74 recycling facts + statistics for 2024
Paper | Aluminum | Glass | E-Waste | Plastic | Textile | Food | C+D | Steel In a world that simply has too much waste, recycling is an important practice to reduce landfill disposal. Landfills are notoriously bad, for both us and the environment, releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses such as methane…Read More…
Circular Economy of Cardboard
Did you know that making one ton of virgin cardboard requires three tons of trees? It’s also been estimated that half of the 85 million tons of paper consumed in the US every year is for wrapping and packaging products. As always, the best way to reduce your impact on the environment is to reduce…Read More…
Microplastics – A macro-level problem
Recently there has been a growing awareness about a type of pollution called microplastics. These plastic particles have been discovered everywhere from Arctic snow to Spanish sea salt, and consumers are rightly concerned about how microplastics affect humans and whether or not they are toxic. Yet despite their ubiquity, there is still much we don’t…Read More…
Where can I recycle my e-waste in Washington DC?
Despite being regarded as the ‘clean city’, Washington DC generates around 800,000 tons of waste per year, and like many of America’s largest cities, it’s fair to say that effective recycling isn’t thriving in the nation’s capital. As of 2019, the waste diversion rate was 23%, a percentage which the city has been hovering around for the…Read More…
How to recycle electronics in Boston: A guide
As the most populous city in New England, and the 21st most populous city in the US, Boston produces a notable amount of trash. Around 1.2 million tons of trash every year, with about 75% of that ending up in landfill or incinerators. However, The City of Boston and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is now seeking to reduce this to 20% with…Read More…
2020: A dumpster fire of a year – What does it really mean
How do dumpster fires start? The photo of the dumpster on fire has become ubiquitous in 2020 and analogous of an unprecedented year coming to a close, but do you know what actually causes a dumpster or waste fire? Fires can begin when hazardous and electronic waste items are discarded in the trash rather than…Read More…
Reducing holiday waste – why it matters
With nearly 1 million extra tons of garbage per week going to landfill between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, consider options to reduce waste and increase waste diversion during this time of year. We’ve compiled a list of the most common holiday items and tips on how to prevent them from ending up in the waste…Read More…
RTS Spotlight – Holiday Collective
Decorations seen around the city often add to the feelings of holiday cheer. We sat down with Michael Gurl from Holiday Collective to discuss how they create magical displays while keeping sustainability in mind. Q: Can you give us some background on Holiday Collective and the work you do? A: Holiday Collective is a holiday design…Read More…
Upcycling cardboard — Get creative with packaging waste
Of the 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in the United States in 2018, almost a quarter was paper and paperboard, making it one of the largest components in our trash cans. Around the holidays, the colorful wrapping paper, decorative cards, and numerous boxes people use at Christmas contribute to the problem….Read More…
Reduce holiday waste and increase holiday cheer
We love the holiday season but we’re not crazy about the waste that comes with it. During the holiday season, Americans will spend nearly $1,000 each on gifts, décor, food, etc. With all those purchases comes waste that can be avoided. Here are some ways you can cut back on waste without comprising holiday cheer. Holiday Decor Most agree, seeing beautiful decorations inside and…Read More…