Scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have for the first time compiled a map of groundwater variables to understand which aquifers in the United States are most vulnerable to being contaminated by “orphan wells” — gas and oil wells that have no active owner and are no longer producing, but have not yet been plugged.
The study, “A geospatial analysis of water-quality threats from orphan wells in principal and secondary aquifers of the United States,” was published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
“Throughout the history of oil and gas production in the United States, millions of wells have been drilled for exploration and energy production. Hundreds of thousands of unplugged wells are no longer actively producing and are currently under orphan status, with no responsible party obligated for plugging,” the authors wrote in the findings. “Orphan wells can pose threats to water resources by providing pathways for contaminants such as hydrocarbons and brines to migrate into water-supply aquifers.”
Plugging the orphan wells seals off potential pathways for the contaminants, reported Inside Climate News.
USGS scientists Joshua Woda, Nicholas Gianoutsos, Kalle Jahn, Kristina Gutchess and Karl Haase found that large concentrations of older orphan wells, along with other factors, make aquifers in California, Appalachia and the Gulf Coast susceptible to contamination.
The researchers examined 117,672 documented orphan wells across the U.S. and found that 54 percent of them are located within aquifers that provide 94 percent of the country’s groundwater.
“No matter where you live across the nation, you can go look at what’s happening in your backyard, how your aquifers compare to other aquifers and what the threats are,” Gianoutsos said, as Inside Climate News reported.
The research team used datasets from Geographic Information Systems to map the orphan wells’ locations over both principal and secondary aquifers. Their analysis of the aquifers was based on factors — like average age of the wells — that could contribute to how vulnerable to contamination the groundwater was.
Older wells are more failure-prone and less regulated. The “maximum confluence” of risk factors was found in Pennsylvanian aquifers, which span multiple states in Appalachia, including Pennsylvania, where the first of the country’s oil wells were drilled.
Orphan wells can be more than a century old and found near coal seams as well as residential water wells.
The team found that aquifers along the Gulf Coast, including the aquifer system known as Coastal Lowlands, were susceptible partially because the wells are found in areas such as open water and wetlands, which are more contamination-prone.
In Coastal California and the Central Valley, there is a high density of abandoned orphan wells that overlaps with areas that have been urbanized and rely heavily on groundwater for agriculture. In these areas, the researchers considered pumping rates from each aquifer in their analysis.
They discovered that central Oklahoma’s Ada-Vamoosa aquifer had the highest orphan well concentration per square mile of all the aquifers in the U.S.
A map of locations with vulnerability to groundwater contamination due to orphaned wells. Science of the Total Environment
The authors of the paper suggested that researchers and policymakers could use the findings as a basis for targeting aquifers for further investigation.
“This could be a good starting point if someone wanted to do a local investigation,” Woda noted.
Gianoutsos said the national list of orphan wells has added approximately 40,000 orphan wells since their new dataset was created. An additional roughly 10,000 orphan wells have also been plugged.
“The threats are still there,” Gianoutsos said. “Just as we discover more wells, we discover additional threats.”
Orphan wells have been associated with groundwater contamination in Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania and other states. A Ground Water Protection Council study from 2011 found that 41 incidents of contaminated groundwater were caused by Ohio orphan wells between 1983 and 2007. The study also discovered that orphan wells and surrounding sites caused 30 incidents in Texas from 1993 to 2008.
John Stolz, a Duquesne University professor of environmental microbiology, said some Pennsylvania orphan wells are so old that they are cased with metal or wood rather than cement, as has been the standard for decades, reported Inside Climate News. He said the wood casings have often completely deteriorated.
Stolz said recent fracking and conventional drilling have left much of Pennsylvania’s lands “looking like Swiss cheese.”
“It’s good to see a study that focuses on the water resources,” Stolz said. “We are going to have greater periods of drought, and these water resources are going to become far more valuable.”
The post Scientists Map Where Orphan Wells Threaten Aquifers in the U.S. appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/aquifers-map-orphan-wells-contamination-threat.html
Green Living
Sustainability In Your Ear: Milwaukee’s Kevin Shafer on Circular Thinking in Wastewater Management
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Milwaukee’s circular approach actually predates the term by nearly a century. In 1926, the district began producing Milorganite—Milwaukee organic nitrogen—a fertilizer made from dried biosolids that most utilities simply spread on fields or incinerate. Today, that product returns $11 to $12 million annually to the city’s budget while keeping waste out of landfills. Kevin explains that this foundational commitment to doing the right thing has shaped MMSD’s culture ever since: ‘We just always look at those type of approaches. It’s foundational to the district.’
The district’s eight digesters at its South Shore plant now generate 80 to 85% of the facility’s electricity from biosolids, with enough material left over to continue making Milorganite. Kevin calls it Cradle to Cradle in action, referring to the philosophy pioneered by architect William McDonough, who visited MMSD in 2006 and was intrigued by work that predated his framework by decades. The district is also partnering with regional breweries and food processors, accepting their organic waste streams for co-digestion. This reduces disposal costs for industry partners while increasing energy production—a synergy that Kevin sees as the future of utility operations.
Looking ahead, Kevin’s 2035 vision targets 100% renewable energy and a 90% carbon reduction compared to 2005. He argues that utilities should see themselves as anchor institutions with generational responsibilities: ‘I won’t be here 50 years from now, but MMSD will be.’ That long view has attracted new partners. ‘All of a sudden they say, oh, here’s someone that’s thinking a little bit differently about something, and maybe we can help them, or they can help us.’ The key barrier to scaling the circular economy, he believes, isn’t technology—it’s institutional culture and a narrow focus on regulatory compliance rather than systems thinking.
You can learn more about the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District at mmsd.com.
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Earth911 inspirations. Print them, post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day.
Editor’s Note: This poster was originally published on May 10, 2019. Yes, we recycle good ideas!
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In recent years, many of us have learned that “recyclable” isn’t as simple as we once thought. The single-use coffee cup is the classic example: its paper shell is fused with a thin plastic liner, rendering it un-recyclable in most facilities. It’s a “composite material,” a mix of things that are too difficult to separate.
A surprisingly similar, and often-overlooked, challenge is sitting in our homes: old sunglasses.
Just like that coffee cup, eyewear is a complex fusion of materials. Metal hinges are screwed into polymer frames, which hold chemically-coated lenses. This mix of metals, plastics, and coatings means standard sorting machines cannot process them. As a result, they are rejected as contamination and sent directly to landfills, where they contribute to non-biodegradable waste. Unlike a disposable paper cup, however, a pair of sunglasses is built for durability. Its high-quality components make it a perfect candidate for repair, reuse, or reinvention.
This guide provides 7 actionable alternatives to the landfill, designed to turn this difficult-to-recycle item into a valuable, circular resource.
1. The Most Impactful Fix: Replace the Lenses
For the most common issue—scratched or damaged lenses—the most sustainable answer is also the simplest. The frame, which is the most resource-intensive part to produce, is often in perfect condition. By focusing on a “repair, don’t replace” model, you can save an entire item from the landfill.
Action: This process is now easier than ever. Specialist companies like mine, The Sunglass Fix, allow you to order high-quality, precision-cut replacement lenses for thousands of models online. You can effectively restore your sunglasses to brand-new condition for a fraction of the cost—and with significantly less waste.
2. The Charitable Solution: Donate for Global Reuse
If your sunglasses are still in good shape, don’t let them go to waste. Just because you don’t wear them anymore doesn’t mean they are finished. By donating them, you give them a second life. There are millions of people who need eye protection but can’t easily buy it. Your old pair could end up helping someone see better and protect their eyes every day.”
Action: There are great groups ready to take them:
- Lions Clubs International: The most famous option. Look for their yellow collection boxes in libraries and local vision centers.
- OneSight: They run clinics to bring eyewear directly to communities that need it most.
- ReSpectacle: An easy website that matches your specific glasses to a person who needs them.
3. The DIY Solution: Simple Home Maintenance
Before giving up on a pair, inspect it closely. Many “broken” sunglasses are merely suffering from minor, fixable issues. A wobbly arm or a missing nose pad might seem like a fatal flaw, but a simple home repair can often make them perfectly wearable again, saving you money and preventing waste.
Action: Most common issues can be solved with a basic eyeglass repair kit.
- Tighten Loose Screws: This is the most common issue. Using a precision screwdriver, gently tighten the hinge screws until the arms feel secure again. If a screw is lost, most repair kits come with standard replacements.
- Adjust Bent Frames: If your glasses sit crooked on your face, place them on a flat table to see which side is lifted. Metal frames can be gently bent back into shape with your fingers. Plastic frames should be warmed slightly (with warm water) before you gently twist them back to alignment.
- Replace Old Nose Pads: If the pads are yellowing, uncomfortable, or missing, don’t toss the glasses. You can buy standard silicone replacements online. They either snap in or screw in, instantly making the glasses feel cleaner and more comfortable.
- Fix Stiff Hinges: If the arms are hard to open or make a grinding sound, the hinge is likely clogged with dirt. Wash the frame with warm soapy water to flush out the grit. Once dry, a tiny drop of baby oil or lubricant on the hinge will make it move smoothly again.
- Restore Faded Plastic: If your plastic frames have turned white or cloudy, they aren’t ruined; they are just oxidized. You can buff this white layer off using a soft microfiber cloth and a little friction (or a tiny dab of non-abrasive car wax) to reveal the shiny, fresh plastic underneath.
4. The Upcycling Solution: Create Unique Decor
Even when lenses are damaged beyond repair or frames are no longer wearable, the components themselves can be valuable materials for DIY home décor. Instead of sitting in a landfill for centuries, these plastic and metal parts can be upcycled into unique art pieces, giving new purpose to materials that would otherwise decompose.
Action: Re-frame your perspective and use the components for home decor. Multiple pairs can be combined to create a unique mirror frame, a 3D collage, or other decorative wall art, as highlighted by various home design blogs.
5. The Craft Solution: Fashion Custom Jewelry
The trend of upcycling fashion accessories is growing, and sunglasses offer endless possibilities. The colorful or mirrored lenses, in particular, can be transformed into new items. This craft-based approach turns a waste product into a one-of-a-kind wearable statement of sustainability.
Action: Gently pop the lenses out of the frames. They can be incorporated into unique DIY projects. Craft blogs demonstrate how to fashion them into pendants or one-of-a-kind earrings, completely upcycling the component.
6. The Garden Solution: Repurpose Components Outdoors
Even the most shattered parts can find a new purpose outdoors. The sturdy plastic or metal arms of a frame, for example, make surprisingly durable and waterproof plant markers for a garden or herb pot. Other broken pieces can be used for mosaics or small sculptures, offering a quirky way to bring sustainability to your backyard.
Action: Remove the sturdy plastic or metal arms from the frame. By writing on them with a permanent marker, you can create durable, waterproof, and quirky plant markers for an herb garden or seed-starting trays.
7. The Final Step: Responsible Material Separation
If the sunglasses are beyond saving and none of the above methods apply, you must handle the final disposal process manually. Recycling plants are designed to handle simple items like bottles or cans, not complex “mixed material” objects like eyewear. If you throw a whole pair of sunglasses into the mix, it is treated as contamination and sent to the landfill. If you want the materials to live on, you have to do the separation work that the machines can’t.
Action: Break the frame down into these four categories to ensure they get recycled:
- Pop the Lenses Out: Press firmly on the back of the lens to snap it out of the frame. Even if the lens itself cannot be recycled locally, removing it is the essential first step to preparing the rest of the frame.
- Strip the Hardware: Use a precision screwdriver to remove the arms, hinges, and any nose pads. You need to fully separate every piece of metal from the plastic components.
- Consolidate the Metal: The tiny screws and hinges are valuable scrap, but they are too small for machines to catch. Place them inside a larger steel food can (like a soup can) and pinch the top closed so they are trapped inside and can be processed safely.
- Mail the Frames: The stripped plastic frames are now ready for a specialist. Since standard curbside trucks typically reject rigid eyewear plastics, mail these specific parts to dedicated programs like Terracycle or Banish that can shred and repurpose them.
Redefining “Waste” in Your Wardrobe
A single-use coffee cup is a symbol of a disposable mindset—a product designed for a single use. In contrast, an old pair of sunglasses, once destined for the landfill, is a collection of durable materials and untapped potential.
By shifting how we view worn or damaged items, we can begin to see them not as waste, but as resources waiting for renewal. Moving beyond the linear “take-make-waste” model unlocks that value. Whether you choose to remanufacture your favorite frames, donate them, or upcycle them into a new project, each action contributes to a more sustainable future.
Small changes, repeated by millions, can make a measurable difference. Just as we’ve learned to carry a reusable mug, we can learn to repair our most-loved items. The next time you reach for that scratched pair, remember—repairing or reimagining them isn’t just creative; it’s part of building a more circular world.
About the Author
This sponsored article was contributed by Craig Anderson, founder of The Sunglass Fix. A problem-solver by nature, he left his corporate IT career after discovering the immense scale of waste in the eyewear industry. He is now a passionate advocate for the circular economy and a pioneer in the “remanufacturing” space, building a business dedicated to the simple, sustainable idea: repair, don’t replace.
The post Guest Idea: 7 Solutions to Give Your Old Sunglasses a Second Life appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/how-to-recycle/guest-idea-7-solutions-to-give-your-old-sunglasses-a-second-life/
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