The idea of hazardous wastes scares some people, yet we all have hazardous substances in our homes. These include electronic waste, paints, motor oil, pesticides, some cleaning products, and batteries. Oh, and prescription drugs and sharps for giving injections. I … Continue reading →
Composting is a great way to keep organic wastes out of the landfill and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. But not everyone can compost at home. And people who do can’t compost meat, bones, dairy, or any kind of grease … Continue reading →
“A penny saved is a penny earned”? Not anymore. The US has become the most wasteful country in the world. Waste in America is driven by consumerism. Supposedly, that term means promotion of the interests of consumers. But consumers don’t … Continue reading →
Rubbish, trash, garbage, municipal solid waste—whatever we call it, we throw away a lot of stuff. Except there’s no such place as away. We recycle or compost some of it. Some areas use waste-to-energy incinerators. In the US, however, most … Continue reading →
Globally, about a third of all the food produced is wasted. In the US, according to some estimates, the figure is about 40%. About 75% of it winds up in landfills. Only just over 6% gets composted. In 2018, US … Continue reading →
Among waste management and recycling technologies, pyrolysis remains little known to the general public. I first encountered it in the late 1980s when I served on a team that created a database for the American Public Works Association. My part … Continue reading →