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145 results found
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| Rapidly Degrading Paper Items 
Driving down highways, you will see a lot of litter. Much of it is fast food packaging or other disposable paper. Education does not seem to be the answer, as we have been told not to litter for years - yet, it still piles up. More meals are being eaten on the road or sidewalk, as our lives become faster. What I believe we need is a paper that degrades quickly when exposed to the sun's UV rays.It would seem that the addition of titanium dioxide in its anatase form to the pulp would break down the organic compounds into a powder. The speed of the degradation would probably be controlled by the amount of TiO2 added. To keep the photocatalyst reaction from starting too soon, the items would have to be kept out of direct sunlight. It would not have to be a full breakdown of the item, just enough to produce tiny holes, as paper seems to degrade from the edges of the piece to the centre. This basic idea is being used to make self cleaning windows and buildings.Uses:- Take out food packaging
- Bus or event tickets
- Flyers & pamphlets
- Disposable diapers
- ATM receipts
- Cigarette butts & packages
- Women's hygene products
- Condoms
There are 3 replies to this idea
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| Tax Breaks for Trees
As trees are one of the most efficient "carbon-storers", lowering the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and thereby helping to prevent a global climate catastrophe, federal, state and local governments should give tax breaks to those who either plant and/or conserve trees on their properties. This could come in the form of reduced taxes; perhaps a reduced property tax for homeowners whose property has a certain minimum density of trees per 1/4 acre, and reduced taxes (or even subsidies) to businesses or organizations which own and conserve forested land or grow trees which produce food (fruit, nuts, maple syrup, etc.).Reward: none nec. 
There is 1 reply to this idea
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| Reforming Congress
I propose eliminating the U.S. House of Representatives, and replacing it with an online "Concordance of Delegates", as a means of minimizing corruption and making our legislature more representative. The following would apply to the "COD":1) The delegates would communicate with one another and vote online from their homes, rather than meeting in a single location.2) One delegate would be elected for every 5,000 voters. The current congressional districts would be subdivided into delegate sub-districts. Assuming 150 million registered voters, there would be 30,000 delegates.3) Each delegate would receive compensation of $40,000 per year (in 2006 dollars, with cost-of-living adjustments) and would serve for a 3 year term. Paying the delegates would thus cost $1.5 Billion per year.4) Committees would be comprised of 1,000 delegates. A delegate could serve on a maximum of 5 committees and would receive additional $2,000 per year for each committee on which he or she serves.5) The COD would be empowered to override the Senate with 75% vote, and the President with a 2/3 vote.6) Each delegate would be required to vote on at least 60% of all votes put before the "COD" per year, or else he forfeits his salary for the year in which he failed to do so.By replacing the House with this concordance of 30,000 delegates, corruption via campaign contributions and bribes of various types would be minimized, because of the difficulty involved in corrupting such a vast number of people.Reward: I wouldn't mind a small monument.
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