Maybe you got a holiday tech upgrade with a new phone or laptop. But what you do with old devices matters.   A United Nations report in 2017 sounded the alarm on the waste associated with technology, with 45 million tons of e-waste tossed in 2016 — and only about 20% was recycled.   If all the valuable metals were collected from those electronics, it would be worth $55 billion.   “This problem is burgeoning, it’s getting bigger and bigger,” says Steven Dege with TerraCycle, a company that specializes in hard-to-recycle materials. “And as our population grows, it’s continuing to get bigger and bigger, and if we don’t tackle it or start to develop means or ways to recycle these items, it’s going to become a massive, massive issue later on.”   Dege recommends you find a local electronics recycle location.   Consumer Reports says you can also donate your old device to a charity or nonprofit.   Dell and Goodwill have a partnership that allows you to drop off your old technology at some Goodwill locations.   Apple and Amazon may give you a credit or gift card for old electronics.   Sprint buys phones from any carrier.   Best Buy also has a number of recycling options.   But before you do any of that, make sure you protect your data first.   “The No. 1 thing that everybody should do is wipe your information off the phone, off your computers, laptops, things of that nature,” Dege says. “You don’t want that information to get anywhere, to go anywhere, other than yourself.”   Your best bet on making sure you properly wipe a device is finding a YouTube instructional video specific to that brand and model.

Maybe you got a holiday tech upgrade with a new phone or laptop. But what you do with old devices matters.   A United Nations report in 2017 sounded the alarm on the waste associated with technology, with 45 million tons of e-waste tossed in 2016 — and only about 20% was recycled.   If all the valuable metals were collected from those electronics, it would be worth $55 billion.   “This problem is burgeoning, it’s getting bigger and bigger,” says Steven Dege with TerraCycle, a company that specializes in hard-to-recycle materials. “And as our population grows, it’s continuing to get bigger and bigger, and if we don’t tackle it or start to develop means or ways to recycle these items, it’s going to become a massive, massive issue later on.”   Dege recommends you find a local electronics recycle location.   Consumer Reports says you can also donate your old device to a charity or nonprofit.   Dell and Goodwill have a partnership that allows you to drop off your old technology at some Goodwill locations.   Apple and Amazon may give you a credit or gift card for old electronics.   Sprint buys phones from any carrier.   Best Buy also has a number of recycling options.   But before you do any of that, make sure you protect your data first.   “The No. 1 thing that everybody should do is wipe your information off the phone, off your computers, laptops, things of that nature,” Dege says. “You don’t want that information to get anywhere, to go anywhere, other than yourself.”   Your best bet on making sure you properly wipe a device is finding a YouTube instructional video specific to that brand and model.

Maybe you got a holiday tech upgrade with a new phone or laptop. But what you do with old devices matters. A United Nations report in 2017 sounded the alarm on the waste associated with technology, with 45 million tons of e-waste tossed in 2016 — and only about 20% was recycled. If all the valuable metals were collected from those electronics, it would be worth $55 billion. “This problem is burgeoning, it’s getting bigger and bigger,” says Steven Dege with TerraCycle, a company that specializes in hard-to-recycle materials. “And as our population grows, it’s continuing to get bigger and bigger, and if we don’t tackle it or start to develop means or ways to recycle these items, it’s going to become a massive, massive issue later on.” Dege recommends you find a local electronics recycle location. Consumer Reports says you can also donate your old device to a charity or nonprofit. Dell and Goodwill have a partnership that allows you to drop off your old technology at some Goodwill locations. Apple and Amazon may give you a credit or gift card for old electronics. Sprint buys phones from any carrier. Best Buy also has a number of recycling options. But before you do any of that, make sure you protect your data first. “The No. 1 thing that everybody should do is wipe your information off the phone, off your computers, laptops, things of that nature,” Dege says. “You don’t want that information to get anywhere, to go anywhere, other than yourself.” Your best bet on making sure you properly wipe a device is finding a YouTube instructional video specific to that brand and model.

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced the return of Subaru WinterFest presented by Harman Kardon®, the automaker’s highly anticipated, music and lifestyle tour offering one-of-a-kind experiences for winter warriors across the country. Featuring weekend stops at nine of the nation’s top mountain resorts, the 2020 Subaru WinterFest tour will feature live music, complimentary snacks and refreshments, dog activities (at select resorts), daily giveaways and gear demos to create a truly unique experience for outdoor enthusiasts and Subaru owners alike. To eliminate and divert waste from landfills, the automaker will again implement green event practices including expanded recycling collection with TerraCycle® and waste reduction education with Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. In partnership with POWDR, one of the last family-owned adventure lifestyle companies with multiple mountain resort destinations, each stop on the Subaru WinterFest tour will include live music sponsored by Harman Kardon®, the premium audio partner for Subaru vehicles. Subaru WinterFest will include shows from national touring bluegrass, indie and Americana bands such as Shakey Graves, Billy Strings, The Infamous Stringdusters, Railroad Earth, The Lil Smokies, Fruition and more. Attendees are encouraged to demo the latest gear from top brands such as Nordica, Lib Tech, SHRED, Thule, and other partners offering daily giveaways on-site. Mountain-goers are invited to play lawn games, relax in hammocks, or warm up at upgraded hangout zones with fire pits by Solo Stove while enjoying winter comforts from Chocolove, KIND Healthy Snacks, La Colombe Coffee Roasters, and SMASHMALLOW. The latest Subaru vehicles will also be on hand for exploration including the all-new 2020 Outback. Through dynamic programming executed by POWDR’s experiential marketing team, weekend guests are encouraged to engage with experts and like-minded adventure seekers – making time off the slopes just as exciting as on them. In addition to guest activities, Subaru owners are invited to partake in the “Subaru Weekend Takeover” featuring special experiences for Subaru owners such as exclusive mountain gondola rides, tram jam sessions, intimate backcountry YURT concerts, and much more. Subaru owners will also receive VIP parking and special gifts (while supplies last). “Subaru has long been known for its all-wheel-drive vehicles that help power skiers and snowboarders to countless winter adventures,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America Inc. “We are delighted to once again help winter warriors seize the snow days and enjoy a memorable experience at the nation’s top mountain resorts.” Subaru Loves the Earth  In line with the automaker’s Subaru Loves The Earth initiative, Subaru will again work alongside TerraCycle to collect hard to recycle waste generated during Subaru WinterFest and Leave No Trace Center to educate consumers on zero landfill practices. Additionally, Subaru has provided co-branded TerraCycle Zero Waste Box™ to all Subaru WinterFest resorts, offering a convenient way for attendees to recycle snack wrappers accumulated from outdoor activities. In partnership with Klean Kanteen, Subaru and Klean event teams will also provide attendees with reusable bottles, mugs, apparel (while supplies last), and daily Klean bundle giveaway prizes, all of which help reduce the environmental footprint. Subaru Loves Pets Dogs and their people are welcome at select Subaru WinterFest resort locations, where they will find games, guided training sessions, photo ops, and giveaways at the Super Chewer Outpost by BARK. These basecamps for dog adventures are built at select tour stops (excludes Snowshoe Mountain, WV and Snowbird, UT) in partnership with BARK, the makers of BarkBox. In collaboration with longtime partner the National Ski Patrol® (NSP), Subaru will continue to put a spotlight on outdoor safety by celebrating the mountain communities’ canine heroes. During WinterFest events this season, for every Subaru information form received, Subaru will donate $1 to the Subaru National Ski Patrol Avalanche Rescue Dog Scholarship Fund, created together with NSP to send avalanche rescue K-9 teams of dogs and their handlers to the biannual Wasatch Backcountry Rescue’s International Dog School. To date, Subaru of America has donated more than $35,000 to the avalanche dog scholarship fund. Avalanche rescue dogs are an amazing resource for ski patrols as one dog can search a far larger area in much less time than even a dozen trained humans.

TerraCycle says it can recycle everything -- ribbons, bows, tissue paper and wrapping paper with glitter -- in its Gift Zero Waste Box Growing unease about waste has some Americans rethinking wrapping paper. Gift wrap is still a huge business. U.S. sales of wrapping paper climbed 4% to $8.14 billion last year, according to a recent report by Sundale Research. But sales of reusable gift bags rose faster, the company said. Sundale said it's also closely watching green trends -- like furoshiki, the Japanese art of wrapping with fabric -- because they could impact gift wrap sales in the coming years. Marie Wood, a student at Northern Arizona University, started wrapping Christmas gifts in brown paper grocery bags a few years ago when she saw the bags piling up at home. "It wasn't consciously around environmentalism, but a good way to use these bags that aren't going to get used otherwise," she said. Now that her parents carry reusable bags to the grocery, the pile is getting smaller. Wood says she might switch to fabric wrapping that she can reuse each year. "I want to change the disposable nature of my wrapping," she said. Some consumers are ditching wrapping altogether. In a survey released last month, half of U.S. respondents said they will give holiday gifts without wrapping this year to avoid using paper, according to Accenture, a consulting firm. Nearly two-thirds said they would happily receive gifts without wrapping. Read:No pizza boxes, batteries or loose shredded paper -- fix your recycling sins (link) Gift wrap companies are taking notice. IG Design Group, a United Kingdom-based maker of stationery and wrapping paper, said earlier this year that it removed glitter from its paper because it's not recyclable. Paper Source, a Chicago-based chain, introduced a recyclable wrapping paper made out of crushed marble and limestone that uses less water to produce than regular paper. A limited release of the paper sold out before the holidays last year. This year, about one-third of Paper Source's holiday wrapping papers will be stone-based. "Our customer is more aware of sustainability and their carbon footprint," said Patrick Priore, the chief marketing officer for Paper Source. "We would be foolish not to go in that area." Here are some wrapping and recycling ideas: -- Choose recyclable gift wrap. Papers that contain foil, plastic coating, cellophane and glitter are not recyclable, according to the American Forest and Paper Association. The association says a general rule of thumb is to crumple up the paper; if it stays in a tight ball, it's paper-based and can be recycled. Kula, Hawaii-based Wrappily uses old printing presses to print designs on recyclable newsprint. A three-sheet set of its paper is $10. Hallmark sells a set of four rolls -- 35.2 feet in total -- for $14.99. Paper Source says its stone paper can be recycled; it costs $9.95 for a 10-foot roll. -- Go with gift bags. Westlake, Ohio-based American Greetings says gift bags now make up 30% of its wrapping business. They cost more upfront than many wrapping papers, but they're easy to reuse; just cut off ribbon handles -- which aren't recyclable -- if you're putting paper gift bags in the recycling bin. Many sizes and varieties of gift bags are available at Etsy.com. Philadelphia-based VZ Wraps sells a set of three cotton wine bags for $13.59. Amazon has a set of five cotton bags for $23.95. -- Wrap with fabric. An ancient craft in Japan is gaining converts elsewhere. Ten Thousand Villages, a fair-trade retail chain, sells gift wrap made from saris that are recycled by artisans in Bangladesh. The company says sales have been growing steadily since the wraps were introduced in 2013; so far this year, sales are up 20% over 2018. The 26-square-inch wrap, which comes with instructions, sells for $12.99. Or go even simpler; wrap a gift in a pillowcase or a T-shirt. -- Recycle it all. New Jersey-based recycling company TerraCycle promises to recycle everything -- including ribbons, bows, tissue paper and wrapping paper with glitter -- in its Gift Zero Waste Box. The company sends customers an empty box with a paid return label; once it's full of gift wrap, customers send it back. TerraCycle says it has processes for even hard-to-recycle products like ribbon, which it uses for insulation or melts into plastic pellets. The company says a medium box is the most popular size for family gatherings; it costs $147.

TerraCycle says it can recycle everything -- ribbons, bows, tissue paper and wrapping paper with glitter -- in its Gift Zero Waste Box Growing unease about waste has some Americans rethinking wrapping paper. Gift wrap is still a huge business. U.S. sales of wrapping paper climbed 4% to $8.14 billion last year, according to a recent report by Sundale Research. But sales of reusable gift bags rose faster, the company said. Sundale said it's also closely watching green trends -- like furoshiki, the Japanese art of wrapping with fabric -- because they could impact gift wrap sales in the coming years. Marie Wood, a student at Northern Arizona University, started wrapping Christmas gifts in brown paper grocery bags a few years ago when she saw the bags piling up at home. "It wasn't consciously around environmentalism, but a good way to use these bags that aren't going to get used otherwise," she said. Now that her parents carry reusable bags to the grocery, the pile is getting smaller. Wood says she might switch to fabric wrapping that she can reuse each year. "I want to change the disposable nature of my wrapping," she said. Some consumers are ditching wrapping altogether. In a survey released last month, half of U.S. respondents said they will give holiday gifts without wrapping this year to avoid using paper, according to Accenture, a consulting firm. Nearly two-thirds said they would happily receive gifts without wrapping. Read:No pizza boxes, batteries or loose shredded paper -- fix your recycling sins (link) Gift wrap companies are taking notice. IG Design Group, a United Kingdom-based maker of stationery and wrapping paper, said earlier this year that it removed glitter from its paper because it's not recyclable. Paper Source, a Chicago-based chain, introduced a recyclable wrapping paper made out of crushed marble and limestone that uses less water to produce than regular paper. A limited release of the paper sold out before the holidays last year. This year, about one-third of Paper Source's holiday wrapping papers will be stone-based. "Our customer is more aware of sustainability and their carbon footprint," said Patrick Priore, the chief marketing officer for Paper Source. "We would be foolish not to go in that area." Here are some wrapping and recycling ideas: -- Choose recyclable gift wrap. Papers that contain foil, plastic coating, cellophane and glitter are not recyclable, according to the American Forest and Paper Association. The association says a general rule of thumb is to crumple up the paper; if it stays in a tight ball, it's paper-based and can be recycled. Kula, Hawaii-based Wrappily uses old printing presses to print designs on recyclable newsprint. A three-sheet set of its paper is $10. Hallmark sells a set of four rolls -- 35.2 feet in total -- for $14.99. Paper Source says its stone paper can be recycled; it costs $9.95 for a 10-foot roll. -- Go with gift bags. Westlake, Ohio-based American Greetings says gift bags now make up 30% of its wrapping business. They cost more upfront than many wrapping papers, but they're easy to reuse; just cut off ribbon handles -- which aren't recyclable -- if you're putting paper gift bags in the recycling bin. Many sizes and varieties of gift bags are available at Etsy.com. Philadelphia-based VZ Wraps sells a set of three cotton wine bags for $13.59. Amazon has a set of five cotton bags for $23.95. -- Wrap with fabric. An ancient craft in Japan is gaining converts elsewhere. Ten Thousand Villages, a fair-trade retail chain, sells gift wrap made from saris that are recycled by artisans in Bangladesh. The company says sales have been growing steadily since the wraps were introduced in 2013; so far this year, sales are up 20% over 2018. The 26-square-inch wrap, which comes with instructions, sells for $12.99. Or go even simpler; wrap a gift in a pillowcase or a T-shirt. -- Recycle it all. New Jersey-based recycling company TerraCycle promises to recycle everything -- including ribbons, bows, tissue paper and wrapping paper with glitter -- in its Gift Zero Waste Box. The company sends customers an empty box with a paid return label; once it's full of gift wrap, customers send it back. TerraCycle says it has processes for even hard-to-recycle products like ribbon, which it uses for insulation or melts into plastic pellets. The company says a medium box is the most popular size for family gatherings; it costs $147.

The Earth911 team has a lot to celebrate this year. We’re live on Google Assistant, where you can now ask how and where to recycle materials with a simple “Hey, Google!” Evelyn Fielding-Lopez and Mitch Ratcliffe sit down to talk about the last year and where sustainability is going. Learn how to be environmentally friendly at college — the lessons there will affect a lifetime and can be applied by anyone. We have a lot of confidence that youth will live in greater harmony with the planet. Check out Seattle-based Ridwell, which provides home pickup of batteries, textiles, and plastic film. Adding flexibility to the single-stream waste system is the best hope for increased recycling success. We also take a look a the sustainability of cannabis farming. As the fast-growing industry evolves, will it embrace sustainability information for consumers? We’d like to see information about recycling on cannabis packaging. For those looking for a natural remedy, we also discuss the benefits of sleep, hydration, and natural medicine to staying healthy. Of course, we also answer your Earthling Questions. How to organize community action to get recycling services? One of our listeners just lost local recycling and wants to bring it back. What is working with TerraCycle like? Jessica, a listener on Facebook wants to partner with TerraCycle to address mixed materials, such as composite packaging. And what do you do with used antifreeze? Can it be filtered and reused at home?

Gift cards are a major pet-peeve of mine. I strongly believe that they are doing more harm than good by making us impulse shop and buy crap we simply don’t need, have you ever thought about What Happens To All Those Plastic Gift Cards? Can you relate? Someone gives you a gift card and you feel the urge to use it right away? Gift cards are also made from PVC, a type of plastic that is typically not recycled and is also not accepted by most recycling system. So they end up in the garbage, and then landfill. Related: A Guide To Re-Gifting Without Remorse Credit cards and hotel key cards are made of PVC, as are items like pipes, vinyl siding for your house, records, shower curtains and mattress covers. According to the International Card Manufacturers Association, nearly 17 billion plastic cards were produced in 2006. And 10 billion new gift cards are created every year. 10 billion gift cards have the potential to add 75 to 100 million pounds of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material to landfills. That’s because gift cards are often made from PVC — a toxic compound that produces carcinogens and toxins including chlorine residue and heavy-metal pollutants. Even worse, when burned, PVC releases dioxins and gases such as hydrogen chloride. That’s a big issue and I am not sure one that can be solved easily as a recent survey showed that they are the most popular thing to give in Canada. Realted: Great Lakes Facing An Attack From Micro-Plastic We actually have an entire website dedicated to buying gift cards. UGH! In another survey 53% of us will opt to buy gift cards this year. Now you are probably thinking what’s the big deal?  these are so small? But when you consider that in 2014, two billion gift cards were purchased in the U.S. alone it’s a lot. According to Giftrocket.com each physical card contains about five grams of PVC and generates 21 grams of CO2. That means in total, gift cards created 10,000 tonnes of PVC waste and 42,000 tonnes of CO2 in the U.S. alone in 2014. So what can you do? Talk to the retailer and ask them if they have a take back program. Consider and e-gift card that can be used electronically. Mail the used card to a recycling centre  such as Terracycle. They allow you to send in your plastic gift cards for recycling. These companies break the plastic cards down and create new plastic products from the material. Upcycle your gift card into something else. If you’re feeling crafty, you can always use the plastic gift card for a wide range of projects. For example, you can use a gift card to keep your earbud cords from tangling. Reload the card and gift it to someone else. I’d love to see more retailers offer better options that plastic, like wood or paper AND it would be even better if the cars could be reloaded, in many cases they can’t be. Earthworks Systems, which manufactures gift cards from 100% recycled PVC, will also accept old cards for recycling. To get instructions about recycling your cards, fill out the registration form on the company’s website and a representative will email all the necessary information. There has been some progress with some retailers offering cards made from corn sugar that are biodegradable. But this raises the issue of using food crops, or crops on land suitable for food production, for something other than food. I’ve also read about PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) being used – PET is one of the easiest plastics to recycle and is most commonly found in the form of soda bottles. The barrier to uptake appears to be cost, with PET costing about 20% more. We all have plastic cards in our wallets: drivers licences, health cars, credit cards etc. and we are all responsible for where these little plastic cards end up.