Barcelona begins work on connecting its two separate tram systems
The first time in over half a century that a tramway will run through the heart of the city
Stopping floating garbage before it gets to the ocean – the smart way
The Municipality of Aarhus (Denmark) has managed to collect over 100,000 items of waste from the city’s stream flowing into the sea over the past 20 months. This was made possible thanks to a unique robot arm device, which collects the flotsam and then deposits it in containers.
The device, called SeaProtectorOne, has done such a good job that the local authorities would like to rent it until February 2027. That application, designed by All in On Green, has the potential to solve the plastic pollution caused by river-based cities in Europe.
The robot consists of a tower mounted on land, from which extends a collecting barrier equipped with a conveyor belt and a filter unit. The barrier automatically follows the water level so that the filter unit constantly filters the water for foreign objects.
This happens in an area from the water surface and 30 centimetres below it. Experience shows that most waste floats at this depth.
SeaProtectorOne has integrated sensors that detect when the robot needs to be emptied of waste. When emptying, the filter unit is raised, and all the waste is deposited into a waste bin via a conveyor belt.
The robot is also equipped with thermal cameras that detect whether sailors, surfers or swimmers are approaching. In such cases, the robot barrier goes up and creates free passage. It can be powered either by built-in solar cells or by connecting it to the main grid.
Each year, plastic waste equivalent to the weight of 57,000 blue whales is thrown into the world's oceans. At least 90% of that plastic waste, floating around the oceans, ends up in the sea via river systems, according to the Environmental Science journal.
“In the sea, waste is quickly dispersed and difficult to collect. Whereas the current in a river makes it possible to systematically filter waste in a limited area without disturbing fish and birds,” points out Peter Grønkjær, professor of marine biology at Aarhus University.
The first time in over half a century that a tramway will run through the heart of the city
The cultural and victim remembrance facility will be located in Rome
Many municipalities instituted privileges for EVs to promote sustainable mobility. Now, a lot more people are driving electric, so maybe it’s time to normalise legislation
The city has a strategy of putting 10,000 human-controlled and autonomous shuttles on the streets by 2030
Last week, the Chinese app was banned for Belgian federal employees for an initial period of six months
Authorities have published two maps, one of the roofs and the other – of facades so that locals can make the right decision when choosing green energy
The first time in over half a century that a tramway will run through the heart of the city
The city has a strategy of putting 10,000 human-controlled and autonomous shuttles on the streets by 2030
The product launch will mark the 10-year anniversary since the city started working with ethically sourced products
The city has developed its own way to teach young people how to react when they witness unjust treatments
The cultural and victim remembrance facility will be located in Rome
Find out which European region has the highest longevity, and which one the lowest
The new itineraries are part of the DiscoverEU programme, which lets 18-year-olds travel by train between important European sites
The European Commission has published its first progress report charting the achievements of the socio-cultural movement that combines beauty, inclusion and sustainability
The 2023 edition of the creative initiative promises to be bigger, bolder and more inclusive
A talk with the head of Mission Zero Academy on the benefits for municipalities if they go the zero waste way
A talk with Nicolae Urs, one of the key figures behind the city's new data platforms and online services strategy
Veni Markovski’s take on dealing with disinformation in the European Union's poorest country – Bulgaria