Field Notes

Ah, waste management - the unglamorous underbelly of civilization, the unspoken, unsung hero of our modern existence. Without it, we'd be up to our eyeballs in the horrific byproduct of our consumerist lifestyles. But here's the rub: while you might be reveling in the luxury of having your trash whisked...

After two years of collecting massive amounts of waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, The Ocean Cleanup team is preparing to launch its full-scale catchment system, System 03, later this summer. The long-awaited introduction of System 03 is a massive milestone, as it is the rigorously tested model that...

Waiting for governments to solve problems can be exhausting, frustrating, and often fruitless. Unfortunately, the same can often be said for relying solely on philanthropic efforts. However, a proactive new trend, venture philanthropy, is emerging, thanks to thought leaders like Brett Howell. The Howell Conservation Fund (HCF) is an organization...

On the West Side of Oahu, where crystal blue waters meet the rugged coastline, there's a long simmering battle underway. This close-knit community, long marginalized and overlooked, is fighting against the insidious and pervasive issue of waste colonialism. The West Side is home to Hawaii's largest population of native Hawaiians....

Some big news on the EPR front was announced in Colorado last week, where the state has taken a major step in implementing its extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs for packaging by selecting the Circular Action Alliance as their producer responsibility organization (PRO). This is a pretty big deal for...

With the advent of powerful AI tools, we're rapidly approaching a monumental societal shift that's sure to be a mixed bag of delightful discoveries and spine-chilling uncertainties. So how should we feel about engaging with them?  Well, this post is about PFAS, the pesky cockroaches of the chemical kingdom. They've been...