Talking Trash

Falling leaves are beautiful and a lovely part of walks this time of year. They light trees afire in colors of yellow, red, orange, and gold and give a delightful crunch underfoot. If raked into a pile, they are fun to jump into and toss about. But eventually, those...

And how does it impact solid waste management? Raise your hand if you have heard "environmental justice" mentioned recently. Need some clarity about what it is and what it means for solid waste? A basic definition comes from the Natural Resources Defense Council:...

Unless you have been away on an extended vacation or are avoiding all news, you know that recycling faces contamination challenges. In most communities, items you place into your recycling bin get mixed with everyone else’s and then sent to a large plant called a...

Timely disposal of prescription medicines can reduce the risk of them being taken accidentally or misused intentionally. The best and most environmentally friendly way to dispose of your prescription medicines is through a proper drug disposal program. Fortunately,...

Do your fall plans include some purging to “tidy up” around the house? If so, be aware that major thrift stores and charitable organizations often receive far more used items than they can sell or give away. Sometimes, your “donations” may just be taking a detour to...

Bipartisan legislators introduced a bill in the House and the Senate to address U.S. food waste. The New Opportunities for Technological Innovation, Mitigation, and Education to Overcome Waste is more easily known as the "NO TIME to Waste Act." The bill,...

We may think we are done recycling when we toss something into a recycling bin. But we aren’t! Recycling is all about giving things a second chance. When we recycle, our old bottles become new bottles or fleece blankets. Old glass jars become new jars or insulation...

Remove and donate — don’t demolish and trash your home renovation materials. Home improvement is an exciting but messy business whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or work with a professional. Once the job starts, the disarray, dust, and debris can seem to seep into...

You read that correctly. It's not "retweet," but "RETREET"! This summer, it seems there is a wildfire, hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake, or other natural disaster in the news almost daily. You aren't imagining an uptick. The United Nations issued a report in...