Category: Recyling Works
For several years we have heard the term “biodegradable” and with the rise in awareness of “green” efforts and recycling, biodegradable materials and products have become even more important and in the forefront.
But what does “biodegradable” even mean? Biodegradable items are things that can break down into natural materials in the environment without causing harm. For example, a cardboard box can break down into naturally occurring elements that will seamlessly mix back into the earth. Most plastics do not break down in this manner, so we don’t consider them biodegradable.
Do you have political campaign signs in your yard? The ballots are in and election season is over – which means it’s time remove those signs. In fact, many cities have ordinances requiring political sign removal within seven to ten days after an election.
Yesterday was National Frappe Day and it got us thinking about the waste generated by the coffee-to-go industry. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot, so grab a cup of your favorite brew and let’s talk abo...
Today is "World Smile Day." This holiday was created by Harvey Ball - the artist who designed the iconic Smiley Face. The goal of the day is to ...
As you would expect, your social security number, driver's license number, bank account numbers, PINs, online usernames and passwords are some of the most important pieces of information to protect as far as identity theft goes. Did you realize, however, that there are at least 8-10 more key pieces of information that these thieves crave?
The amount of carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds released into the atmosphere by the activities of an individual, company, country, etc. refers to its “Carbon Footprint.”
The carbon footprint is 54 percent of humanity's overall Ecological Footprint and its most rapidly growing component.
Plastic grocery bags were introduced in the 1970s and gained immediate popularity. This veritable success story has a track record that any inventor would more than envy. Since its introduction four decades ago, this product has gone from “unheard of” to “unbelievably popular”. Now accounting for about four out of every five bags handed out in grocery stores, the plastic grocery bag as a product is an amazing success.
The handling and disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) have become quite a conundrum over the past couple decades. Items that used to be thrown into the trash, poured down the drain, or dumped in the grass have been proven to pose a health threat when disposed of improperly.
Glass waste is recycled into new products every day. Such products as kitchen and bathroom countertops are made from used glass that has been put through a specific recycling process. Color and chemical composition are some ways different glass jars and bottles must be sorted before the recycling process can begin. Since glass retains its color after recycling, many recycling centers insist that different colors of glass be separated before the recycling process; the most common colors being clear, green, and brown (amber).
Deep inside a landfill among the trash and debris lie airless pockets filled with the by-product of decomposing waste; a gas rich in methane. Some areas in landfills, or entire landfills themselves, may be a poor source of methane due to the type of waste buried there. Construction debris, for example, is dry and will not rot, whereas yard waste and food scraps will be consumed by bacteria and decompose in such a way that produces a plethora of methane gas. When bacteria overtake the rotting waste this gas is given off and, when harnessed, can be a valuable source of energy for things such as heat and electricity. This certainly spurs on this side of the landfill vs garbage disposal debate discussed in a previous article aptly titled, “The Garbage Disposal Debate”.