We're in the midst of an environmental crisis, and our urban lifestyles often clash with the natural systems that support us — especially when it comes to how we manage our waste.

Stopping the flow of cross-border pollution can feel like a Sisyphean task. With every effort to tackle it, more trash seems to appear. That's why addressing the pollution crisis at the border takes a multifaceted approach. It involves many different types of interventions — from trash barriers to hillside reforestation to trash collection and repurposing efforts.

In this fourth and final installment of The Planetary Scale, we talk with four fronterizos who have been at the forefront of efforts to mitigate this issue and check back in with old friends from six years ago.

If you have checked our past installments of this series, here are links to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

This episode is dedicated to the loving memory of Steven Wright

Guests:

Waylon Matson of 4walls International

Oscar Romo of AlterTerra

Jorge Ibañez of Las Hormiguitas Nursery

Adela Bonilla of La Casa de las Botellas

You don't want to miss this episode.

Nos vemos pronto!

About Season 6

Port of entry has a fresh new season for you with more rich stories of our border region.

This time around, we are spotlighting Shapers and Visionaries of borderlands. Stories of People who are impacting the region and in some cases the world with their work and research.

From urbanism to architecture to education and politics and to art and robotics!

Listen in and join us!

Social media and contact

From KPBS, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast

Instagram: www.instagram.com/portofentrypod

Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.

If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org.

Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show or email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.

Credits

Hosts: Alan Lilienthal and Natalie González

Writer/Producer: Julio C. Ortiz Franco

Technical Producer/Sound Designer: Adrian Villalobos

Editor: Chrissy Nguyen & Elma González Lima Brandão

Episodes translated by: Natalie González and Julio C. Ortíz Franco

Director of Audio Programming and Operations: Lisa Morrisette

This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

We're in the midst of an environmental crisis, and our urban lifestyles often clash with the natural systems that support us — especially when it comes to the materials we use to build. That was the focus of the first two episodes of this “Planetary Scale” series, Part 1 and Part 2.

In this third installment, we follow Itamar “Ita” Lilienthal, an emerging biodesigner and architect who is developing sustainable material alternatives. He believes he may have found a promising biomaterial that could help reduce our environmental impact.

We’ll follow along as Ita leads a workshop where he demonstrates this material and trades insights with another like-minded inventor making waves in the world of biodegradable plastics: Dr. Stephen Mayfield of Algenesis Labs

And if Ita’s last name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s Alan’s younger brother.

You don't want to miss this episode.

Nos vemos pronto!

About Season 6

Port of entry has a fresh new season for you with more rich stories of our border region.

This time around, we are spotlighting Shapers and Visionaries of borderlands. Stories of People who are impacting the region and in some cases the world with their work and research.

From urbanism to architecture to education and politics and to art and robotics!

Listen in and join us!

Social media and contact

From KPBS, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast

Instagram: www.instagram.com/portofentrypod

Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.

If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org.

Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show or email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.

Credits

Hosts: Alan Lilienthal and Natalie González

Writer/Producer: Julio C. Ortiz Franco

Technical Producer/Sound Designer: Adrian Villalobos

Editor: Chrissy Nguyen & Elma González Lima Brandão

Episodes translated by: Natalie González and Julio C. Ortíz Franco

Director of Audio Programming and Operations: Lisa Morrisette

This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

In this special Día de Muertos bonus episode, Natalie invites KPBS web producer Leslie Gonzalez to explore Tijuana’s famous Mercado Hidalgo and discover the stunning altar that’s built each year to honor the market’s founding partners who have passed away.

But there’s a twist: Leslie has never actually visited Tijuana. Her parents always warned her that it was too dangerous. Now, this trip becomes a personal journey of discovery, connection, and celebration that goes far beyond the border itself. It immerses her in the colors, flavors, and traditions of Día de Muertos.

Social media and contact

From KPBS, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast

Instagram: www.instagram.com/portofentrypod

Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.

If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org.

Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show or email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.

Credits

Hosts: Alan Lilienthal and Natalie González

Writer/Producer: Julio C. Ortiz Franco

Technical Producer/Sound Designer: Adrian Villalobos

Editor: Chrissy Nguyen

Episodes translated by: Natalie González and Julio C. Ortíz Franco

Director of Audio Programming and Operations: Lisa Morrisette-Zapp