Green matters. Episode 23

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Description

300 million years ago dinosaurs walked the earth. So too did beetles. Still with us today, they've survived climate change, disease and natural disaster. Using DNA sequences and fossil records, an extensive new study has built a beetle 'family tree'. Like most cities, Ghana's capital, Accra has a problem dealing with the tonnes of plastic packaging that goes to waste every day. Only a tiny amount gets recycled, and much of it ends up littering the streets. But one local business has come up with a novel way to recycle the plastic, turning it into practical and decorative bags. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has hosted many glamorous events, not least the 2008 Olympic Games equestrian events. 200 horses and 14 days of events equals a lot of excitement - and a lot of manure ... more than 400 tons. In the past waste had been sent to landfill, but Beijing's 'green Olympics' required a better solution.