Talking Trash

Be safe with your hazardous waste!

Be safe with your hazardous waste!

Household hazardous waste (or HHW, for short) is not only a problem when it is in your home. It can also pose a problem when it is thrown out. For example, throwing away an item like used motor oil can be dangerous and wasteful. It can be dangerous if it is spilled or...

Proper Cart Placement for Successful Pickup

Proper Cart Placement for Successful Pickup

Having your waste and recycling carts in position for collection is key to a successful program. The following are general guidelines. Be sure to check with your local solid waste authority for specific instructions on all these points for your community. Place your...

Could we stop shopping?

Could we stop shopping?

Our staff writer, Leeann Sausser, recently read J.B. MacKinnon's book "The Day the World Stops Shopping: How Ending Consumerism Saves the Environment and Ourselves." She shares her review in this week's blog post. What if we all lived with fewer possessions, used...

Recycle better for program sustainability

Recycle better for program sustainability

Have you noticed that what is accepted for recycling may change from year to year or from place to place? That’s because recyclables are part of a commodities market. For example, sometimes certain types of your recyclable plastics or glass can be sold at a reasonable...

The grass is greener when you grasscycle!

The grass is greener when you grasscycle!

Spring is here, and so is the green grass! No doubt you’ve pulled out the lawnmower by now, probably multiple times. As you begin another mowing season, it’s time to consider “grasscycling” if you haven't already. Grasscycling allows your grass clippings to drop back...

Everyday Earth Day Actions

Everyday Earth Day Actions

Last week, we celebrated the 55th anniversary of the first Earth Day. But we can celebrate Earth Day every day! Here are some actions to incorporate into daily life that will help protect our precious planet and its resources. Which ones do you already do? Reduce...

Happy 55th Earth Day!

Happy 55th Earth Day!

Why do we celebrate? As land, air, and water pollution affected more and more people in the mid-20th century, preservation became a growing concern in the United States. By April 22, 1970, Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, had planned a national...

Did you know disposable wipes are plastic?

Did you know disposable wipes are plastic?

Since COVID-19, many of us are more conscious of germs. That's led us to sanitize surfaces in our homes and as we travel. But did you know all those wipes are actually adding more plastic to our waste stream? Whether you are disinfecting the area around you on an...

Buy in Bulk!

Buy in Bulk!

Bulk foods are a great way to save money and reduce packaging waste, so now is the perfect time to start thinking about how to buy in bulk in a way that reduces waste instead of creating it. There are certain foods that last longer in bulk. Non-perishables, such as...