No more garbage! No more garbage!

Happening in the World: The Australian government is scrapping a program to eradicate the Varroa mite parasite, which is currently affecting the country’s European honey bee population. Since the mite was discovered in June 2022, Australia has spent more than $85.3 million in the effort, but ultimately had to stop the program as illegal hive movement had made the parasite impossible to contain. Though eradicating the parasite is no longer possible, the government will still attempt to manage the spread and protect the pollinators of the country’s almond, apple, and avocado crops. (Reuters)

Happening in the US: More than 80,000 Kraft Singles have been recalled by manufacturer Kraft Heinz after the company says the wrappers could potentially pose a choking hazard for consumers. According to Kraft Heinz, there was one wrapping machine in its factory that was faulty, allowing a thin strip of plastic to remain stuck to the product even after being unwrapped. The voluntary recall was issued after several customer complaints were lodged with the company, though no serious injuries or deaths were reported. (AP)

Happening in NYC: Mayor Eric Adams has picked a new battlefield in his war on rats: New York’s garbage piles. Starting in March 2024, businesses will no longer be permitted to pile up their garbage in plastic bags in the street and will instead have to start binning their waste. This policy will impact businesses across all five boroughs, though residents will still be able to leave bags on the street (with some limitations). Noncompliant businesses could face a $50 ticket for their first violation, with increasing fines for each successive violation. “No one is going to have to worry about dodging or tripping over these garbage bags,” Adams said in his press conference. (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: President of Romania Klaus Werner Iohannis will be in conversation with Professor Alexander Cooley of Barnard College as part of Columbia’s World Leaders Forum tomorrow. The conversation will focus on the Romanian perspective in Russia’s war against Ukraine and the broader security concerns in the Black Sea region. Though all World Leaders Forum events have reached capacity for registration, live streams is still available for students who wish to listen in.

World’s Cutest Sanitation Worker via Wikimedia Commons