New substrate material for flexible electronics could help combat e-waste
Electronic waste is a rapidly growing problem, but this degradable material could allow the recycling of parts from many single-use and wearable devices.
How to increase the rate of plastics recycling
A national bottle deposit fee could make a dramatic difference in reducing plastic waste, MIT researchers report.
Pioneering the future of materials extraction
MIT spinout SiTration looks to disrupt industries with a revolutionary process for recovering and extracting critical materials.
This 3D printer can figure out how to print with an unknown material
The advance could help make 3D printing more sustainable, enabling printing with renewable or recyclable materials that are difficult to characterize.
Think globally, rebuild locally
In order to recycle construction materials, keep them close to home, a new study of Amsterdam suggests.
Recovering a treasure trove in MIT’s student center
The Undergraduate Association Sustainability Committee repurposes items for good causes — and discovers a few hidden gems — following a burst pipe in W20.
Volunteer committee helps the MIT community live and work sustainably
The Working Green Committee is made up of MIT staff committed to encouraging reuse and recycling of goods, and reducing waste.
Recycling plastics from research labs
With sustainability in mind, MIT’s EHS Lab Plastics Recycling Program gathers clean plastics from 212 MIT labs, recycling some 280 pounds per week.
Fiber “barcodes” can make clothing labels that last
Drawing inspiration from butterfly wings, reflective fibers woven into clothing could reshape textile sorting and recycling.
Rescuing small plastics from the waste stream
PhD student Alexis Hocken is working with manufacturers to keep their products from (literally) falling through the cracks in the recycling process.
MIT PhD students shed light on important water and food research
J-WAFS Fellows discuss their inspiration for pursuing challenges in water and food systems.
MADMEC winner identifies sustainable greenhouse-cooling materials
Prizes in the materials science competition also went to a waste-monitoring device and a nanofiber-based yarn.
New process could enable more efficient plastics recycling
Cobalt-based catalysts could be used to turn mixed plastic waste into fuel, new plastics, and other products.
Could we make cars out of petroleum residue?
A new way to make carbon fiber could turn refinery byproducts into high-value, ultralight structural materials for cars, aircraft, and spacecraft.
J-WAFS announces 2021 Solutions Grants for commercializing water and food technologies
This year’s projects address mobile evaporative vegetable preservation, portable water filtration, and dairy waste reduction.