Plastic problems Smooth, shiny plastic covers may make our mobiles look good - but they last for hundreds of years in landfill sites. Producing plastics creates a lot of nasty waste and products that can be difficult to get rid of or recycle. But Kerry Kirwan, an engineer at Warwick University, may have come up with an answer to our plastic problems. Plant power Kerry has been working with plastics manufacturer PVAXX Research to develop a new type of phone cover made from biodegradable plastics. These covers are created from a mixture of plastics and minerals. They break down into...