'Zero waste' efforts extend life of San Diego landfill by 8 years

Mayor Kevin Faulconer said the Miramar landfill, the city's only active dump, is projected to remain viable through 2030, eight years beyond the projected 2022 date. 

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 7, 2015

Polartec has recycled its billionth PET bottle

Lawrence, MA-based fleece maker Polartec said it has recycled its billionth polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle, allowing the company to make millions of fleece jackets.

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 7, 2015

Scrap metal exports drop 4.7% due to strong dollar

Scrap metal exports from the United States dropped 4.7% by volume in the first half of 2015 compared to the first half of 2014. 

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 7, 2015

Detroit Lions team up with Repreve for second year

Unifi's Repreve will once again partner with the NFL team as its official sustainability partner.

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 7, 2015

North Carolina county recycles 20% more after single-stream switch

Recycling jumped 20% after the solid waste department in Mecklenburg County, NC converted from dual-stream recycling to a single-stream sorting system.

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 6, 2015

SWANA, CRRA partner to offer 'zero waste' certification

The leading waste management associations announced a partnership to develop and offer a Zero Waste Principles and Practices course and certification program throughout the United States and Canada. 

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 6, 2015

Proposed recycling fee in Fort Collins, CO will not move forward

The Fort Collins City Council won't hear a request to allow haulers to charge a temporary recycling fee, but will review the "pay-as-you-throw" structure in the fall.

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 5, 2015

Nova Scotia county wins grant to recycle foam

Colchester County will upgrade its recycling facility to accept polystyrene foam, thanks to a grant from the Foam Recycling Coalition in Falls Church, VA.

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 4, 2015

Complaints about recycling pickups decrease in Arkansas county

Waste Management is improving recycling pickup in Pulaski County, AR since more than 2,200 complaints have been filed in 2015 alone. 

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 4, 2015

Which U.S. cities are recycling champions?

The average recycling rate in the U.S. is 34%, but many cities — especially in California — are blowing that percentage out of the water.

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 4, 2015

4 creative ways to jumpstart your battery recycling program

Sioux Falls encourages residents to recycle technology with innovative recycling program, extends life of their landfill

Aug. 4, 2015

Indiana, PA expands recycling before college students return

The Pennsylvania borough is expanding its curbside recycling program to include plastics as it prepares for students from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania to return this fall.

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 3, 2015

Oregon bottle deposit likely to double in 2017

The state's bottle deposit is slated to rise to 10 cents by Jan. 1, 2017, due to the falling redemption rate.

By Linda Tufano • Aug. 3, 2015

The Recycling Partnership adds program in Roanoke, VA

The nonprofit Recycling Partnership, based in Falls Church, VA, is giving Roanoke, VA a grant to help spread the word about its improved recycling program and to support cart distribution.

By Linda Tufano • July 31, 2015

New 'free jam' baler increases safety, production rates

Green Life Waste Solutions in Burlington, NC installed a Gold Rush model "free jam two-ram" baler last month, which has increased production, according to the co-owners.

By Linda Tufano • July 31, 2015

Industry changes contribute to recycling decline in Broward County, FL

Recycling in Broward County, FL dropped from 60% of household waste in 2013 to 52% in 2014. 

By Linda Tufano • July 31, 2015

St. Louis installs cigarette-recycling receptacles

Downtown STL Inc., along with TerraCycle and Progressive Waste Solutions, installed 62 cigarette butt-collection receptacles in an effort to recycle and compost the waste. 

By Linda Tufano • July 30, 2015

Recycling in Austin, TX hits a plateau

Recycling in Austin has hit a plateau at a crucial time: Apartment complexes must comply with the Texas city's ordinance by October 2016. 

By Linda Tufano • July 30, 2015

To ban or recycle? Inside the foam fight dividing the industry

Can Styrofoam containers really be recycled? Or should they be banned? U.S. cities have varied approaches.

By Linda Tufano • July 30, 2015

UberRECYCLE offers pickup in troubled Beirut

Uber and its partners in Beirut will pick up recyclables for free through Aug. 4 in response to a crisis that has left trash piled up in cities across Lebanon. 

By Linda Tufano • July 30, 2015

Lead exposure from electronic recycling is an 'emerging health concern'

The risk of lead poisoning from recycling old electronic equipment is a widespread problem, especially for the children of recycling facility workers.

By Linda Tufano • July 29, 2015

Stanford University program aims for higher recycling rate

The California university is changing its "Deskside Recycling Program" to align with the state's recycling goal of 75% by 2020.

By Linda Tufano • July 28, 2015

New Brunswick may become last Canadian province to recycle electronics

New Brunswick has proposed a program that would make it the final province in Canada to recycle electronics waste.

By Linda Tufano • July 28, 2015

PAYT program saves Massachusetts town $51K

Hanson, MA has reduced its solid waste by 64%, more than doubled its recycling rate to 38%, and saved $51,000 in disposal fees after one year of its pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) program.

By Linda Tufano • July 28, 2015

Recycling, shredding plants provide work for developmentally disabled

The nonprofit Vintage Support Group Inc. in Belleville, IL plans to open its fourth recycling and shredding site. All of the group's sites are staffed by people who have developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injuries.

By Linda Tufano • July 28, 2015