Issue 20 looks at the growing problem of microplastics and examines particulate plastics in soil, where the news might not be all bad. We diagnose biochar’s potential for soil and water remediation and update readers on progress with CRC CARE’s probeCARE™ system, which provides cost-effective, in-situ, real-time monitoring of pollutants in soil. The magazine reports on an improved method of analysing coal dust samples for composition, quantity and size distribution – data that inform management decisions. We also look at how risk associated with contaminated sites is communicated by experts to community members who live or work close to the contamination – the success or failure of which has potentially large social and economic ramifications.