Happy Wednesday 👋

Plastic pollution has long been a serious environmental problem…

But Hawaii is exploring a surprising new way to fight it. 

Researchers there are experimenting with recycled plastics in asphalt roads to reduce waste and protect marine ecosystems. 

If successful, we could turn yesterday’s pollution into a cleaner future!

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• How Hawaii is paving roads with plastic waste 🛣️
• How cow manure can power the future of AI 🐄
• How AI can detect wildlife trafficking before it spreads 🦈
• And more… 💚

🛣️ Turning Marine Plastic Waste Into Sustainable Road Infrastructure

1️⃣ The big picture: A new research effort in Hawaii is exploring a new way to deal with fishing pollution: using discarded plastic waste, including abandoned fishing nets from the ocean, as a component in asphalt roads. Researchers from the Center for Marine Debris Research found that roads containing recycled polyethylene did not release more plastic material than conventional SBS-modified asphalt, which means that adding recycled plastic did not appear to create a bigger microplastic problem. The scientists believe this happens because the plastic becomes mixed into the asphalt binder. Instead of breaking off as pure plastic pieces, worn pavement particles are more likely to contain a mixture of rock pieces, asphalt binder, and embedded polymer.

2️⃣ Why is this good news: One of the biggest contributors to Hawaii’s marine plastic pollution is lost or abandoned fishing nets and related equipment. These materials can remain in the ocean for years, harming marine animals through entanglement and breaking down into smaller plastic particles (microplastics) which can persist for centuries. Using recycled polymers reduces ocean plastic pollution and could reduce dependence on newly manufactured plastic materials. This approach also offers a replicable model for other coastal and island communities that struggle with marine debris and limited recycling infrastructure.

3️⃣ What’s next: If future studies confirm that recycled plastic asphalt remains durable, the technology could provide several benefits including reduced ocean pollution, reduced landfill pressure, and reduced transportation emissions from having to ship plastic away from the island for processing. And if results remain positive, the Hawaii Department of Transportation could expand the use of recycled plastic asphalt to more roads across the islands.

📢 More Good News…

🇦🇺 How drones can enhance beach safety: 

• The New South Wales Government (AUS) has announced a $34 million initiative that will place drones over 70 beaches across the state in order to give lifeguards and emergency teams a better view of ocean conditions and help them identify sharks near swimmers before dangerous encounters occur.
• Unlike traditional methods, where lifeguards mainly rely on observations from the shore or water patrols, drones can scan large areas of the ocean quickly and from above, allowing responders to detect shark movements and warn swimmers more efficiently.
• Overall, the drone program represents a new approach to beach safety by combining aerial technology, monitoring, and emergency response.

🐄 How cow manure can power the future of AI:

• Lent Hill Dairy Farm in New York has launched the first US project that uses manure-derived biogas to power an on-site cryptocurrency mine, with plans to eventually support AI data centers.
• The company believes that these systems can generate local economic benefits, reduce methane emissions from manure, and provide reliable, around-the-clock power without placing additional strain on the electric grid.
•  Experts estimate that only 10% to 15% of the US biogas market’s capacity has been built so far, pointing to significant untapped potential if the technology can be scaled responsibly.

🦈 How AI can detect wildlife trafficking before it spreads:

• Scientists are developing an artificial intelligence system that uses 3D X-ray images to detect illegally trafficked marine wildlife, including shark fins, seahorses, and sea cucumbers hidden inside luggage and shipments.
• Testing showed that the AI detected shark fins with 95% accuracy, seahorses with 96% accuracy, and sea cucumbers with 86% accuracy, resulting in an overall detection rate of about 92%.
• The technology aims to help airport and border inspectors stop illegal wildlife trafficking, which threatens marine species, damages ecosystems, and supports criminal networks that move protected animals across countries.

🤝 Important Awareness Events At a Glance:

🥤 July, Plastic Free July:

• Plastic Free July was founded in 2011 by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz as a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation to create a world free of plastic. 
• Today, the event is one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world, working toward cleaner streets, healthy oceans, and beautiful communities. 
• To date, Plastic Free July has inspired over 100 million participants across 190 countries to reduce their plastic use and find more sustainable alternatives.

🦒 July 1, American Zoo Day: 

• American Zoo Day observes the history of zoos as an institution in the US. 
• People typically celebrate the holiday by going to their local zoo and learning about the collection of animals, as well as the practice of zookeeping.

🛍️ July 3, International Plastic Bag Free Day: 

• International Plastic Bag Free Day is a movement urging the reduction or elimination of single-use plastic bags worldwide. 
• The event gathers non-profits, environmental groups, activists, and governments to hold public parades, advocate on the streets, and create engaging posters to raise awareness of the harms of plastic bags. 
• The observance also fights to educate the public through workshops, webinars, and social media posts to use durable and eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags. 

Related: You can discover all the 74 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for July 2026!

📜 These Days in History

🇨🇦 July 1, 1867: Canada officially became confederated as its own nation. Though it still remained a part of the British Commonwealth, this was an important step towards sovereignty. 

📜 July 2, 1964: The Civil Rights Act was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson. This act banned public discrimination on the basis of race, and provided for integration in places like schools, public transportation, and other public institutions. 

💭 Quote of the Day

“Until justice is blind to color, until education is unaware of race, until opportunity is unconcerned with the color of men’s skins, emancipation will be a proclamation but not a fact.”

― Lyndon B. Johnson; 36^th president of the United States.

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society!

Stay impactful 💚