the task and that there are no excuses, but there are still those who refuse to do so.

The accumulation and treatment of waste is one of the most serious problems affecting the planet, the human footprint is very deep and harmful, so that all initiatives that are aimed at changing that are welcome, as the genius they have put in practice last week in Turkey for those who only care about their pocket.

Vending machines have been installed in public transport stations in the country where you can buy the ticket at your destination, but with a different use: a hole through which to insert plastic bottles or cans of soda to recycle and to get us cheaper, even gratuitous.

Travelers get discounts on their tickets and can even get them for free if they get to recycle the amount of waste needed. For example, a plastic container of 33 centiliters is equivalent to 2 kurus -the currency used in the country, about 0.30 euros-, so to pay for the entire ticket and that it would be free for us, it would take 28 bottles or cans of this type .


Travel recycling

At the moment there are 25 machines installed in a pilot program to see how citizens respond, but it is expected to place 100 before the end of the year. This is a very necessary initiative, especially in a country like Turkey, the third largest producer of waste only behind Germany and France, and the least recycled in Europe.

Getting more recycle, raising awareness among the population about the need to better manage waste and encourage the use of public transport are the goals of this fantastic initiative.



What can be recycled: list

What can be recycled


When we propose to start recycling, there are many doubts that can arise to us in order to carry out this process correctly. To what container should the recyclable materials go? How can I know if this type of processed paper or cardboard can be recyclable?
Virtually any element of our house, of our workplace or of our study center is full of things that we can reuse and recycle, so that, at the beginning of this process, we find a lot of new objects and waste that can make recycling a real headache. We will try to help you to know what are the recyclable materials.


The first step we must take to separate the recyclable materials is to make different large cubes to sort each and every waste. Ideally, you can get a total of four, which you can label as follows: organic matter, packaging, glass and paper.

With just this simple classification you can start with the recycling process in a fast, simple and very effective way, since a large amount of the objects and materials with which we have contact day after day are related to these classifications.

Today we want to offer a help to all those who are just beginning to discover recycling and want to prove what this experience is like, even if they have many doubts about how to distribute their different waste. Take good note and discover a complete guide below in which you can discover the main types of recyclable materials, as well as those that are not suitable for this process.


An advert. In this article we speak only and exclusively of materials that you can recycle in the containers that exist in your town or city. Obviously, any material can be brought to a clean point or a green dot. But, for example, a light bulb can not be thrown into the glass container, since it contains mercury.



Types of recyclable materials


Paper

  • Leaves torn from notebooks
  • Newspapers
  • Journals
  • Papers, both printed and non-printed
  • Envelopes of common letters
  • Bills
  • Forms
  • Folders
  • Telephone directories
  • Cardboard packaging
  • Transport boxes

Glasses

  • Food packaging
  • Bottles of alcoholic beverages
  • Perfume and cosmetic packaging

Textiles

  • Cotton fabrics
  • Linen fabrics
  • Fabrics of 100% natural origin

Metals

  • Cans and containers of soft drinks
  • Aluminum and ferrous metals (metal cans for food and drinks, for example)

Plastics

  • Containers from food and drink
  • Cosmetic bottles
  • Transport packaging of the food industry
  • Disposable cups, plates and cutlery
  • Pots
  • Plastic chairs (as well as more furniture elements of this material)
  • Plastic bottles of cleaning products



What cannot be recycled


Papers

  • Papers from a fax
  • Papers printed with carbon-based ink
  • Commercial catalogs
  • Cellophane as well as other types of adhesive tape
  • Paper napkins
  • Kitchen paper used
  • Used glasses
  • Photographic paper
  • Labels
  • Stickers
  • Photo negatives
  • Plasticized paper

Glasses

  • Spoiled spotlights
  • Molten light bulbs
  • Lamps
  • Flat crystals (such as those from a broken window)
  • Mirrors
  • Glasses lenses
  • Ceramic objects such as cups, pots, plates or glasses.


Textiles

  • Printed fabrics
  • Fabrics with a high percentage of plastic material
  • Tinted fabrics
  • Rags impregnated with cleaning products
  • Dirty paint rags
  • Textile soaked in flammable products such as fuel


Metals

  • Cans from household cleaning products
  • Containers that have contained products with toxic substances, such as paints.


The list could continue practically indefinitely. However, through all the objects and products that we have mentioned, we can quickly and easily make an idea of ​​which are the main products for recycling.

If you are going to recycle for the first time, do not be afraid of making mistakes, just keep going, because that small gesture that you are going to make can imply an important change in the generations of the future, that will appreciate that we have been able to conserve the environment in a sustainable way and autoabastecible through the recycling of different materials and elements that we have. Hopefully this guide of recyclable materials has helped you.


A mushroom that recycles plastic

A group of students of Biochemistry at Yale University have discovered a fungus, called Pestalotiopsis microspora, which can break down plastic. The finding may be a "breakthrough" for the recycling sector, experts say.
The discovery occurred when students Pria Anand, Jeffrey Huang and Jonathan Russell conducted a study in the Ecuadorian Amazon collecting bodies -Mushrooms endophytes or bacteria that live at least part of their lives in symbiosis in plant tissues without causing sickness and They found the species. After the finding, published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Anand decided to investigate whether the endophytes he had collected had biological activity in the presence of plastic, while Huang investigated the ability of organisms to break chemical bonds. In this way they were able to identify the most efficient enzymes in the decomposition of polyurethane, a plastic widely used in the manufacture of synthetic fibers, parts for electronic devices and foams for thermal insulation.



Experts point out that several species of fungi can decompose plastic at least partially, but "Pestalotiopsis is the only one that can do it without the presence of oxygen", something that they consider "fundamental" for future landfill applications.

Yale students have also indicated that, with the help of this fungus, objects such as plastic bags, "which take years to decompose," could have "a shorter life." However, they have also warned that transforming a laboratory finding into an industrial-scale tool will be a long process.