Green Pulse Episode 26: A Covid-19 tide of trash; and implications for marine life

16:00 mins

Synopsis: Green Pulse is an environmental podcast series at The Straits Times which analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. 

The Covid-19 lockdowns have led to improved environmental outcomes in some instances, such as improved air quality, but the outlook is not all rosy. On the back of Singapore’s Year Toward Zero Waste in 2019, a survey done by alumni from the National University of Singapore’s Master of Science (Environmental Management) programme found that 1,334 tonnes of additional plastic waste, equivalent to the weight of 92 double-decker buses, was generated from takeaway and delivery meals within the 8-week circuit breaker period between Apr 7 and June 1. 

Globally, the rise of disposables in the form of single-use plastics, face masks and personal protective equipment due to hygiene concerns has led to concerns that these items may end up as litter in public places, and eventually make their way into the ocean. This could have implications for marine biodiversity.

Tune in to this episode to find out more, as The Straits Times chats with Ms Shaleen Shahrin on the survey findings and Dr Neo Mei Lin, a marine biologist at the Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, on the implications of marine debris on life underwater.

Produced by: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) & Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Follow Audrey Tan on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLMB

Read her stories: https://str.sg/JLM2

Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6

Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu

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Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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#greenpulse

Green Pulse Episode 26: A Covid-19 tide of trash; and implications for marine life
16:00 mins
Synopsis: Green Pulse is an environmental podcast series at The Straits Times which analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. 
The Covid-19 lockdowns have led to improved environmental outcomes in some instances, such as improved air quality, but the outlook is not all rosy. On the back of Singapore’s Year Toward Zero Waste in 2019, a survey done by alumni from the National University of Singapore’s Master of Science (Environmental Management) programme found that 1,334 tonnes of additional plastic waste, equivalent to the weight of 92 double-decker buses, was generated from takeaway and delivery meals within the 8-week circuit breaker period between Apr 7 and June 1. 
Globally, the rise of disposables in the form of single-use plastics, face masks and personal protective equipment due to hygiene concerns has led to concerns that these items may end up as litter in public places, and eventually make their way into the ocean. This could have implications for marine biodiversity.
Tune in to this episode to find out more, as The Straits Times chats with Ms Shaleen Shahrin on the survey findings and Dr Neo Mei Lin, a marine biologist at the Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, on the implications of marine debris on life underwater.
Produced by: <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/audrey-tan">Audrey Tan</a> (<a href="mailto:audreyt@sph.com.sg">audreyt@sph.com.sg</a>) &amp; <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/david-fogarty">David Fogarty</a> (<a href="mailto:dfogarty@sph.com.sg">dfogarty@sph.com.sg</a>) &amp; Ernest Luis
Edited by: Adam Azlee
Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaf">https://str.sg/JWaf</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaY">https://str.sg/JWaY</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/JWag">https://str.sg/JWag</a>
Google Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/J6EV">https://str.sg/J6EV</a> 
Website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
Follow Audrey Tan on Twitter: <a href="https://str.sg/JLMB">https://str.sg/JLMB</a>
Read her stories: <a href="https://str.sg/JLM2">https://str.sg/JLM2</a>
Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: <a href="https://str.sg/JLM6">https://str.sg/JLM6</a>
Read his stories: <a href="https://str.sg/JLMu">https://str.sg/JLMu</a>
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Discover ST's special edition podcasts:
Singapore's War On Covid: <a href="https://str.sg/wuJa" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuJa&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0siU3lhes84s1Kh3b1bGVk">https://str.sg/wuJa</a>
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZ2" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuZ2&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Z2Pjm6Y5InW9cZ4Q0mQ8A">https://str.sg/wuZ2</a>
Stop Scams: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZB" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuZB&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1F-KOBwSkvq9EzvZkopKKt">https://str.sg/wuZB</a>
Invisible Asia: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZn" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuZn&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0nViyTYC2VHqUh3hD5ppZq">https://str.sg/wuZn</a>
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Discover more ST podcast series:
Asian Insider: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWa7&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1buh4bW6l343VYv__-HbCj">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>
Health Check: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaN" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWaN&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3XgVMWHBTsDODTxaaRYNok">https://str.sg/JWaN</a>
In Your Opinion: <a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/w7Qt&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw37TcKkN3d4W8pQIMIwQPrT">https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Your Money &amp; Career: <a href="https://str.sg/wB2m" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wB2m&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1nNmdXrMk2yRR528_E5gRQ">https://str.sg/wB2m</a>
SG Extra: <a href="https://str.sg/wukR" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wukR&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3TXO5fgcKgVBosiZmAOboX">https://str.sg/wukR</a>
#PopVultures: <a href="https://str.sg/JWad" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWad&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1alZM7WYVxy02trRG7sk_R">https://str.sg/JWad</a>
ST Sports Talk: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRE" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWRE&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2AwstLsl8JMg29qLXhGVem">https://str.sg/JWRE</a>
Bookmark This!: <a href="https://str.sg/JWas" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWas&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw13SK1ePju5BQVyVDPxV5Bz">https://str.sg/JWas</a>
Lunch With Sumiko: <a href="https://str.sg/J6hQ" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/J6hQ&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw29XSR_CCgsYSJAp66igx9L">https://str.sg/J6hQ</a>
Discover ST Podcasts: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/stpodcasts&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2vK1LjK518jkWE0bzkKdU0">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Discover BT Podcasts: <a dir="ltr" href="https://bt.sg/pcPL" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bt.sg/pcPL&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660641547739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3j1dKxYuKL93GSuamtpCBB">https://bt.sg/pcPL</a>
Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
#greenpulse

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Podcasters: Audrey Tan & David Fogarty

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.
Podcasters: Audrey Tan &amp; David Fogarty
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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