Kill two birds with one stone: Recycled polystyrene material that resembles bird feathers could be used to generate electricity from waste energy in the air

More than 27 million tons of single-use polystyrene packaging is produced worldwide every year, but only 12% is recycled. Most of it ends up in landfills after the first use.

Researchers from RMIT University and Riga University of Technology have developed an innovative way to generate electricity using waste polystyrene, addressing both the energy needs and environmental impacts of the ubiquitous packaging material.