AF&PA: US paper recycling rate increases to 66.8% in 2015

The American Forest & Paper Association members have set a goal of 70% paper recovery by 2020. 

By Cole Rosengren • May 9, 2016

Phoenix searches for solutions to palm frond waste

34,000 tons of the difficult-to-compost fronds are landfilled in the city every year.

By Cole Rosengren • May 9, 2016

NYC Council passes controversial 5-cent bag fee

The fee, which will apply to both paper and plastic single-use bags, will go into effect on October 1.

By Kristin Musulin • May 5, 2016

How Green Festival rakes in the green for aspiring, sustainable entrepreneurs

The event is described as an experiential platform with an educational component and businesses can show just about anything as long as the products are truly green, easily accessible, and affordable. 

By Arlene Karidis • May 5, 2016

Nespresso expands UPS partnership to recycle coffee pods in 48 states

The manufacturer provides pre-paid recycling bags to mail the capsules to one of 88,000 UPS drop-off sites.

By Arlene Karidis • May 4, 2016

Report: Hawaii wastes 1/4 of all food supply—a value of $698.36 per person

To combat the issue, the Hawaii Food Recovery Network has salvaged more than 1,000 pounds of food which has all gone to feed the homeless.

By Arlene Karidis • May 4, 2016

Kansas DOT struggles to manage highway litter with depleted budget

Currently 90 workers pick up heavy trash volumes along 2,000 lane miles in Kansas while handling other maintenance functions.

By Arlene Karidis • May 3, 2016

Wal-Mart Canada expands plastics bag fee to 5 more provinces

The fee will soon affect 93% of all Canadian Wal-Mart shoppers.

By Arlene Karidis • May 3, 2016

SC Johnson pumps sustainability to drive product success and consumer trust

While SC Johnson looks to make a recyclable Ziploc bag, Senior VP of Sustainability Kelly Semrau noted it will be a "hard, uphill challenge."

By Arlene Karidis • May 3, 2016

NYC challenges big businesses to halve waste with 'Zero Waste Challenge'

Participants of the challenge, such as Whole Foods and Anheuser Busch, have eliminated 60% of their trash on average since February.

By Arlene Karidis • May 3, 2016

#ICAW 2016: Test your composting knowledge with this quick quiz

In honor of International Compost Awareness Week, we're testing your knowledge of recent composting news. It's time to get your hands dirty.

By Kristin Musulin • May 3, 2016

Collapse at Guatemala City's largest garbage dump leaves 4 dead, 24 missing

The New York Times reported that 3,000 tons of garbage from the city's surrounding areas are brought to the dump daily. 

By Kristin Musulin • May 2, 2016

National Drug Take-Back Day diverts thousands of pounds of wasted medications across Maine

200 drop-off sites across the state participated in the effort to keep medications out of landfills and waterways.

By Arlene Karidis • May 2, 2016

SWANA report: Food waste goals unobtainable without more processing capacity

The report says that diversion efforts should be made locally through composting facilities, anaerobic digestion (AD), and co-digestion at wastewater treatment facilities.

By Arlene Karidis • April 29, 2016

SCS Engineers tool helps Texas town design 20-year solid waste management plan

The tool, which can assess expenses and provide a framework to plan capital expenditures, could be applied to neighboring communities.

By Arlene Karidis • April 29, 2016

Judge rules Seattle 'trash-snooping' ordinance as unconstitutional

The actual ban that prohibits Seattle residents from tossing compostable waste in the garbage is still valid.

By Kristin Musulin • April 28, 2016

How in-sink garbage disposals are remedying Philadelphia's mounting food waste problem

Philadelphia has mandated that in-sink disposers be installed in new homes as of 2016 following a pilot program that found this method cuts food waste by 30% to 35%.

By Arlene Karidis • April 28, 2016

Apple's waste diversion rates drop for second consecutive year

Apple is working to reverse the trend focusing on final assembly facilities, expanding composting at corporate sites, and launching zero waste initiatives in 470 retail stores.

By Arlene Karidis • April 28, 2016

Report: 700M pounds of e-waste recycled through Consumer Technology Association initiative

The five-year-running record results from a push to increase collections and consumer awareness, and a large-scale e-waste recycling program for schools.

By Arlene Karidis • April 28, 2016

Will single-serve coffee pods ever fit a zero waste model?

As the single-serve coffee market grows, companies are in a race to develop the most environmentally friendly—and convenient—option for consumers.

By Arlene Karidis • April 28, 2016

Minnesota's battle over the benefits and consequences of waste-to-energy

While three environmental groups exert efforts to close a waste-to-energy facility, the state proves its loyalty to the technology.

By Arlene Karidis • April 27, 2016

With life cycle analyses, stakeholders can look at waste through a different lens

With the standard weight-based accounting system, all materials and methods of recovery have an equal measurement. But what if waste was measured by its effect on the environment?

By Arlene Karidis • April 26, 2016

Proposed system to replace dated incinerator in Hartford, CT gets pushback from city

The state is reviewing proposals for a combined recycling, composting, and bio-energy system to replace the incinerator, but Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin has reservations.

By Arlene Karidis • April 26, 2016

EREF awards $277,000 in solid waste research grants to North Carolina State, Yale

The grants will help support research tied to two hot industry topics: food waste reduction and utilization of non-hazardous industrial wastes.

By Arlene Karidis • April 26, 2016

Maine's PERC claims it struck deal with Casella, but some stakeholders aren't so sure

The PERC/Casella agreement, if it does exist, could make it very hard for the planned Fiberight biogas plant to get the waste tonnage it needs to operate.

By Arlene Karidis • April 25, 2016