The circular economy is a vision for a world in which the materials used in the products and packaging we purchase flow perpetually through the economy, used over and over instead of being tossed into landfills and replaced with newly mined, refined, and processed stuff. Recycling, an industry with about 50 years of history, is considered an essential feature of […]
It’s the spookiest time of year. Trick-or-Treating produces a lot of waste. Americans buying 600 million pounds of candy each year and the majority of candy wrappers end up in landfills. Make Halloween sustainable with some treats with a sweet taste that benefit the Earth. During this time of year, a sweet tooth is encouraged, so how can we practice […]
Robin Wiener, president of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), joins the conversation to explore the evolution of the circular economy and how the role of recycling will evolve. Today’s recycling infrastructure is closely aligned with the waste management system. There are growing signs that the reuse of products is essential and that recycling services can be built into […]
When you need a fire extinguisher, you’ll want to make sure it functions properly. But you may not know that fire extinguishers have an expiration date. Or, maybe you’ve used your extinguisher but haven’t replaced it yet. How do you make sure you’re prepared for a fire and what do you do with that expired or used fire extinguisher? There […]
The pace of renewable energy investments has gained momentum over the past decade. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Investment 2023 report, $2.8 trillion will be invested this year in energy, including fossil fuels, with almost 61% dedicated to clean energy. Meet investor Ben Wolkon, a founding partner at MUUS Climate Partners. The firm invests to accelerate […]
Sports stadiums may be ideal for experimenting with sustainable food service, recycling, and composting programs. Seattle’s Lumen Field is committed to minimizing its environmental impact. It extends that promise to fans who attend games and concerts, diverting an average of 90% of waste at the venue from landfills. Imagine if every local restaurant could promise the same results. Lumen Field hosts hundreds […]
Since it started measuring waste diversion from landfills in 2006, when it recycled only 4.6% of materials collected, Seattle’s Lumen Field has increased its recycling, composting, and donations efforts to avoid sending 90% of the waste generated by fans to the dump. Meet Christy Briggs, Logistics and Sustainability Manager at First & Goal Incorporated, who leads Lumen Field’s recycling and […]
From garbage gyres that choke aquatic life to microplastics that accumulate in the human body, plastic pollution in the ocean is a huge problem. People are starting to pay attention to ocean plastic. Another type of ocean pollution still doesn’t get much notice – fiberglass. On the coasts as well as along lakes and rivers, abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) […]
Reducing our consumption of material goods is a worthy goal. But some things you just can’t skimp on. When smoke detectors reach their expiration date, it’s time for them to go. Same with carbon monoxide detectors. You don’t want to mess around with something that can save lives. But when you need a new one, can the old one be […]
Every time we make a purchase we send messages to companies. Are you using your purchase decisions to make a positive difference for the environment? “Precycling” is a shopping strategy that can help you take steps before making a purchase to ensure that the things we buy can be recycled, composted, or repaired and reused when we’re done with them. […]