How many plastic products do you use every day? Today I’ve already used a toothbrush, a shampoo bottle, a water bottle, a takeaway coffee cup and straw, and plastic bags. And what happens to all that disposable plastic when we’re done with it? 19 billion (yes with a b) pounds of the plastic waste end […]

The glass bottles and newspapers that Tucsonans have put into blue recycling bins for decades may soon be heading to the landfill. Because of sharply escalating financial losses in the city’s recycling program, officials say it might have to stop taking these recycling mainstays until markets recover nationally or globally. The markets for these products […]

Plastic is kind of like a Twitter reply guy: It never goes away. And there’s more coming in. Each year, 8 million metric tons of plastic go into the ocean (that’s equal to about one garbage truck per minute), according to a 2016 report by the World Economic Forum, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and McKinsey […]

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 […]

When you grow up in a hippie household, you learn a lot about eco-friendly cleaning. There was no bleach in my childhood home, and I’m pretty sure my mom doesn’t even know how to use it. And I honestly couldn’t have a named a conventional bathroom cleaner until well after college. All of this to […]

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 […]

Hawaii would be the first state in the U.S. to ban most plastics at restaurants under legislation that aims to cut down on waste that pollutes the ocean. Dozens of cities across the country have banned plastic foam containers, but Hawaii’s measure would make it the first state to do so. The liberal state has […]

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 […]

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, […]