Greater LA
Recycling takes a hit from coronavirus
Extra food packages, more cleaning products, and the return of flimsy single-use plastic bags are hallmarks of the pandemic, and they’re piling up in our wastebaskets.
By Steve Chiotakis • • 25m ListenStay-at-home orders mean a lot more trash around the house. Extra food packages, more cleaning products, and the return of flimsy single-use plastic bags are all hallmarks of the pandemic, and they’re piling up in our wastebaskets. While a fair amount of the things we’re tossing are recyclable, workers at recycling plants are being forced to adapt to physical distancing. That’s slowed down an already struggling recycling system.
In this episode
3 storiesWaste in some landfills is down, but so is recycling. Here’s why
Extra food packages, more cleaning products, and the return of flimsy single-use plastic bags are hallmarks of the pandemic, and they’re piling up in our wastebaskets. While a fair amount of the things we’re tossing are recyclable, workers at recycling plants are being forced to adapt to physical distancing. That’s slowed down an already struggling system.
Read the story8 minHospital ship USNS Mercy captain talks coronavirus outbreak and testing
The Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy arrived in LA in March to help prevent a situation similar to New York City’s, where hospitals were overwhelmed and tent medical facilities sprang up in parks.
Read the story9 min‘Sea sparkle’ dazzles Southern California beachgoers with natural light show
The coastline of Southern California has been putting on a nightly show. Crashing waves are lighting up a neon blue as they roll in. Sometimes called “sea sparkle,” the display is the result of tiny microscopic organisms that are bioluminescent.
Read the story8 min
