Two Utah cities say eliminating trash receptacles from parks has deterred littering

Both Layton and Farmington park officials say the plan works well, with some even saying that the availability of receptacles accrued more litter in the past.

By Arlene Karidis • March 29, 2016

Keep Massachusetts Beautiful founder: 'We may as well rename our state Trashachusetts'

State volunteers, MassDOT employees, and inmates have collected an average of 90,000 bags of trash from major highways annually over the past three years. 

By Kristin Musulin • March 28, 2016

Eat your veggies, and your spoons: How edible cutlery, packaging affects the industry

From wheat-based spoons to algae-based bottles, edible food and beverage products may help solve the growing issue of plastic pollution.

By Kristin Musulin • March 28, 2016

Robots and vultures and worms, oh my!

How animals, robots, insects, and other non-human players have sparked innovation in the waste industry.

By Kristin Musulin • March 28, 2016

California assemblyman proposes new food label standards to cut waste

Standardizing sell-by dates on labels could keep around 398,000 tons of food out of landfills and help save $218 billion in edibles.

By Arlene Karidis • March 24, 2016

Starbucks to donate 100% of unsold food from US locations

In order for the nation to reach its first-ever national food waste reduction goal of 50% by 2030, it desperately needs participation from food service giants like Starbucks.

By Kristin Musulin • March 23, 2016

Arizona Public Service Co. gives second life to state's scrap metal

The company is salvaging historical architectural materials deemed worth "upcycling" and preserving from their facilities.

By Arlene Karidis • March 23, 2016

Chicago invests in 'voting boxes' to combat cigarette butt littering on beaches

Each of the $280 boxes holds 400 to 600 cigarette butts, which The Alliance for the Great Lakes will collect, weigh, and ship to New Jersey-based TerraCycle.

By Arlene Karidis • March 23, 2016

Multiple US states push to block bans on plastic bags and single-use containers

While environmentalists say plastic bags are burdening landfills and littering roads and waterways, the plastic bag industry says bag bans have no environmental benefits.

By Arlene Karidis • March 22, 2016

Meet Apple's newest development in iPhone recycling: Liam, the 29-armed robot

While Liam is still in developmental stages, Apple thinks of it as a new concept in recycling — a more efficient alternative to shredding in order to recycle valuable materials into brand new products.

By Arlene Karidis • March 22, 2016

NYC struggling to reach diversion rates due to scavengers

While there are efforts to divert thieves from stealing recyclables, the city may need to push these initiatives more to ensure recycling rates will rise.

By Kristin Musulin • March 21, 2016

University scientists develop flexible bioplastic blend using eggshells

Made from petroleum polymer, cornstarch-derived polymer, and eggshells, the mixture increases flexibility over other bioplastic blends by 700%. 

By Arlene Karidis • March 21, 2016

EU proposes regulation to level playing field of organic waste-based fertilizer market

The regulation would lay out standard rules on conversion of biowaste to produce fertilizer products, and will also specify safety and quality measures and labeling protocol.

By Arlene Karidis • March 21, 2016

Washington's E-Cycle program reaches record 300M pounds of electronics

Funded solely by manufacturers including Sony, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard, about 330 companies are part of the state-run program.

By Arlene Karidis • March 21, 2016

The global ripple effect of the Circular Economy Package

While the world's richest countries look at the Circular Economy Package as an opportunity for increased waste diversion, the ripple effect will not reach some of the world's poorest countries where diversion is needed most.

By Kristin Musulin • March 21, 2016

NYC will triple food waste collections by extending service to 600K residences in 2017

The city collected 25,000 tons of organic waste from 2013, when the program launched, through the end of 2015.

By Arlene Karidis • March 18, 2016

Keep America Beautiful launches Great American Cleanup, challenging millions to enhance their blocks

This year's theme, "Clean Your Block Party," challenges participants to take control of their streets to ensure cleanup and beautification.

By Arlene Karidis • March 17, 2016

Australia to study and report on escalating plastics marine pollution

The Australian Packaging Covenant, an industry and government group, said only 28% of the nation's plastics are recycled.

By Arlene Karidis • March 17, 2016

Researchers find tomato waste may be powerful source of electricity

Florida alone produces 396,000 tons of tomato waste every year, but lacks a good disposal and treatment process for the produce.  

By Kristin Musulin • March 16, 2016

Dewey Beach, DE to increase fines, enforcement tied to trash violations

"This is a big deal," said Commissioner Mike Dunmyer to CapeGazette.com. "People will get upset, but it’s something we need to go through."

By Arlene Karidis • March 16, 2016

Full Harvest startup aims to fight food waste from the source — farms

The company leverages the platform to collect and deliver ample supplies at low cost to food companies, who view farmers' offerings and order with "the touch of a few buttons."

By Arlene Karidis • March 15, 2016

Massachusetts becomes first state to mandate drug take-back program

About one-third of medications go unused, generating a need to address their safe disposal and reverse the current trend of throwing them in the trash or flushing them.

By Arlene Karidis • March 15, 2016

Two largest US counties consider drug take-back ordinances

About 30% to 40% of the nation's medications are never used, and only 1% of pharmaceutical companies offer a drug take-back program — resulting in hazardous disposal of such medications. 

By Arlene Karidis • March 14, 2016

Philadelphians forced to clean their own city streets due to budget cuts

Some communities have major litter problems, however many residents believe money should be put toward the city's education system instead of trash cleanups.

By Arlene Karidis • March 14, 2016

Researchers discover PET-munching bacteria, but it's a slow eater

With ideonella sakaiensis, "you have the chance to get rid of the PET waste because you can degrade it," said biochemist Uwe T. Bornscheuer to Fast Company.

By Arlene Karidis • March 11, 2016