Toxic chemicals from your spring cleaning products could end up in the water you drink. Cleaning products are crucial for maintaining clean conditions in your home and workplace, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports some cleaning products contain chemicals associated with eye, skin, or respiratory irritation and other human health issues. Experts say cleaning […]

Is there anyone in the state of Hawaii who does not want to see their utility costs go down? We all know the answer to that. Now, consider this possible solution: Two bills moving steadily through the Legislature promise a $537 million net cost savings for consumers over the next 15 years. The bills, similar […]

As foraging worker bees flit around the neighborhood in search of nectar and pollen, they unwittingly pick up pollutants that then linger in the hive’s honey. Luckily, Hina Alam writes for the Canadian Press, trace amounts of lead, zinc and copper left by this process are too low to have much of an impact on […]

One year ago, China stopped accepting most American scrap plastic and cardboard, throwing a wrench into U.S. recycling programs. Now, cities and towns across the U.S. are dealing with piles of homeless plastic with no clear destination. Many have stopped recycling altogether or dramatically scaled back their recycling programs. Douglas County, Oregon, stopped accepting plastic […]

Just a few years ago, it looked as if humpback whale populations in the Pacific Ocean were booming. Receding sea ice due to climate change—though bad for polar bears and other wildlife—had lengthened the summer foraging season for hungry whales, and the U.S. government decided that certain populations had recovered enoughto be taken off the […]

Fort Collins residents and businesses can now recycle batteries, antifreeze, motor oil and paint free of charge. The city’s Timberline Recycling Center, 1903 S. Timberline Road, will take the items at its hard-to-recycle materials yard. That facility is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The city is offsetting the previous fee with […]

California has finally been declared drought-free after experiencing 7 years of alarmingly arid conditions – and it has resulted in a surge of butterflies and wildflowers. According to recent reports from the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center, California has been experiencing some form of drought since December 20th, 2011 – which is 376 consecutive weeks […]

Plastic pollution is becoming a major problem for ocean wildlife. Organisms that ingest plastics are subject to hormone disruption and issues with reproduction that affect their overall health, a new study finds. Wildlife around the world is exposed to plastic pollutants called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Not much is known about how these chemicals affect marine […]

Instead of letting misfit cereal go to waste, Kellogg’s is turning their rejected cereal flakes into beer. The food company’s new “Throw Away IPA” is being brewed with 70% wheat and 30% corn flakes that were too small, big, or undercooked to make it onto supermarket shelves from their UK manufacturing locations. Additionally, 10 pence […]

Ever feel the need to crush things before you recycle them? Well, it’s often the right instinct, as it conserves space and is more efficient for pick-up by recyclers. Plastic bottles, for instance, are generally best crushed (and left with caps on) when thrown in the recycling bin. Aluminum cans, however, are a rare exception, […]