Microorganisms used to clear dangerous fuel spillages on roads across Essex
Microorganisms are being used to clear fuel spillages on roads across Essex.
Essex Highways is one of the first authorities to use microbiology for this purpose.
The traditional method of using sand and other absorbent materials can lead to road closures lasting between three and six hours, depending on the size of the spill.
However, the new method, known as the Fuel Spill Digester, offers a more eco-friendly solution.
The method uses natural bacteria and enzymes to quickly "eat" fuel, oils, and solvents spilled on roads.
The microorganisms are sprayed onto a spill, where the enzymes break down the fuel's harmful components while bacteria digest them.
Microorganisms consume a fuel spillage and render it non-flammable (Image: Essex County Council)
This transforms the dangerous and slippery fuel into water within minutes.
Roads can be reopened to traffic within an hour, dependent on the size of the spillage.
Essex County Council is one of the first local authorities to adopt this method.
Tom Cunningham, councillor responsible for highways, infrastructure, and sustainable transport at Essex County Council, said: "Nobody wants to be stuck in traffic because of fuel spills which can take hours to clean.
"This new biological solution can get roads up and running much faster, while also ensuring we protect the environment without the need to dispose of contaminated absorbents.
"Fuel Spill Digestor is a smart way to make the highways of Essex safer, greener and healthier for everyone."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
12 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Isiah Thomas highlights rare playoff wins over Jordan, Johnson, and Bird
Isiah Thomas is the only NBA player to defeat Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird in consecutive playoff runs while winning back-to-back championships. His recent Instagram post and interview reaffirm this rare feat, pushing back on the 'controversial' label often tied to his NBA legacy Isiah Thomas remains the only player in NBA history to defeat Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird in consecutive playoff runs and win back-to-back NBA titles Isiah Thomas defeated three MVPs in consecutive playoff runs Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Instagram post underscores career milestone Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Thomas responds to "controversial" reputation Isiah Thomas has reiterated a rare distinction in NBA history, defeating Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird in consecutive playoff series while leading the Detroit Pistons to two straight NBA titles. The Hall of Fame point guard emphasized the accomplishment in a recent Instagram post and a Sports Illustrated 1988, the Pistons eliminated Michael Jordan's Bulls in the playoffs. Jordan was the regular season MVP that year. Detroit then defeated the Boston Celtics, led by 1987 MVP Larry Bird. In the NBA Finals, the Pistons extended the series to seven games against Magic Johnson's Lakers. Despite losing the series, Thomas famously scored 25 points in a single quarter during Game 6 while playing through a sprained read: Orlando Magic reveal new logo and uniforms for 2025–26 NBA season In 1989, Detroit returned to the Finals and swept Johnson's Lakers, who entered the postseason with Johnson as the reigning MVP. The following year, Thomas once again led the Pistons past Jordan and the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. Detroit won the NBA title, with Thomas earning the Finals his Instagram post, Thomas shared the following:'Isiah Thomas is the ONLY player in @nbahistory to defeat three league MVPs in consecutive NBA Playoff runs — and then win back-to-back championships.💥 1988:✅ Defeated Michael Jordan (1988 League MVP)✅ Defeated Larry Bird (1987 League MVP)✅ Took Magic Johnson's Lakers to 7 games in the Finals on a sprained ankle and scored 25 points in one quarter — an NBA Finals record still today💥 1989:✅ SWEPT Magic Johnson (1989 League MVP) and the Lakers in the NBA Finals.🏆 NBA Champion💥 1990:✅ Beat Michael Jordan again in the Eastern Conference Finals.🏆 NBA Champion🏅 Finals MVP📊 ISIAH'S NBA FINALS DOMINANCE (1988–1990)✅ 3 Straight Finals Appearances✅ 2 NBA Titles✅ 1 Finals MVPFinals Averages (1988–1990):• 🧠 22.6 PPG• 🎯 7.5 APG• 🔥 49.6% FG• 💣 55.8% 3PT (24-of-43)• 💥 57.9% 3PT in 1990 Finals alone (11-of-19) — the highest in Finals history• 🧮 Combined FG% (2PT + 3PT weighted): 51.3%🔐 No Top 50 teammates while the MVPs had one or more#NBAHistory Let it Known'In his Sports Illustrated interview, Thomas questioned why he continues to be labeled as 'controversial' despite his record of success, especially against Michael Jordan.'I don't run away from it. Fortunately for me, I'm probably one of the only people that can walk around this Earth and say, in playoff competition, I beat Jordan more than he beat me,' Thomas said. 'I would put Magic [Johnson] and [Larry] Bird in that same conversation ... For some reason, that makes me controversial.'Also read: NBA Finals: Check ways to watch, betting odds, and other details He added, 'I'm okay with winning if winning comes with that controversy. I'm not going to lose to him just so some people can be satisfied. I'm not going to ignore that I won.'The Pistons and Bulls faced off in four consecutive playoff series from 1988 to 1991. In 22 postseason matchups between Thomas and Jordan, Thomas won 12 games, while Jordan won 10.
The Herald Scotland
12 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Tesco introduces way to collect Clubcard point at car parks
Tesco customers can now collect Clubcard points just by charging their EV Points are collected for every pound spent at these Vauxhall-branded EV chargers at Tesco Extra and Tesco Superstore car parks across the country. However, points earned through this scheme may not come through right away, with these likely to appear within seven days of the purchase. According to The Metro, Shama Wilson, Tesco's group membership and loyalty director, said: "Our customers have long been able to collect points on fuel from Tesco, but with an increasing number of drivers switching to electric vehicles we are delighted that shoppers will now be able to collect Clubcard points when they charge their cars at our stores, thanks to our exciting partnership with Pod. "You can now park at your local Tesco and top-up your electric vehicle while you shop, in the knowledge that you are collecting Clubcard points towards a future Tesco shop or to exchange with one of our Reward Partners." There are around 2,600 charging bays at more than 600 Tesco stores in the UK. What is Tesco Clubcard and how long has it been around for? Tesco Clubcard is one of the most popular loyalty schemes in the UK and allows customers to collect points (which can be turned into vouchers) and make savings when shopping. Discussing the scheme, Marketing Week said that it "revolutionised" the industry when it launched all the way back in 1995. Recommended Reading: Clubcards quickly became a major success, seeing millions of people across the country make use of them every single day. In 2024, Tesco Clubcard had over 22 million active members in the UK, representing over 80% of households. Around 12.7 million users were found to be making use of the app.
CBS News
13 minutes ago
- CBS News
Crowd gathers on Minneapolis' Lake Street amid federal "criminal investigation"; sheriff says it's not immigration related
Twin Cities law enforcement officials say they played no part in "any immigration enforcement" on Tuesday in south Minneapolis amid a business raid they say is tied to "a criminal investigation." A crowd of protestors are gathered outside Las Cuatro Milpas restaurant off Bloomington Avenue and East Lake Street, appearing to believe the situation is an immigration round-up. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released this statement on Tuesday afternoon about the situation: "I'm aware of the operation federal agencies carried out today near Lake and Bloomington. While we're still gathering details, this incident was related to a criminal search warrant for drugs & money laundering and was not related to immigration enforcement. No arrests were made." A WCCO crew at the scene spoke with a witness who provided video of demonstrators screaming at law enforcement members, with some hurling objects onto Lake Street to stop a military-style vehicle. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara is also seen in the footage speaking with an agitated man on a sidewalk. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office says it's assisting "federal agencies" in the investigation, including a warrant execution late Tuesday morning at a business off Bloomington Avenue and East Lake Street. The sheriff's office says its partnership includes "execution of multiple search warrants at multiple locations in the metro area," in addition to Tuesday's situation. "This incident was not related to any immigration enforcement. HCSO has no involvement in civil immigration. HCSO enforces criminal statutes and works on criminal investigations. We work with federal partners regularly on those criminal investigations," the sheriff's office said in a statement. @ The Minneapolis Police Department says its officers came to the scene of Tuesday's warrant execution after a crowd began to gather, adding they are ensuring "the crowd and the surrounding area" remain safe. Police say they didn't have "advance notice" of the federal operation, and "any claims to the contrary are false." They also echoed the sheriff's office's statement that it isn't related to immigration enforcement. The organization COPAL (Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina) released a statement on Tuesday afternoon saying its members came to the scene "to ensure that constitutional rights and legal due process are respected." "In situations like the enforcement today, it's important that there are signed warrants in place, the right to peaceful assembly is protected, and that no Minnesotan, no human being is treated as 'collateral,'" said COPAL's Ryan Perez. This story will be updated.
