TERRACYCLE NEWS

ELIMINATING THE IDEA OF WASTE®

Posts with term TerraCycle Hit X

Canada bans some single-use plastics; are takeout containers enough?

Include Canada (English) Loop TerraCycle Hit

Some corporations pilot refillable packaging as the world struggles with a plastic hangover from the COVID-19 pandemic

JUNE 24, 2022JUNE 28, 2022
Canada bans single-use plastics
Two and a half years of pandemic living has left the planet with a major plastic hangover. Much of the eight million tonnes of COVID-related trash churned out globally in the first two years of the pandemic was medical waste, but in the sweatpants-clad blur of back-to-back lockdowns, there was also a sharp rise in the single-use plastics involved in getting burrito bowls, groceries and all-things-Amazon delivered to our front doors. Even before the pandemic, 805 million takeout containers were dished out in Canada in 2019, as were 5.8 billion straws and 15.5 billion plastic grocery bags. Now Canada’s federal government is giving businesses until the end of 2023 to stop selling six hard-to-recycle single-use plastic items, including polystyrene and black plastic takeout containers, cutlery, grocery bags and straws. It’s an important first step that should eliminate more than 1.3 million tonnes of plastic waste, but environmental advocates point out a troubling fact: the ban is aimed at just roughly 5% of Canada’s swelling plastic stream. What about the rest of it? As the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) noted in its latest global plastic report, released in June, “Plastic waste is projected to almost triple by 2060, with half of all plastic waste still being landfilled and less than a fifth recycled.” “Less than a fifth” may be a generous estimate. In late April, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a first-of-its-kind investigation into the recycling claims made by Big Oil. “For more than half a century,” Bonta said in a statement, “the plastics industry has engaged in an aggressive campaign to deceive the public, perpetuating a myth that recycling can solve the plastics crisis.” The reality, he added, is that the vast majority of plastic cannot be recycled. The bombshell investigation was announced on the heels of a damning report released by the U.S. Department of Energy a few days earlier, which concluded that only 5% of plastic has actually been getting a second life through recycling. That’s particularly bad news considering the United States generates more plastic waste than any other country. But the whole world is having a tough time figuring out what to do with its plastic.
For more than half a century, the plastics industry has engaged in an aggressive campaign to deceive the public, perpetuating a myth that recycling can solve the plastics crisis.
–California Attorney General Rob Bonta
Fortunately, there’s also been a surge in grassroots reuse-and-refill businesses around the globe. While the refillable mugs and reusable bags of the zero-waste movement were vilified in the early days of the pandemic, they’re back on the upswing. Independent start-ups like Suppli in Toronto and DeliverZero in New York have been tackling the takeout waste crisis by offering reusable container services to local restaurants. Now some major fast-food chains are promising to get in on the action. In a partnership with TerraCycle’s circular packaging service, Loop, refillable takeout containers may be coming to a Burger King near you. At least if you live in the United Kingdom or New Jersey, where BK outlets will be trialling deposit return systems for refillable burger “clamshell” packaging, soda cups and more. In Canada, BK’s parent company, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), partnered with Loop and Tupperware Brands to pilot reusable food packaging containers for the Tim Hortons chain late last year. RBI isn’t the only corporation scrambling to meet public commitments to shift to fully recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025. Similar pledges have been made by more than 1,000 organizations. In May, Body Shop announced that it’s reviving plans to roll out refill stations across the U.S., and Dove is now offering deodorant in slick refillable containers. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola promised to make a quarter of its beverage containers “refillable/returnable glass or plastic bottles” by 2030. Whether corporate efforts to introduce refillable containers go beyond novelty or pilot projects remains to be seen. On World Refill Day, June 16, more than 400 organizations released an open letter to the CEOs of five of the biggest consumer goods companies (Coca-Cola, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever and Procter and Gamble), urging them to support “transparent, ambitious and accountable reuse and refill systems.” In Canada, dozens of environmental groups and zero-waste businesses are calling for increased government support for reuse-and-refill initiatives. Sarah King, Greenpeace Canada’s head of oceans and plastics campaign, says that the federal government has been “stalling on fully embracing refill and reuse funding.” King says, “Canada will only meet its zero plastic waste by 2030 goal if it acts now to cut production of all non-essential plastics and creates a strategy to scale reuse and refill infrastructure nation-wide to accelerate a transition to truly zero waste, low carbon systems.” The OECD agrees that bans on a “tiny share” of plastic waste will get us only so far. Its earlier February report on plastic concluded that “bans and taxes on single-use plastics exist in more than 120 countries but are not doing enough to reduce overall pollution.” The OECD is calling for “greater use of instruments such as Extended Producer Responsibility schemes for packaging and durables, landfill taxes, deposit-refund and Pay-as-You-Throw systems.”
Bans and taxes on single-use plastics exist in more than 120 countries but are not doing enough to reduce overall pollution.
–OECD
While announcing Canada’s new plastic ban June 20, Environment and Climate Change Canada didn’t mention any of the above, but the ministry did note that “moving toward a more circular economy for plastics could reduce carbon emissions by 1.8 megatonnes annually, generate billions of dollars in revenue, and create approximately 42,000 jobs by 2030.” In a sea of despair over rising plastic pollution, some hopeful signs are floating to the top. As of July 1, India is banning a long list of single-use plastics, including plastic wrap, cutlery and plastic sticks. Austria is mandating that 25% of beverage bottles be refillable by 2025, while Chile is mandating a 30% quota. Back in California, ExxonMobil put out a statement denying the attorney general’s charges that it’s been misleading the public on the recyclability of plastics: “We are focused on solutions and meritless allegations like these distract from the important collaborative work that is underway to enhance waste management and improve circularity.” Of course, Exxon has also denied that it’s known about climate change for 40 years while spending millions on funding climate-change-denying think tanks. Judith Enck, president of the environmental group Beyond Plastics and a former Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator, told Inside Climate News that California’s investigation is “very significant.” “[It has] the potential to finally hold plastic producers accountable for the immense environmental damage caused by plastics.” A version of this article appears in the summer issue of Corporate Knights magazine.
Read More

Bradford's Kumi Canada butts up with with TerraCycle in cigarette recycling program

Include Canada (English) cigarette recycling TerraCycle Hit
TerraCycle, the world’s leader in the collection and repurposing of complex waste streams, has joined forces with the Kumi Canada Corporation to collect and recycle the world’s most littered item – cigarette butts. After being shipped to TerraCycle, the waste collected through the program is processed into plastic pellets for use in a variety of recycled products while the remaining tobacco is composted. The ongoing efforts of Kumi Canada Corporation aim to clean up cigarette butts as they relate to coastal water bodies, making the connection of land litter to marine debris. Kumi Canada Corporation strives to create a clean and safe environment. They demonstrate their dedication not only through their involvement in TerraCycle’s Cigarette Recycling Program but also through their community initiative programs such as the Community Garden, the Green Team, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. “Cigarette butts are the type of waste that can accumulate quickly and was always destined for the landfill. When Kumi found that there was a better way of disposal, it became a "no-brainer" that it should go to TerraCycle to be recycled and reused as opposed to just building up and making a negative impact in landfills. This program has had great success and is a conversation topic when suppliers visit our facility,” said Samantha Moffitt, a representative of Kumi Canada Corporation. The Kumi Canada Corporation group has dedicated two smoking areas at the facility that both have cigarette disposal bins. Additionally, they implemented bins for proper disposal of foil and cellophane packaging. Kumi Canada Corporation’s goal is to make disposing of cigarette waste easy and convenient, by adding receptacles in smoking areas smokers have direct access to the program. When processed, the paper and tobacco are separated from the filter and composted. The filter is recycled into plastic pellets which can be used by manufacturers to make a number of products such as shipping pallets, ashtrays, and park benches. TerraCycle has collected hundreds of millions of cigarette butts globally. Additionally, through its various recycling programs, it has engaged over 200 million people across 21 countries to collect and recycle more than eight billion pieces of waste that were otherwise non-recyclable.
Read More

U. will participate in program with Gillette, TerraCycle to encourage recycling of razors on campus

Include USA TerraCycle Hit Gillette University Pilot
image.png
Rutgers recently joined the Gillette University Razor Recycling program, which encourages students to recycle their used razor products for a chance to win prizes throughout the year in the program’s sweepstakes. The program, which is run by Gillette, works in partnership with TerraCycle, a recycling company that works toward eliminating waste. The partnership has created the world’s first national razor recycling program, which works to help recycle approximately 2 billion razors that are thrown away each year, according to the program’s website. “Razors are an often overlooked waste stream because of their inability to be recycled through traditional methods, like your town’s curbside recycling program,” said Mary Ellen Dowd, a communications associate at TerraCycle. “Programs like this one give the consumer the opportunity to divert their razors from landfill while turning them into new, recycled products.” Dowd said the program will work with universities by allowing students to register with their college emails, which will allow them to enter the sweepstakes for prizes. The students who enter the program can then find their local public drop-off location where they can dispose of their used disposable razors, replaceable-blade cartridge units and associated packaging at any participating location near their campus. “Once collected, the razors and their associated plastic packaging are cleaned and sorted by material composition to be later broken down and remolded into new recycled products,” Dowd said. She said that through the sweepstakes, the program has offered various prizes for college students to win, including tickets to NFL games at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts and other various Gillette products. Dowd said the idea for the partnership between Gillette and TerraCycle to collaborate with universities came from their hope to engage college students in razor recycling. The participation of Rutgers students and other university students across the country is vital for the success of this purpose, she said. She said the recycling programs run by TerraCycle are grassroots, community-based efforts, and all students at the University are encouraged to participate in the recycling program for the opportunity to divert a waste stream from landfills, which are already overcrowded. Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, said the organization’s mission is to "eliminate the idea of waste" and provide solutions to help encourage people to recycle items that do not seem to be traditionally recyclable curbside. “Through our partnership with Gillette, we are working to inspire Rutgers students to rethink what is waste as well as help foster awareness that solutions do exist for items that may seem otherwise unrecyclable,” Szaky said.
Read More

Announcing Ragan’s 2020 PR Daily Awards

Include USA zero waste box TerraCycle Hit
Check out this year’s impressive list of finalists. image.png The finalists in Ragan’s 2020 PR Daily Awards represent the organizations and communications teams behind the best communications campaigns, projects, initiatives and content from the past year. Congratulations to this elite list of finalists. Stay tuned for the winner announcement in December. Campaigns, PR Events and Publications Automotive Campaign
  • Landis Communications and Velodyne Lidar, Inc: Strategic PR Campaign – Automotive
  • Mirrored Media: BMW IconicSounds Electric
  • Nissan North America: Overall Sentra PR/Social/Marketing Campaign
  • Ogilvy and Intel: Inside the AI Black Box: Mobileye
  • RepairSmith: RepairSmith Donates $100K in Free, ‘No-Contact Car Repair’ Services to Support People Experiencing Hardship During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
B2B Campaign
  • Affect: LLamasoft COVID-19 Story Hijacking Campaign
  • G&S Business Communications: DuPont Customer Narrative Program
  • Oracle: Movember
  • Oracle: “One Size Doesn’t Fit All” Research Campaign
  • Proofpoint and Axicom: Putting People at The Center: How Proofpoint Stood Out From 700+ Vendors
  • Synamedia supported by Breakaway Communications: How to Get “Up Close and Personal” for Big Results…Virtually with #SynaMEDIAday
Beauty, Fashion or Lifestyle Campaign
  • 1Milk2Sugars: NIVEA Oil-Infused Body Lotions
  • Jeneration PR: Keeping a beauty brand fresh in the era of COVID-19
  • Sally Beauty Holdings: My Black Is Beautiful
Branding Campaign
  • Blue Yonder: JDA Software Becomes Blue Yonder
  • Dashlane: Unnamed Temporary Sports Blog
  • GS&F: Salata Salad Kitchen Rebranding
  • IBM & Precision Strategies: IBM Policy Lab
  • IFS: For the Challengers
  • INLIVIAN: Housing Redefined
  • MWWPR & Milbank: The Modern Milbank
Cause-Related Marketing Campaign
  • IW Group: #WashTheHate
  • OkCupid: #BlackLivesMatter Badge
  • Oracle: Movember
  • SSPR: El Paso County Public Health Department COVID-19 Campaign
  • SPACE.tm and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE): #Trade4Solidarity
Community Relations Campaign
  • College of DuPage: Up to S.N.O.W. Good
  • IW Group: McDonald’s Asian American Community Engagement
  • Landis Communications and Save the Redwoods League: The Campaign to Save Alder Creek
  • RepairSmith: RepairSmith Donates $100K in Free, ‘No-Contact Car Repair’ Services to Support People Experiencing Hardship During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
  • The Home Depot Foundation: Operation Surprise
  • U-Haul International, Inc: College Students: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Self-Storage amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Content Marketing and Brand Journalism Campaign
  • 1Milk2Sugars: Yves Rocher
  • Clarity: Entrupy’s State of the Fake: Leading the Conversation on Product Counterfeiting
Corporate Communications Campaign
  • Barings: #BaringsWFHLife
  • Love’s Travel Stops: Road to 500
  • Navy Federal: Best Careers After Service
  • R1 RCM: R1 is Grateful
  • The National Museum of African American History & Culture: We Return Fighting
  • V2 Communications: From Kanye to Daniel Dines: Securing a Forbes Cover Story
Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign
  • Clyde Group and Rover.com: Domestic Violence Foster Program
  • Ogilvy and Medela: Breastfeeding Uncovered: Four Women, Four Journeys
  • RB: RB’s Healthy You, Healthy Planet
  • The Colony Project and Aphria Inc.: Plant Positivity Winter Garden
  • U-Haul International, Inc: College Students: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Self-Storage amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Crisis Communication Campaign
  • College of DuPage: ChapsUnite
  • ESPN: COVID-19 Response Plan
  • NewYork-Presbyterian: COVID-19 Response
  • SPM Communications: Crisis During a Crisis: Turning Two Negatives into a Positive
  • UW Medicine: UW Medicine Covid-19 Crisis Response
Education Campaign
  • APCO Worldwide and North Carolina Community College System: Your Hire Education
  • IW Group: McDonald’s Asian American Education Initiative
  • Lifelong Learning: Learn4Life Pandemic Response Communications
  • Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation: Better Schools, Stronger Economy
Entertainment Campaign
  • IW Group: Godzilla x Steve Aoki x Johnny Dang
  • National Geographic: COSMOS: POSSIBLE WORLDS MEDIA RELATIONS CAMPAIGN
  • National Geographic: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S 2020 EARTH DAY  INTEGRATIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Event Marketing Campaign
  • Citizens Bank: Made Ready
  • Layton Construction: Healthcare Design Expo 2019
Hospitality, Travel or Tourism Campaign
  • Peppercomm: Restarting the travel industry from zero: Peppercomm and Flagship for trivago
  • The Atkins Group and South Padre Island CVB: Cook Your Catch
Influencer Campaign
  • ANDER & Co: Miami’s Gio Midtown Tap Takeover
  • Dole Food Company: Silver Lining Selfies
  • Epson America, Inc: Epson + Shaq “Just Fill and Chill”
  • GS&F: LP House
  • Mirrored Media: BMW Road to Coachella 2019
  • Praytell and evian: So Good You’d Do Anything For It
  • Technica Communications: Winnebago Accessibility-Enhanced RV Influencer Trip Garners Nearly 8 million Social Media Views
Location-Based Campaign
  • ANDER & Co: From Junior to Juggernaut: Building the Centennial Bank Brand in Florida
  • Shirley & McVicker Public Affairs: Citizens for Responsible Solar
Marketing Campaign
  • APCO Worldwide and North Carolina Community College System: Your Hire Education
  • Citizens Bank: Made Ready
  • Pollock Communications: Moon Cheese Marketing Campaign
  • Quicken Loans Public Relations: Rocket Mortgage Classic
  • The Brand Guild: Back To School With Yoobi
  • Whereoware and Cuisinart: Air Fryer
Media Pitch
  • Brand Definition: TV or Vitamin D?
  • College of DuPage: Scooby Doo
  • NewYork-Presbyterian: Staff Sing in COVID Units
  • Peppercomm: D’Artagnan: Moving the meats online during COVID-19
Niche Campaign
  • Ogivly and Intel: Mobileye D.R.I.V.E.S
  • Nissan North America: eSports Ultimate Gaming Chairs
Online Newsroom
  • Alibaba Group: Alizila
  • Blue Cross NC: Newsroom Redesign
PR Event
  • 1Milk2Sugars: Laline
  • CBRS Alliance: 10Fold Elevates New Mobile Broadband Opportunity to Vital Industry Stakeholders – Ready. Set. OnGo!
  • MSL and The Home Depot: The Home Depot Breaks Through Busy Holiday Season with Early Cheer
  • Nissan North American: Nissan Versa 2020: The Hill Country Experience
  • V2 Communications: Evolving ASG’s EVOLVE
PR on a Shoestring
  • Clarity: Entrupy’s State of the Fake: Leading the Conversation on Product Counterfeiting
  • E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University: Aimee Edmondson book promotion
  • TerraCycle: TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box Program Gives Consumers the Power to Recycle Virtually Anything
Product or Service Launch
  • Diffusion PR: Burrow: from D2C startup to lifestyle brand
  • Nissan North America: 2020 Nissan Sentra Reveal at Los Angeles Auto Show
  • Ogilvy: The Craft Ice House by LG
  • RepairSmith: RepairSmith Donates $100K in Free, ‘No-Contact Car Repair’ Services to Support People Experiencing Hardship During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Publications
  • Association of Equipment Manufacturers: AEM Industry Advisor
  • Marathon Strategies: COVID-19 Covered
  • MWWPR and Deloitte Global: A generation (and annual report) disrupted: Deloitte’s 2019 Millennial Survey
Social Media Campaign
  • Barings: #BaringsWFHLife
  • Dole Food Company: Silver Lining Selfies
  • IW Group: #WashTheHate
  • Mirrored Media: BMW Road to Coachella 2019
Technology Campaign
  • Diffusion PR: Amplifying the Ghostery Brand: from Browser Extension to Consumer Privacy Powerhouse
  • Haymaker Group: Launching The Augmented Reality Social Network of the Future
  • Ogilvy and Intel: Inside the AI Black Box: Mobileye
  • Ogilvy and LG Electronics USA: LG UltraGear Female Streamer Campaign
  • Trevi Communications: RightHand Robotics RightPick2 Product Launch
  • V2 Communications: Answering the Call: Tech Solutions for a Nation in Need of More Effective Emergency-Response Services
  • V2 Communications: The World is Your Backyard: Launching a First-of-its-Kind Pet Product
Thought Leadership Campaign
  • Amendola Communications (for Kaufman Hall): Advocating for Hospitals, Health Systems and Other Institutions amid a Pandemic
  • ANDER & Co: Making a Name for Pebb Capital in Saturated CRE Market
  • Axicom and Proofpoint: Standing Out in A Cybersecurity Crowd: A Proofpoint Elevation Story
  • MWWPR and Deloitte Global: A generation (and annual report) disrupted: Deloitte’s 2019 Millennial Survey
  • Pearson: Unwritten: Author and Student Perspectives on the Pandemic.
  • The Zebra: State of Auto Insurance
Viral Campaign
  • Clearlink: USDISH.com’s Stephen King Campaign: Results So Good—They’re Scary
  • Landis Communications and Peninsula Open Space Trust: POST and the Coyote-Badger Adventure
  • Mirrored: BMW Road to Coachella 2019
Website
  • Ferrovial: Ferrovial Global Website Launch
  • Smithsonian Institution / National Museum of African American History and Culture: Talking About Race
  • The National Museum of African American History & Culture: We Return Fighting
Health Care PR & Marketing Blog
  • Livongo: Livongo Blog
  • UC Davis Health: Good Food is Good Medicine
Content Marketing and Brand Journalism
  • JPA Health and National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA): MyPAnniversary
  • UC Davis Health: Year of the Nurse
Digital Publication
  • Patient Safety Authority: PATIENT SAFETY: A scientific journal with a patient’s perspective
  • UC Davis Health: Year of the Nurse
Marketing Campaign
  • MDVIP: Year of Cardiovascular Health
  • Omron Healthcare & MWWPR: HeartGuide Launch
  • Solutionreach: 202 Comeback Plan
  • The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus: This Is Breakthrough
PR or Media Relations Campaign
  • Amendola Communications: Thought Leadership & Awareness Campaign Builds Singapore Start-up Biofourmis’ Reputation in the U.S.
  • JPA Health/American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists: Up To Here
  • Livongo: Livongo COVID-19 Pandemic Response and Messaging Pivot
  • Ogilvy and Medela: Designed for Life, Medela Launches Freestyle Flex, Allowing Each Mom FLEX in Her Own Way
  • Millennium Health: Millennium Health Commitment to Clinical Excellence
  • The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus: This Is Breakthrough
Social Media Campaign
  • Blue Cross NC: COVID-19 Response Campaign
  • JPA Health / Medicines36: Birth Control is #NotAwkward: Let’s Talk About It
Thought Leadership Campaign
  • Amendola Communications for Air Methods: Amendola Helps Air Methods’ No Membership Required Program Take Off
  • Zeno Group and AstraZeneca: Making YOUR Cancer OUR Cancer
Patient-Focused Content
  • G&S Business Communications: INSIGHTEC Essential Tremor Month 2020
  • Miami Cancer Institute: Cancer Patient Education Folders
  • UC Davis Health: Good Food is Good Medicine
Video
  • Ketchum and Blue Cross NC: Anthem Live-Action Spot
  • The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus: This Is Breakthrough
Website Launch or Relaunch
  • Edelman and Regeneron: Look To Your Future
  • Fiaschetti Communications and Saama Technologies: Saama 2020 Website Refresh
  • JPA Health / Milestone Pharmaceuticals: Change of Heart: Relaunching for a Patient-Centric Website
  • The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus: This Is Breakthrough
Grand Prize Grand Prize: Health Care PR and Marketing Campaign of the Year
  • Amwell: Amwell Brings Telehealth to the Forefront During COVID-19
  • JPA Health / The Physicians Foundation: Vital Signs: Attend to Your Wellbeing
  • MDVIP: Year of Cardiovascular Health
  • Omron Healthcare & MWWPR: HeartGuide Launch
  • The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus: This Is Breakthrough
  • UC Davis Health: Year of the Nurse
Grand Prize: PR Campaign of the Year
  • Amendola Communications: Thought Leadership & Awareness Campaign Builds Singapore Start-up Biofourmis’ Reputation in the U.S.
  • Association of Equipment Manufacturers: CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE PR Campaign
  • Axicom and Proofpoint: Putting People at The Center: How Proofpoint Stood Out From 700+ Vendors
  • U-Haul International, Inc: College Students: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Self-Storage amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Read More

Coca-Cola with Partner cleaning up Lat Phrao Canal

Include USA TerraCycle Hit TerraCycle Global Foundation TerraCycle Thai Foundation Coca-Cola Foundation Benioff Ocean Initiative
Operated through the partnership of TerraCycle Thai Foundation and the Department of Drainage and Sewerage (DDS), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Thai project has installed two ‘River Plastic Traps’ to capture waste from the stream. The collected waste is then dried and sorted for proper disposal and recycling with data being recorded for future use in raising awareness among community members and promote behavioral change as a sustainable solution.   Nuntivat Thamhatai, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Director of Coca-Cola (Thailand) Limited, said: “Driving partnerships that promote debris-free environment is one of our ‘World Without Waste’ commitments. Coca-Cola believes the biggest differences can be made when business, government and civil society with shared value join hands and work towards the same goal which is precisely the case with this project. While this is still relatively small-scaled, we certainly hope that it serves as the beginning of many great works to come, so that, one day, there will not be the need to install any River Plastic Trap in any canal or river.”
Read More

Hand in Hand to partner with TerraCycle to help the city's growing waste problem

Include USA ZWB TerraCycle Hit
outh Philadelphia based soap company, Hand in Hand has recently announced a new incentive to address the waste crisis in the City of Brotherly Love. Hand in Hand to partner with TerraCycle to help the city's growing recycling problem Hand in Hand is used to the philanthropic world: According to the release, the brand is guided by the principles of sanitation, sustainability and philanthropy, and has donated nearly 3 million bars of soap to Haitian and Cambodian children threatened by water-related illnesses. Through partnerships with non-profits in both countries and by creating products that are palm oil-free, cruelty-free, paraben-free and petrochemical-free as well as vegan, Hand in Hand prides itself on environmental and ethical responsibility. The Philly-based company has even worked with Eco-Soap Bank, which diverts leftover hotel soaps from landfills and donates them to schools, hospitals and villages--- just to name another charitable accolade. Now, Hand in Hand has teamed up with TerraCycle to amp up, even more, their existing sustainability initiatives. In partnership with TerraCycle, Hand in Hand will recycle their leftover flexible plastic tubes diverting additional waste from landfills while adding to their sustainability repertoire. The collected plastic waste will be recycled into a variety of new products such as park benches, bike racks, shipping pallets and recycling bins, according to the release. "Hand in Hand is always looking for ways to sustainably improve our packaging while still remaining economical for our active customers," said Holly La Porte, Director of Brand Development in in the release. "With our products, we pride ourselves in supply chain transparency, sourcing our ingredients without palm oil or any palm derivatives. We're thrilled to partner with TerraCycle as a next step in our path to long term packaging sustainability." This new initiative for the company comes after the city incinerated half of its recyclables in 2019 and is set to spend a record amount in 2020 to have recycling hauled. In all, taxpayers will pay up to $9 million this fiscal year for Waste Management to haul their throwaway plastics, glass bottles, and paper — almost double what the city was paying just a few years ago according to inquirer.com. Hand in Hand is looking to help this issue with its partnership with TerraCycle, who according to the release, specializes in collecting and repurposing hard-to-recycle waste through a variety of platforms, including large-scale recycling, which helps manufacturing facilities like Hand in Hand's recycle large volumes of waste. "Partnering with socially-aware and environmentally-conscious businesses like Hand in Hand dovetail well with TerraCycle's philosophy of minimizing the impact of humans while maximizing our ability to do-good," said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle CEO in the release. The new initiative will be huge for the city's growing waste crisis in 2020.
Read More

People Are Reusing The Ordinary Bottles for Cuticle Oil, Plant Cuttings, and Even Hot Sauce

Include USA TerraCycle Hit Deciem
  If you know Reddit, you know that the SkincareAddiction subreddit is the place to go when you need advice on beauty products — and that's apparently true of when you need advice on what to do with your beauty products when they're empty. On Sunday, January 12, a redditor who goes by the username SunflowersOrDaisies asked, "Any ideas on reusing empty TO bottles?" referring to The Ordinary's little glass dropper bottles. "My boyfriend is giving me a hard time because I don’t want to throw them out... but they’re so cute."   Fellow Redditors were ready to jump in with suggestions, and the post has since gained nearly 200 comments, many of which include ways to reuse the bottles for additional beauty purposes.   "Use them to decant larger skincare products for travel," one person wrote — an idea that numerous other commenters agreed with. Others recommended using the bottles for DIY skin care, with one person saying, "I use my empty glass bottles for facial oils." One especially savvy skin-care lover had a brilliant use, writing, "I'm planning on using mine to hold excess liquid from sheet masks." But there were plenty of non-facial beauty suggestions, too, like, "Put a little bit of (castor/olive/jojoba/baobab etc) oil in and use them to drop oil into your cuticles on your nails to keep them healthy," and, "I also think it could be a good bobby pin holder!"   The creativity new uses for The Ordinary's bottles didn't stop there. A number of Redditors with green thumbs have ideas for putting them to use with plants. "I take the labels off and use them to propagate small plant cuttings," one person wrote, with another echoing the idea: "If you’re into plants they’re actually a great size for propping a lot of leaves! I just helped a succulent regain roots with one of these!" Yet another found a way to work some botanical beauty into their decor, suggesting, "Save a bunch, then use a piece of string to hang 3 or 4 vertically. Put an individual flower in each hanging bottle. Repeat across a curtain rod and have a cute window display!"   The bottles are apparently fantastic for the artistic among us, as well. "Use them as water droppers to thin your acrylic paints," one person recommended, while another said, "I reuse mine for specifically mixed watercolors that I know I'd have a hard time remixing." Another fan of The Ordinary says her significant other has been repurposing her bottles, saying, "My boyfriend uses them to store fountain pen ink!"   And yes, some folks are even reusing The Ordinary's bottles for culinary purposes. "If you're into baking/cooking, you could make your own vanilla extract and store it in those," one person wrote, with another agreeing: "Vanilla extract, no more spilling or accidentally putting in too much vanilla in your coffee." Someone channels their inner mixologist, writing, "We use droppers for putting bitters in for cocktails." One person even suggested, "Tiny bottles of hot sauce."   If finding new uses for skin-care packaging isn't your forte but you don't want to feel wasteful, one Redditor in this ingenious thread had great news: "Deciem actually announced a little while back that they have opened recycling points in different parts of the country for you to return your empty bottles so that they can then reuse them again for another person," they wrote of The Ordinary's parent company. Another person chimed in to say, "For anyone who has a brick and mortar Deciem store near you, they have bins where you can return your skincare empties to be recycled (and not just the company's products, any empties)."   You can find out more about Deciem's recycling program with TerraCycle at terracycle.com.
Read More

eos shimmer lip balm – In-depth Review and Ingredient Analysis

Include USA TerraCycle Hit EOS
We all recognise how important it is to take care of our Skin but very few of us actually remember than lips have skin too. Our lip skin endures so much throughout the day and yet we rarely take care of it further than the daily lipstick application, most of us even forget that it needs SPF protection too.   I have been on the lookout for good lip balms that don’t just give you a few seconds of perceived moisturisation but actually nourish and moisturise the lip skin. In this post we will be looking at the eos shimmer Lip Balm and figuring out whether it’s worth your time and cash.   If you missed previous posts check out:   Cheaper and Better Than Your Lip Balm? Check out the Oryza Dewy Glow Skin Beauty Balm In-Depth Review and Ingredient Analysis   INCredible Jelly Shot Lip Quencher – In-depth Review and Ingredient Analysis   Estée Lauder Lip Conditioner – In Depth Review and Ingredient Analysis   SPF Protection for Lips – Mega Battle: Carmex VS Maybelline VS Nivea VS Blistex – In depth Reviews and Ingredient Analyses   We all recognise how important it is to take care of our Skin but very few of us actually remember than lips have skin too. Our lip skin endures so much throughout the day and yet we rarely take care of it further than the daily lipstick application, most of us even forget that it needs SPF protection too.   I have been on the lookout for good lip balms that don’t just give you a few seconds of perceived moisturisation but actually nourish and moisturise the lip skin. In this post we will be looking at the eos shimmer Lip Balm and figuring out whether it’s worth your time and cash.   If you missed previous posts check out:   Cheaper and Better Than Your Lip Balm? Check out the Oryza Dewy Glow Skin Beauty Balm In-Depth Review and Ingredient Analysis   INCredible Jelly Shot Lip Quencher – In-depth Review and Ingredient Analysis   Estée Lauder Lip Conditioner – In Depth Review and Ingredient Analysis   SPF Protection for Lips – Mega Battle: Carmex VS Maybelline VS Nivea VS Blistex – In depth Reviews and Ingredient Analyses       Packaging   The eos lip balm comes in black outer packaging which looks simple but yet stands out. The lip balm itself comes in a matte black plastic ball with a pink-orange design.   Colour   The eos lip balms come in many different types and colours. It was hard to figure out how many of these exist as not all of them appeared on the eos website. Nevertheless, the one shown in the picture and tested in this post is the eos Shimmer lip balm in Coral.   It has a shimmery orange shade but the colour is very transparent and doesn’t make the lips orange at all (this might depend on the natural shade of your lips). The shimmery part though is very beautiful, it gives the lips a nice glow that doesn’t look or feel heavy or sticky.   Texture and Finish   The balm has a gel-oil type of texture when it’s on the lips. It’s neither oily or sticky but neither thick and it spreads easily and evenly like a gel.   The finish is gorgeous, the shimmery aspect is very beautiful and the lips don’t feel heavy or sticky.   Smell and Taste?   This balm has a very faint scent that is hard to define. The closest I can describe it is something between vanilla and a crayon.   I’ve added a taste category here too, but please don’t eat this. The category is here simply because practically whether you want to or not, it’s not uncommon to lick your lips or somehow taste the balm off your lips while you eat or drink something.   This balm doesn’t taste of anything.   Longevity   This is a very important category for lip balms because many of them feel nice the first couple of minutes but most of them disappear quickly and without offering the skin lasting results.   This balm lasts longer than many others out there (this depends heavily on how you eat, drink and speak though) and it leaves the skin soft and smooth. It might not give you a skincare overhaul but it’s a nice quick fix solution for dry lips.         Price   A full size, 7g sphere retails for £6.50. Not the cheapest lip balm but it looks great and the ingredients are not bad either.   Practicality of use – user experience   This lip balm is very easy to use even if you are not a fan of sphere balms. It’s also very practical and easy to just throw in a handbag without having to worry that it will get damaged.   Skin compatibility   Lip skin compatibility is not as detailed or researched as much as our face skin, so one can only assume that this lip balm is suitable for all. Avoid using any cosmetics if your skin is broken or has open wounds.   Additionally, this product does not contain any skin type specific products.  

Other

  This balm lasts for 12M. This product is dermatologically tested and gluten free but not vegan (contains beeswax).   I couldn’t find this lip balm on the eos website but here’s what the brand states on the packaging:   “Light shimmery soft lips Eos Shimmer, enriched with hydrating jojoba oil, shea butter, and anti-oxidant vitamin E, enhances your lips with a touch of colour and shine.”   Ethics   It wouldn’t be ethical if we didn’t talk about the credibility of this section. It is very hard to impossible most of the time to verify the information or credibility of the sources, so please take this section with a pinch of salt unless stated otherwise. This section is not meant to be definitive and is most likely more about reputation around those subjects than credible information. If you have additional or more correct information please email: bondsofbeautymail@gmail.com   Eos supports sustainable sourcing and they are an active member of the Global Shea Alliance (GSA), a non-profit industry association. They also support I Am That Girl, a non-profit organization helping girls to transform self-doubt into self-love.   They partnered with TerraCycle to make their sphere balms out of recyclable packaging. You can participate in the eos recycling program for free. To learn more click here: eos & TerraCyle   They state that they do not test on animals but some of their products are sold in China were animal testing is required.   Results   I have very dry lips all year round that peel multiple times on a daily basis and I thought that this lip balm was cute enough to want to use constantly but also kept my lips soft and moisturised. It stays on the lips for a while but of course the exact time depends on whether you are eating, drinking or talking in the meantime.       Ingredients   This lip balm is not exactly skincare but it does contain some ingredient goodies that will help moisturise your skin.   To keep this article short, I am only listing the skin nourishing or skin positive/negative ingredients and ignoring the ones that only play formulation or pigmentation purposes. For the full list of this product’s ingredients scroll down to the “full list of ingredients” section.     Ingredient positives:  
  1. Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil –A skin replenishing, emollient and anti-oxidant.
  2. Beeswax/Cera Alba (Cire d’abeille) – A skin conditioner and fragrance. It is said to help heal inflammation, bruises and burns and can also help temporarily with itching. It is particularly beneficial for dry skin as it can help moisturise and create a waterproof barrier on the skin. It can also be a source of Vitamin A.
  3. Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil – A skin conditioner that is high in anti-oxidants and anti-bacterial fatty acids. Provides deep hydration and conditioning to skin. Some research shows that it can improve skin’s elasticity and by extent perhaps slowing down wrinkle formation.
  4. Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil– Also known as Jojoba oil, a skin conditioner that can enhance the skin’s restorative properties.
  5. Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract – A good skin conditioner. Helps retain moisture by forming a barrier and reduces the appearance of rough patches and dry flakes. Anti-flammatory, soothes itchy, irritated or sunburnt skin. Absorbs UVB, anti-oxidant, emollient, skin replenishing.
  6. Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil – Moisturiser and skin conditioner.
  7. Tocopherol – Refers to a class of compounds with similar activities to vitamin E. A skin conditioner, anti-oxidant and fragrance agent. Check out: Vitamins C & E – Do they work in skin care?
  8. Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil– Anti-oxidant, skin conditioner and fragrance.
  Ingredient negatives:    N/A   Ingredients that can cause irritation to some:   This is actually really case specific, as different people have different sensitivities and allergies. Just because a compound has been reported by some to cause sensitivity, it doesn’t mean you will have an issue. “Sensitizer” compounds being present is not a negative in my opinion, as this is the case with pretty much everything out there and funnily enough I’ve seen products that are targeted specifically for sensitive skin, containing some compounds that have been reported by some, or are known to be, sensitizers.   If you have sensitive skin or you are prone to skin sensitisation and unwanted reactions, try a little bit of this at the back of your hand first and consult a medical doctor if you are concerned.   Check out: What is sensitive skin? What are the causes and what can we do?   The following compounds present in this spray have been either proven or claimed by some to be sensitizers, irritants, allergens etc: Natural Flavor (Aroma), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil.   Full list of ingredients:   Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Beeswax/Cera Alba (Cire d’abeille), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Natural Flavor (Aroma), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Mica, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Red 6(CI 15850).      

Verdict

  This lip balm is not the best skincare product you could use on your lips but it is a very good lip balm for when you are on the go. It looks great and it doesn’t feel sticky or heavy. Plus it moisturisers the lips and keeps them soft.   I am not affiliated with any company or brand. These are my views and experiences.   Beauty is a very personal thing, we all have different skin, requirements and biological build which can influence things. What worked for me might not work for you and vice versa. Have you ever tried these products? Did they work for you? Let me know your experiences below!     Packaging   The eos lip balm comes in black outer packaging which looks simple but yet stands out. The lip balm itself comes in a matte black plastic ball with a pink-orange design.   Colour   The eos lip balms come in many different types and colours. It was hard to figure out how many of these exist as not all of them appeared on the eos website. Nevertheless, the one shown in the picture and tested in this post is the eos Shimmer lip balm in Coral.   It has a shimmery orange shade but the colour is very transparent and doesn’t make the lips orange at all (this might depend on the natural shade of your lips). The shimmery part though is very beautiful, it gives the lips a nice glow that doesn’t look or feel heavy or sticky.   Texture and Finish   The balm has a gel-oil type of texture when it’s on the lips. It’s neither oily or sticky but neither thick and it spreads easily and evenly like a gel.   The finish is gorgeous, the shimmery aspect is very beautiful and the lips don’t feel heavy or sticky.   Smell and Taste?   This balm has a very faint scent that is hard to define. The closest I can describe it is something between vanilla and a crayon.   I’ve added a taste category here too, but please don’t eat this. The category is here simply because practically whether you want to or not, it’s not uncommon to lick your lips or somehow taste the balm off your lips while you eat or drink something.   This balm doesn’t taste of anything.   Longevity   This is a very important category for lip balms because many of them feel nice the first couple of minutes but most of them disappear quickly and without offering the skin lasting results.   This balm lasts longer than many others out there (this depends heavily on how you eat, drink and speak though) and it leaves the skin soft and smooth. It might not give you a skincare overhaul but it’s a nice quick fix solution for dry lips.       Price   A full size, 7g sphere retails for £6.50. Not the cheapest lip balm but it looks great and the ingredients are not bad either.   Practicality of use – user experience   This lip balm is very easy to use even if you are not a fan of sphere balms. It’s also very practical and easy to just throw in a handbag without having to worry that it will get damaged.   Skin compatibility   Lip skin compatibility is not as detailed or researched as much as our face skin, so one can only assume that this lip balm is suitable for all. Avoid using any cosmetics if your skin is broken or has open wounds.   Additionally, this product does not contain any skin type specific products.  

Other

  This balm lasts for 12M. This product is dermatologically tested and gluten free but not vegan (contains beeswax).   I couldn’t find this lip balm on the eos website but here’s what the brand states on the packaging:   “Light shimmery soft lips Eos Shimmer, enriched with hydrating jojoba oil, shea butter, and anti-oxidant vitamin E, enhances your lips with a touch of colour and shine.”   Ethics   It wouldn’t be ethical if we didn’t talk about the credibility of this section. It is very hard to impossible most of the time to verify the information or credibility of the sources, so please take this section with a pinch of salt unless stated otherwise. This section is not meant to be definitive and is most likely more about reputation around those subjects than credible information. If you have additional or more correct information please email: bondsofbeautymail@gmail.com   Eos supports sustainable sourcing and they are an active member of the Global Shea Alliance (GSA), a non-profit industry association. They also support I Am That Girl, a non-profit organization helping girls to transform self-doubt into self-love.   They partnered with TerraCycle to make their sphere balms out of recyclable packaging. You can participate in the eos recycling program for free. To learn more click here: eos & TerraCyle   They state that they do not test on animals but some of their products are sold in China were animal testing is required.   Results   I have very dry lips all year round that peel multiple times on a daily basis and I thought that this lip balm was cute enough to want to use constantly but also kept my lips soft and moisturised. It stays on the lips for a while but of course the exact time depends on whether you are eating, drinking or talking in the meantime.     Ingredients   This lip balm is not exactly skincare but it does contain some ingredient goodies that will help moisturise your skin.   To keep this article short, I am only listing the skin nourishing or skin positive/negative ingredients and ignoring the ones that only play formulation or pigmentation purposes. For the full list of this product’s ingredients scroll down to the “full list of ingredients” section.     Ingredient positives:  
  1. Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil –A skin replenishing, emollient and anti-oxidant.
  2. Beeswax/Cera Alba (Cire d’abeille) – A skin conditioner and fragrance. It is said to help heal inflammation, bruises and burns and can also help temporarily with itching. It is particularly beneficial for dry skin as it can help moisturise and create a waterproof barrier on the skin. It can also be a source of Vitamin A.
  3. Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil – A skin conditioner that is high in anti-oxidants and anti-bacterial fatty acids. Provides deep hydration and conditioning to skin. Some research shows that it can improve skin’s elasticity and by extent perhaps slowing down wrinkle formation.
  4. Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil– Also known as Jojoba oil, a skin conditioner that can enhance the skin’s restorative properties.
  5. Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract – A good skin conditioner. Helps retain moisture by forming a barrier and reduces the appearance of rough patches and dry flakes. Anti-flammatory, soothes itchy, irritated or sunburnt skin. Absorbs UVB, anti-oxidant, emollient, skin replenishing.
  6. Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil – Moisturiser and skin conditioner.
  7. Tocopherol – Refers to a class of compounds with similar activities to vitamin E. A skin conditioner, anti-oxidant and fragrance agent. Check out: Vitamins C & E – Do they work in skin care?
  8. Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil– Anti-oxidant, skin conditioner and fragrance.
  Ingredient negatives:    N/A   Ingredients that can cause irritation to some:   This is actually really case specific, as different people have different sensitivities and allergies. Just because a compound has been reported by some to cause sensitivity, it doesn’t mean you will have an issue. “Sensitizer” compounds being present is not a negative in my opinion, as this is the case with pretty much everything out there and funnily enough I’ve seen products that are targeted specifically for sensitive skin, containing some compounds that have been reported by some, or are known to be, sensitizers.   If you have sensitive skin or you are prone to skin sensitisation and unwanted reactions, try a little bit of this at the back of your hand first and consult a medical doctor if you are concerned.   Check out: What is sensitive skin? What are the causes and what can we do?   The following compounds present in this spray have been either proven or claimed by some to be sensitizers, irritants, allergens etc: Natural Flavor (Aroma), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil.   Full list of ingredients:   Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Beeswax/Cera Alba (Cire d’abeille), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Natural Flavor (Aroma), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Mica, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Red 6(CI 15850).    

Verdict

  This lip balm is not the best skincare product you could use on your lips but it is a very good lip balm for when you are on the go. It looks great and it doesn’t feel sticky or heavy. Plus it moisturisers the lips and keeps them soft.   I am not affiliated with any company or brand. These are my views and experiences.   Beauty is a very personal thing, we all have different skin, requirements and biological build which can influence things. What worked for me might not work for you and vice versa. Have you ever tried these products? Did they work for you? Let me know your experiences below!
Read More

Eco-tip: Halloween’s scary waste can be managed

Include USA ZWB TerraCycle Hit
The scale of Halloween in America is staggering.   According to an article in Redbook written by Kelly Marages and distributed through MSN, Americans spend about $3.8 billion on Halloween candy every year. Annual candy purchases include 35 million pounds, or about 9 billion pieces, of the candy type most associated with the holiday, candy corn, which Marages writes was invented in 1898.   A few differences between this year and 1898 help explain the incredible volume of candy distributed on Halloween.   Daylight saving time and street lighting give treat-or-treaters more hours to collect candy, and urbanization and infill development enable most kids to visit many more houses per hour.   Perhaps the biggest change boosting the velocity of candy distribution is an end to an old tradition; kids in the past had to entertain homeowners with a song, dance, joke, or poem in exchange for treats. Now, the only qualifications for receiving candy before running to the next house are the ability to knock on a door, hold a bag, say “trick or treat,” and perhaps show at least the hint of a costume.   Costumes are another feature of Halloween leading to mass consumption. According to Marages, Americans spend about $3.4 billion a year on Halloween costumes for themselves and $370 million dressing up their pets.   In addition to candy and costumes, Halloween is the impetus for massive production of ornamental pumpkins. In fact, according to Marages, 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are produced on more than 90,000 acres in the U.S. each year.  

What are the solutions?

  Of the waste resulting from these activities, candy wrappers are the least amenable to a solution. Etsy projects cleverly upcycle or reuse folded wrappers in items such as bracelets, and recycling can be accomplished through TerraCycle, but these are not viable options for many people.   Reuse projects for candy wrappers generally require painstaking folding work, and recycling through TerraCycle requires mail-in and payment of a $43 fee for the smallest mailer pouch.   If you distribute something other than candy for Halloween, you risk disappointing trick-or-treaters, but you can avoid buying a product packaged in non-recyclable wrapping and possibly transported thousands of miles to serve no nutritional purpose.   I found I can satisfy trick-or-treaters by giving out handfuls of nickels instead of candy, probably because, in the dark, kids cannot be sure if they got any quarters. In previous years, when I cared less about neighbors’ opinions, I gave out pencils and small toys from thrift stores.   Halloween waste from costumes can also be reduced. Cheap, plastic, disposable costumes will quickly become waste, but durable, reusable costumes look better and last longer. Shop at thrift stores for high-quality, low-cost costumes, and donate your used costume to a thrift store when you are done with it.  

YMCA costume exchange 

  The Camarillo Family YMCA, at 3111 Village at the Park Drive, will host a costume exchange program from Oct. 22-31, and it is open to nonmembers. In the lobby, the YMCA charges just $10 per costume and $1 for accessories such as masks, hats and magic wands. If you drop-off a costume, you get a $10 voucher for a new costume. According to Paige Harris, youth programs department head, the YMCA will have costumes available, left over from last year, even on the first day of the program.   The exchange will relocate to the Halloween at the Y event on Oct. 26 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. This free community event, also open to nonmembers, will feature an outdoor movie, “Hotel Transylvania,” on the lawn field starting around 6:30 p.m., so bring a lawn chair. The event will also feature a costume contest and food trucks.  

Pumpkin planning

  Pumpkins, the last of the three main Halloween wastes, can be easily managed. Pumpkins, including seeds, may be recycled in your curbside yard waste cart. Compost site operators bring the temperature of compost piles up over 130 degrees for several days, preventing seeds from sprouting in finished compost. Composters do this regularly anyway to kill seeds that cause weeds. Pumpkins, like fruit from landscape trees, are an exception to the general rule against food in yard waste carts in Ventura County.   Even better than putting your pumpkin in your yard waste cart is to compost it yourself in your own compost pile or worm box, saving the seeds for replanting next year. However, put pumpkins in your garbage cart if you have attached self-adhesive plastic rhinestones, glue-gunned beads, studs, rivets or other unnatural decorations. No one wants Halloween pumpkin bling contaminating the compost of their spring flower beds.  

Here’s a consolation

  Fortunately for the cause of local waste reduction, one Halloween tradition is limited to other parts of the country. In New England, the night before Halloween is known as Mischief Night; kids “T.P.” houses, throwing streamers of toilet paper over tree branches and landscaping. Even this waste and annoyance is tame compared to an older tradition. According to Marages, teens used to “throw stinky cabbages at their neighbors' houses or leave other rotting produce on their doorsteps.”   Eco-Tip is written by David Goldstein, an environmental resource analyst for the Ventura County Public Works Agency. He can be reached at 658-4312 or david.goldstein@ventura.org.
Read More

Three Ways You Can Recycle Old Pots and Pans, No Matter Where You Live

Include USA ZWB TerraCycle Hit
Knowing when it's time for a new cookware set is easy: Usually, outward signs of wear and tear are quite obvious, and in the case of nonstick cookware, surface coatings have usually all but vanished. But knowing what to do with that old set of cookware isn't as simple. Unlike many of the other items in our kitchens, we can't simply break down pots and pans to be recycled and picked up on the curb-and, in most cases, these items can't even be recycled to begin with. Darby Hoover, a senior resource specialist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, says you have to know what your piece of cookware is made out of before recycling it. Then, whether or not you can recycle it depends on where you live. "Our recycling system in the United States is very localized; the first thing that everyone should do is check with their municipality," Hoover says. Each area in the country has different recycling protocols based on the materials found in each product, not based on the actual product itself-you won't find universal rules about recycles pots and pans, but rather rules around recycling the materials they're made from. Most modern cookware items have a blend of plastic and metal, and special chemical coatings that can't be recycled; some municipalities have additional rules on ferrous metals (those that are magnetic).
"Cast iron is straight up scrap metal with value and can be reused," Hoover says, adding that the same goes for aluminum, stainless steel, and copper. "Metal has market value, but if you have a newer pan that's coated with Teflon or another non-stick treatment, that starts to get a bit trickier, since it may or may not be accepted in city recycling." In some cases, however, the brand that you purchased the cookware from may accept the item as a return and recycle it. "Calphalon does recycle any damaged Calphalon cookware received when consumers send it in as part of our extensive warranty program," says Brent Reams, a representative for Newell Brands. If cookware is coated, most recycling agencies will have to remove outward layers before it can be recycled, but only a select few localities will remove these coatings (New York City and Maryland's Montgomery County are examples in the Northeast). The best chance of ensuring your cookware doesn't end up in the trash is to head to a local scrap yard. "Metal dealers are often receptive to dropoffs, and if you can cut out the recycling center, they'll accept the pieces they can actually use from you," Hoover says. In addition to recycling at local centers or via metal dealers, here are three other ways you can make sure used cookware stays out of landfills and finds a new home.

TerraCycle

If you're unable to find a metal scrap yard or donate the item, Hoover says there's one last option for you, and it happens to be the most convenient. "TerraCycle is an organization that specializes in accepting and repurposing hard to recycle materials; things like potato chip bags and sandwich bags, things that are not normally accepted for recycling at the community level," she says. "They accept many things and are able to make them into something entirely new." They offer a Kitchen Separation Zero Waste Box that will be shipped to your door and can be filled with almost any kitchen item you wish to recycle. Prices start at $109 and that cost includes return shipping and processing of whatever you send to be recycled (they do not accept electronics). And Hoover says that TerraCycle really does upcycle-materials are sorted and repurposed into everyday products, like benches and watering cans, instead of being sent to landfills.
Read More