If you want to make sure the paper products that you place at the front curb have a better chance of becoming new products, don’t even think about tossing plastic grocery bags or greasy pizza boxes in to your recycling bins. Chicago area recycling companies are urging residents and business to be mindful of what […]

By Adrian McDermott If you work in the construction industry, then you need to find the best way to dispose construction waste and debris. Safe and compliant disposal of construction and building waste will save you money and you will be contributing to a healthy environment. Landfill space is at a premium. Disposal costs are […]

Jessica Marquez gives black-and-whites extra charisma in this idea from her book, Stitched Gifts ($19.95; Chronicle). Step 1: For each of your prints, select an embroidery hoop that’s slightly larger than the photo: a seven-inch-diameter hoop for a 3×5; a nine-inch-diameter hoop for a 4×6 (for similar hoops, from $2.09 for 7″ diam.; ). Step […]

We all love little projects that don’t take much time and take even less money to complete! Check out these 5 ideas to get you started on DIYing your home today! 1. There’s No Place Like Home Art Reward a great quote (we cribbed from The Wizard of Oz) with the gallery treatment, courtesy of […]

Meet Oscar, the trash can that can sort out your rubbish without you lifting a finger. Say goodbye to sorting through refuse forever. We’ve seen some amazing contraptions that can clean the oceans after we’ve thrown our rubbish away, but what if there was a way to make recycling easier, preventing plastics and other materials […]

Despite the destruction caused by a massive fire on Friday night at North Davidson Garbage and Recycling Center, Bradley Everhart, co-owner of, said they will carry on. “It will be business as usual on Monday,” Everhart said. “Recycling and trash will be picked up, it might be a little later than usual. We are going […]

Just when you thought the worker shortage couldn’t get any more vexing, be advised that we are running out of plumbers. According to the Copper Development Association (CDA), over one half of America’s trade professionals are near retirement age and only 3 percent of the surveyed 18 to 25 year olds would consider a career […]

From online reviews to satellite measurements, technology continues to disrupt the traditional way contractors do business. But many contractors remain in the dark about one of the biggest technology disruptions heading their way: drones. In fact, one in 10 companies with revenues of $50 million or more already use drones, according to a new report […]

Brass is a popular material for household furniture and accessories. Over time, though, brass tarnishes and loses its warm gleam. You can make it shiny and bright again with our guide on how to clean brass. Before cleaning, check to see if your item is solid brass, or brass-plated. Do this by grabbing a refrigerator magnet and placing it on the piece. Magnets don’t stick to solid brass, so if the magnet sticks, your […]

As Election Day nears, state and local officials should take a serious look at what can realistically be achieved before setting future recycling goals. Election Day is little more than two months away. While waste and recycling haven’t been big issues in this election, I expect to see more than the normal number of recycling […]