— Scientists in Madison have developed a method for turning plastic waste into more valuable materials, according to a new study.
The work was led by George Huber, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at UW-Madison. In a release from the university, he says “there’s a huge market” for the products the team is making.
“There are so many different products and so many routes we can pursue with this platform technology … I think it really could change the plastic recycling industry,” he said.
The new method starts with an existing chemical processing technique called pyrolysis, which uses high temperatures in an oxygen-free environment to break down plastics into a liquid mixture called “pyrolysis oil.” This includes chemicals called olefins, which are widely used to make various polymers, as well as other compounds.
After recovering the olefins from the oil mixture, the UW-Madison researchers process them using a chemical reaction that requires less energy than the current industry approach, according to the university’s release. This process changes the olefins into materials called aldehydes, which can be broken down further into other useful chemicals.
“These products can be used to make a wide range of materials that are higher value,” Huber said.
Postdoctoral researcher Houqian Li notes recycling companies currently “don’t have a really good approach” for upgrading pyrolysis oil.
“In this case, we can get high-value alcohols worth $1,200 to $6,000 per ton from waste plastics, which are only worth about $100 per ton,” Li said. “In addition, this process uses existing technology and techniques. It’s relatively easy to scale up.”
Their work was detailed in a study published last week in the journal Science.
See the full study: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adh1853
See the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/uw-madison-recycling-plastic-could-get-more-efficient-profitable/
— Out-of-work Wisconsinites claimed unemployment for an average of 11.7 weeks during the fourth quarter of 2022, the most recent numbers available.
That’s fewer weeks than the cap some GOP lawmakers have proposed for when the state is at record low jobless numbers like it is now.
But Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Executive Vice President of Government Relations Scott Manley told WisPolitics the state needs a way to incentivize workers to take jobs when there’s work available.
“So when the unemployment rate is high, you have more weeks of benefits available,” he said. “But conversely, when the unemployment rate is really low, like it is today, you don’t get six months worth of benefits, because there are so many job opportunities available. And you should take a job instead of staying home and collecting benefits.”
Assembly Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities Committee member Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, during a public hearing on the Assembly version of the bill raised concerns it doesn’t address geographical or seasonal changes in the job market.
“I use the example of Vilas County versus Dane County,” she said. “Those are very different economies, right? We don’t have a huge tech hub in Vilas County, but I can tell you they probably, from a seasonal tourism and recreation standpoint, have a very different economy than many other counties in the state.”
GOP lawmakers this session proposed a series of bills to revamp the unemployment program, arguing changes were needed to spur people to get off public assistance faster and back into the workforce. Dem Gov. Tony Evers last week vetoed several bills that were part of that effort, writing in his message to lawmakers that he objected to adding barriers to people applying for and receiving unemployment.
The bill to add a sliding scale to the unemployment program hasn’t made it to Evers’ desk yet.
The state now allows those out of work to claim up to 26 weeks of unemployment. Under the proposal, someone out of work could only claim that many weeks if the state’s unemployment rate was greater than 9 percent.
On the other end of the scale, someone could claim up to 14 weeks if the unemployment rate was below 3.5 percent, the lowest category in the bill.
The state’s jobless rate was 2.5 percent in June, the latest figures available. The last time the rate was above 3.5 percent was in August 2021.
On average, unemployed Wisconsinites claimed 10.7 weeks of unemployment in the second quarter of 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the world economy. Over all of 2019, the average ranged from 12.5 weeks to 12.1 weeks during the four quarters of that year.
Manley said the low numbers are a sign of how many available jobs there are in Wisconsin and the state’s workforce shortage.
“I think we’re largely seeing the effects of the pandemic in the rearview mirror in terms of economically,” he said. “I think what’s ultimately driving the low level of unemployment participation right now is the fact that we have nearly two times as many jobs available as people searching for work.”
— Assembly Speaker Robin Vos tells WisPolitics it will be essential to have a state, local and team contribution to a package to cover maintenance costs at the Milwaukee Brewers stadium in exchange for a commitment from the team to remain in Wisconsin.
The Rochester Republican also says Republicans are nowhere near wrapping up their discussions on the proposal.
Vos has charged state Rep. Rob Brooks with working on a framework. The Saukville Republican previously told WisPolitics the package has evolved into a $698 million proposal that would cover 27 years.
It includes $463 million from the state through taxes off Milwaukee Brewers players and personnel, as well as visiting players. It calls for an additional $100 million from the team through things like higher rent than what it’s currently playing. And local governments would be on the hook for $135 million, or about $5 million a year.
See more from the interview with Vos at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/fri-pm-update-jobless-wisconsinites-claiming-unemployment-for-average-of-11-7-weeks/
— July home sales in the greater Milwaukee area were down about 19 percent over the year, continuing a “frustrating cycle” for the local market.
That’s according to the latest report from the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors, which shows 1,644 homes were sold last month across Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington Counties. In July 2022, that number was 2,040.
When Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties are included, a similar picture emerges. A total of 2,153 homes were sold in July across southeastern Wisconsin, compared to 2,664 in the previous July.
Buyer demand remains strong, GMAR notes, but supply continues to fall short. According to the report, the number of new listings last month was 18.4 percent lower over the year.
Lagging construction of single-family homes and condominiums in the area, coupled with “an overabundance” of apartment construction and other factors such as low mortgage rates for current owners, have led to the current situation. Along with potential buyers of all kinds being “stuck” where they are due to limited alternatives, prices also continue to climb.
Average metro area home prices in July rose 6.9 percent over the year, from $374,579 to $400,511.
See the full report: https://www.wisbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-07-31-Housing-Statistics-PR.pdf
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— INVO Bioscience has completed the acquisition of the Wisconsin Fertility Institute, which offers in vitro fertilization and other services.
Meanwhile, the Dane County medical examiner argues that a bill establishing best practices for medical examiners doesn’t do enough to improve the state’s postmortem examinations.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
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#TOP STORIES#
# Brewers could consider a move in 2030 if funding package isn’t in place by fall
# Essen Haus redevelopment proposal evokes worry over Madison rents
# Eaton makes $22 million investment in Waukesha facility
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Looking for ways to transform the chaotic carbon market for ag
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=759&yr=2023
– Developing a harvest strategy for the 2023 corn silage crop
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=758&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Large affordable housing development seeks $9M from city of Milwaukee
– Construction industry adds nearly 20,000 jobs in July, but finding workers is still a challenge
# ECONOMY
– Report: Madison area losing jobs as remote work surges
# EDUCATION
– With Wisconsin Rural Partnership funding, UW-Madison launches new projects to support rural and tribal communities
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=757&yr=2023
# ENTERTAINMENT & THE ARTS
– Chicago’s Smoking Popes write a love song to Madison — sort of
# ENVIRONMENT
– Canada geese are being euthanized to promote wild rice restoration in a Lake Superior estuary
– Drought conditions drive hundreds more wildfires than normal in Wisconsin this year
– White-tailed deer hunting seasons approaching across Wisconsin
# FOOD AND BEVERAGE
– Madison Black Restaurant Week starts Sunday. Here’s what to know.
# HEALTH CARE
– Neenah shelves Island Park upgrade until ThedaCare finishes expansion
# MANUFACTURING
– Pet-food firm plans major expansion in Germantown
# POLITICS
– Biden headed to Milwaukee a week before Republican presidential debate
# REAL ESTATE
– Milwaukee home sales decline by 19.4% even as demand surges
# RETAIL
– ‘High-end retailer’ in talks to fill Mayfair’s Boston Store with apartments planned next door
# TECHNOLOGY
– Rapid Radicals scales up with new pilot system, hopes to make first sale next year
# UTILITIES
– Xcel seeks clean-energy projects to replace coal plant
– Water company’s ‘aggressive’ sales approach concerns Green Bay Water utility officials
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
GI Associates: Welcomes Vance Hartke, M.D.
Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors: Sales down 19.4% in July
