RENEWables #31: Syngas Offers a Solution to Landfill Overflow

Two of the biggest obstacles that make community-wide composting accessible and easy are a lack of infrastructure and lack of education. That is why Kristan Chamberlain, Executive Director at KC Can Compost, spent the better part of two years researching ways to break down these barriers and created a system that promotes green jobs, a healthy environment and manages the mess!  The program offers a full waste assessment with actionable recommendations and ongoing education for commercial businesses all the way down to the individual level. Join us on this episode of RENEWables, to get educated on the benefits of composting and how to become the next KC Can Compost’s “Environmental Specialist”. www.Kccancompost.com Instagram - @KCCanCompost Facebook - KC Can Compost Follow us on Instagram - @BioStar_Renewables --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

As the buzz around the hydrogen energy market continues, one company is breaking barriers in hydrogen storage technology and using high-density hydrogen for zero-emission transportation. On this episode of RENEWables, we sat down with Breakthrough Energy Fellows, Ted McKlveen and Bav Roy, co-founders of Verne H2 who believe new energy solutions like hydrogen storage are required to accelerate the adoption of sustainable transportation. There has been a lot of progress in hydrogen electricity technology over the last few decades but a lot more needs to be done in order to reach net zero by 2050. Heavy duty transportation is the backbone of the global economy and all the major modes, including heavy duty trucking, shipping, and aviation rely on fossil fuels for energy, generating 10% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Scaling new technologies can take decades and industrial transformation needs to happen now, which is why Verne H2 has joined the Breakthrough Energy Fellowship Program, an organization dedicated to helping identify and accelerate development for these types of promising, early stage technologies. Tune into this episode and learn more about hydrogen storage technology and Verne’s plan for making hydrogen more usable. Show Notes: Verne H2 Breakthrough Energy Fellowship Program --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Concerned with the planet’s plastic pollution problem, Anne Marie Bonneau, a Senior Editor at a San Francisco based publishing company realized how much food was being wasted in her own kitchen and decided to go plastic-free in 2011.  “I have always been obsessed with food and cooking and when I became aware of how much unnecessary waste was making it to the oceans, I decided I wanted to break up with plastic”, says Bonneau, now known as the Zero-Waste Chef.  To cut down on plastic waste, she began shopping at local farmer’s markets and would take her own glass jars, stainless steel containers and homemade cloth bulk bags to fill up on organic ingredients. Today she spends her time teaching others how to be “plastic-free” while saving time and money. Tune into this episode of RENEWables to learn some very valuable tricks and tips on how you can cut down on plastic waste in your home and everyday life. Doesn’t it seem strange to use something that basically lasts forever for something you will only use for a few minutes and then throw away? PlasticFreeJuly.org provides resources and ideas to help reduce single-use plastic waste at home, work, school, and everywhere else consumers, well, consume. Show Notes: ZeroWasteChef.com ShareWaste.com - connecting people who wish to recycle their food scraps --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

You have probably seen moss growing on rocks or trees in your backyard, but have you ever seen it covering the interior walls of an office building? If not, you will soon because these “vertical gardens'' are becoming increasingly popular and for good reason. They are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they also have soundproofing, odor absorbing and air purifying qualities that can help improve office and home environments. On this episode of RENEWables, we sit down with Kasey Riley, Co-founder of The Fat Plant Society and Vince Basso, to learn more about moss art and their biophilic design approach for creating working and living environments that offer an advantage of the restorative and motivational power of nature. Studies show that exposure to nature has been linked to improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even upticks in empathy and cooperation. The key to sustainable and functional biophilic design is the inclusion of nature itself and these interior moss walls are a reminder that you are never far from the forest! Show Notes: The Fat Plant Society VJB KC & Associates Instagram Linked In Pinterest --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

With inflation on the rise, the price of fertilizers is up a staggering 260% post-pandemic, causing farmers to cut back on the amount of fertilizers they can use on their crops and risking smaller yields. This problem comes at a time when food production is critical and finding solutions isn’t always easy, especially for farmers facing challenges that could pose serious threat to the future of their crops. On this episode of RENEWables, we sit down with Jason Ellsworth, Organic Portfolio Manager at Wilbur-Ellis, Agribusiness division, as he talks about the effects of organics on soil health, the current organic market and how the 100-year old company plans to help overcome crop challenges through innovative products and services that also help maximize return on investment. Show Notes: Wilbur-Ellis Website Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness Website Linked In Twitter Instagram Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

As the climate crisis continues, more and more companies are jumping on the sustainability bandwagon and finding innovative ways to help mitigate or offset carbon emissions. While this is becoming common practice among corporations, what about individuals who want to make a difference?  Join us on this special Earth Day episode of RENEWables, where we sit down with James Regulinski, Co-Founder of Carbon Collective, to discuss ESG investment opportunities designed to help pressure large companies into taking climate change more seriously. James identifies how to bridge the $4 trillion dollar gap between how much money is needed versus how much is being invested in climate change technologies currently. There are many ways to be an advocate for change, but Carbon Collective knows how to take an ethical stand when investing in a portfolio with a more sustainable future! Listen and subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode! Show Notes: Website - https://www.carboncollective.co Linekd In - https://www.linkedin.com/company/carbon-collective/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carbon.collective/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@carbon.collective --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Several years ago, while researching oil spills in the ocean, scientists discovered something truly amazing—Microorganisms were using the greenhouse gas, methane as a food source and producing an energy storage material within their cells called Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a naturally occurring polymer that resembles polypropylene, which is one of the most commonly produced plastics in the world. New Light has taken this oceanic process of dissolving air and carbon in water and created a scalable plastic alternative called AirCarbon®. With over 10 years of research and 50 patents, they are using AirCarbon to help replace plastic and restore the oceans by making reusable, plastic-free, regenerative food-ware and carbon-negative fashion, including cutlery, straws, eyewear and leather replacements. Tune into this episode of RENEWables featuring, Mark Herrema, Co-Founder & CEO of New Light Technologies to learn how these microorganisms are providing market driven solutions to solving some of the world's toughest ESG challenges. Show Notes: Newlight.com Restore Regenerative Foodware CNN News Article --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Organic agriculture has grown from a cultural movement to a multi-billion dollar industry within the span of a few decades. This meteoric rise showcases the importance of quality food sourcing and environmental stewardship in consumer choices. But the value of organic agriculture does not just lie in personal preference. As the industry grows, so too does our understanding of the relationships between organic agriculture and soil health. Emily Musgrave and Peter Navarra of Driscoll's Berries join the latest episode of RENEWables to talk about organic systems, berry genetics and all the plant possibilities. Show Notes: Driscoll's Berries Website Tightly-Coupled Plant-Soil Nitrogen Cycling: Comparison of Organic Farms Across an Agricultural Landscape article. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Every industry consumes water. The process from sourcing to disposal often leads to unsustainable and polluting practices. And as the world’s supply of fresh water continues to dwindle, it becomes even more urgent to find solutions for treating and recycling the water we do consume. Phil Millett, VP of Manufacturing at Purestream joins RENEWables to talk about their technology’s influence on the future of water consumption and their efforts for solving multiple sustainability issues at once.  Show Notes: Purestream.com Phil Millett on Linked In --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

There is a lot of work that goes into establishing a vineyard, from raising capital down to harvesting the last bunch. This process becomes even more difficult when you are working in a region without a long and fruitful history. Mason Moreland, Managing Partner at Texas Vine Country, hopes to place Texas firmly on the map as an autonomous wine region. Through proper investing, sustainable practices, and mechanized systems, he helps these projects age like fine wine. Show Notes: Contact Mason Moreland LinkedIn www.texasvinecountry.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app