#PLASTIC

PLASTIC POLLUTION SPREADS FURTHER

Tiny particles of plastic that have leached into water supplies are being gobbled up by mosquito larvae and subsequently being consumed by birds, a study carried out at the University of Reading has found. The finding means that microplastics in the water could spread to pollute new environments and food chains thanks to the feeding habits of birds, bats and other insect eating animals, the researchers say.

TURNING LANDFILL TO LANDFUEL

Researchers at Cranfield University have developed a method of recovering valuable chemicals from discarded plastics that could potentially be used to produce liquid fuels. The team are currently working on refining a complex heat treatment process known as pyrolysis in which high temperatures are used to break plastics down into reusable elements.