Earth Day, Then and Now: Waste
Published in General
News & Lifestyle › solidwaste
Waste Management Tests New Efficient Trucks
The following is an op-ed piece by Wes Muir, director of communications for Waste Management. It does not describe the views or opinions of Earth911. For better or for worse, garbage can be heavy, wet and bulky. This has presented a challenge for cities, private citizens, businesses and waste collectors alike since the days of horse-drawn waste collection vehicles. This year, ... read morePublished in Automotive
Top 10 Poo-cycling Projects of 2011
From public composting toilets in San Francisco to street lamps powered by dog poo in Phoenix, 2011 saw an abundance of experiments to find new uses for human and animal waste. Here’s Earth911’s picks for the top 10 poo-cycling projects of the year, and we leave it up to you to decide: gross or green (or both)? 1. Panda poo fertilizes ... read morePublished in Household
Occupy LA Leaves Behind 25 Tons of Trash
Mattresses, dining chairs, cell phones and even a small red guitar with its neck snapped – these were just a few of the items that made up the 25 tons of debris left by Occupy Los Angeles protesters who were evicted from their encampment last week, the LA Times reported. None of the discards, which also included the tents and ... read morePublished in General
PHOTOS: The World at 7 Billion
The world population is expected to hit 7 billion this month, meaning more strain on precious resources. Here's a look at life in the most densely populated regions of the globe. Tokyo, Japan With a population of 32.5 million, Tokyo, Japan is the most populated city in the world. Additionally, more than 2 million people commute into the megacity for work each ... read morePublished in General
What’s Happening to Naples Trash
Naples, once known as a city of pizzas, piazzas and breathtaking views, developed a slightly less desirable reputation over recent years – as an area whose waste management struggles have left streets literally piled with trash. A dense population and little landfill space, coupled with political mismanagement, poor regulations and the involvement of organized crime syndicates, has made disposal a nightmare. Garbage ... read morePublished in Household
America’s Waste in Numbers: Then and Now
Graphics by Amanda Wills Curbside recycling now serves about half of the U.S. population, but that wasn't the case in 1970 when very few cities offered these programs. In order to recycle, most residents had to transport recyclables to drop-off centers, which severely limited participation. The U.S. recycling rate in 1970 was 6.6 percent, compared to a 33.8 percent national recovery ... read morePublished in Household
Maryland Wants to Buy ‘Poop’ Power
Maryland is seeking proposals for the purchase of electricity generated from animal waste like poultry litter and livestock manure, the governor’s office announced on Thursday. Eligible energy suppliers must have a capacity of up to 10 megawatts, connect directly to the grid and be able to begin providing power to the state by Dec. 31, 2015. While the idea of poo-derived power ... read morePublished in Household
Congress’s Trash to be Burned for Energy
This spring, House Republicans caused controversy when, in an effort to cut costs, they cancelled Congress’ food scraps composting program and brought back polystyrene foam cups and plastic utensils to their cafeteria. Now the Architect of the Capitol (AoC), the agency that recently assumed responsibility for the House’s sustainability initiatives, announced a new destination for the 5,300 tons of non-recyclable trash ... read morePublished in Household
Dangerous Jobs: Garbage Collection Ranks 7th
The next time you swerve around a stopped garbage truck, in a rush to get to work or pick up the kids from school, consider this statistic: 26 trash and recycling collectors lost their lives on the job last year, with many of the fatalities caused by traffic accidents. The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics released preliminary results ... read morePublished in Household
