Episode 38: This podcast episode brings listeners a People’s Choice Session from WasteExpo 2019. Liz Bothwell | Dec 16, 2019   In the latest episode of our NothingWasted! Podcast, we bring you a dynamic People’s Choice Session from WasteExpo 2019: “The Latest Trends on Hard to Recycle Items.” The discussion features Walter Alcorn, vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability for the Consumer Technology Association; Brett Stevens, global vice president of material sales and procurement for TerraCycle; and Kelly Cramer, lead of How2Recycling and director of program management for the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.   Here’s a sneak peek into some of the speakers’ insights:   Walter Alcorn: Some of these electronics, especially historically, are tough to recycle; CRT [cathode-ray tub] televisions and monitors are a drag—they have leaded glass in the tubes, which is very difficult to separate out. But the good news is that we’re seeing less amounts of lead in the newer products; mercury has also gone away now that the CCFL/LCD [cold cathode fluorescent lamp/liquid crystal display, respectively] era is over … Roughly a quarter of U.S. households still have at least one CRT television or monitor, and that’s one thing that causes the entire stream of consumer electronics to be underwater economically. It costs more to recycle those electronics than you can get on the back end as far as revenue. Collection is also a huge challenge.   Kelly Cramer: How is the consumer going to experience this package? We can’t ask people to do surgery on their packaging. So, we have to have a common-sense perspective, but we also have to think about the consistency of every label compared to those that have been issued in the past and will be issued in the future.   Brett Stevens: Our business model is based on three key pillars: to make everything recyclable, by which brands fund the collection and recycling of items—and we work with lots of CPG [consumer packaged goods] companies around the world to do just that; to get brands to make their packaging or products from recycled materials; and, finally, our newest program, which is convincing brands to rethink the design of their packaging entirely—to shift to a durable, reusable model.   Listen to the full episode below and more episodes here.

As the adage goes: We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Just under five years ago, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set for the year 2030: 17 targets for "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production is the concept touching all of the Goals. The earth is a finite cradle, but there can be more balance with enough to go around. Systems thinking to support responsible use of materials (such as through recycling) and equitable access to resources will give way to a more connected world.

Collaboration across the Goals is integral to responsible consumption

We at TerraCycle are of the position there is no such thing as waste — only misplaced resources. But the world doesn’t currently see it that way, which is why there is so much discarded material; especially plastic — a substance that is nearly indestructible, takes eons to break down; and could potentially be used for a great number of things, such as building housing or repairing roads. Where the human-made concept of waste is sort of black and white (something is valuable or it isn’t); collaboration across industries, governments and business sectors can bring valuable perspectives together for more opportunities to capture resources. For example, the higher up the waste hierarchy you move (landfilling to incineration to recycling to reuse), more jobs are created to keep resources such as water, natural gas, even information cycling around and used in production. This supports SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; which has many of the same priorities as SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Radical breakthroughs start with the achievable

One of the most straightforward targets of SDG 12 is to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The importance of keeping one eye on ideal situations (such as more consumers investing in durable goods, governments passing producer responsibility laws, or businesses designing for recyclability) while doing actionable, everyday work on the ground cannot be stressed enough. We work with global brands, retailers and municipalities to offer the world ways to consume more responsibly; it is through these partnerships that we are able to fund programs and work around the gaps in public recycling. But one of the most interesting solutions we provide is the ability for people to make a difference on their own. For the many types of packaging and products that don’t have a sponsored program or a home in municipal recycling, our Zero Waste Box division empowers people to take matters into their own hands. Consumers advance more circular use of material by working to support each aspect of the recycling system — access, participation, separation of materials, and end-markets (which we find) — with a personal investment in the global recycling network.

We can drive more action by losing gaps in data

It is difficult to put stock in responsible consumption activities when there is little or no data to support it, especially at the consumer level. Individuals look for positive impact metrics, as well as incentives, for activities such as recycling, buying secondhand, or conserving water and gas at home. More macro gaps in data on food loss and waste go hand-in-hand with incomprehensive nature systems globally. Resources must be placed against quantifying progress as systems for responsible consumption of resources improve. Better data equals better solutions and more accurate stock of policy needs and the change towards a circular economy. For example, accompanying the banning of single-use plastics in a city, country or even a school with metrics of litter reduction per mile conveys to stakeholders what’s working, what isn’t, and how to improve.

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A rising middle class, a world population projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, and a planet approaching the limit of its ability to provide make responsible consumption not just a buzz topic, but a matter of survival. Whether the eradication of poverty, hunger or illness (SDGs 1-3); or the support of economic growth and climate positivity (SDG 8 and 13), all goals for sustainable development are about creating a balance of resource flows. Responsible production and consumption are essential to this — and achievable through connection, community and a bit of creativity.

The chemistry department of Laflèche College has joined the My Ecolabo program, an eco-responsible laboratory program. In fact, the Laflèche College chemistry laboratory has been showing level 1 Ecolabo certification for a few months.   Laboratory users have already implemented several targeted eco-responsible actions to ensure the maintenance and progression of the certification levels of the program: reduction of electricity consumption, recycling of materials and latex gloves through programs such as Terracycle, replacement of toxic products with ecological substitutes, etc. In addition, membership in the Ecolabo program is reflected in the educational component since the teaching of the eco-responsible and ecological vision is now also done in the classroom.   Orchestrated by a team of eco-leader volunteers from the University of Montreal, the My Ecolabo program aims, a priori, to raise awareness and present the benefits of eco-responsible laboratory practices and to improve laboratory management to make them more sustainable. Through concrete actions, members of the Écolabo program undertake to reduce the ecological impact of the laboratory's activities.

Once the holidays are over and your guests have returned to their homes, you’ve unwrapped all the presents under the tree, and you’ve toasted the New Year, take a look around. When the hubbub is all said and done, there’s a lot left over to clean up. In an effort to be as kind to Mother Earth as possible, you’ll want to dispose of things properly—and sometimes that means not throwing certain items into the recycling bin.   That might sound contradictory, but trust us: There are a few surprising materials that, when thrown in with your glass bottles and metal cans, can mess up the recycling process. To help guide you through what goes where, we pulled this excerpt from Erin Rhoads’s recently released book, Waste Not Everyday: 365 Ways to Reduce, Reuse, and Reconnect. And may you never throw your wreath in the trash again.  

Shattered Cups

Broken drinking glasses shouldn’t go into a recycling bin as they are made from tempered glass, which is different from a glass jam jar. One piece of tempered glass can ruin glass recycling. Instead, wrap it in newspaper, secure it to prevent any shards from poking out, and place it in your trash bin.  

Used Toothbrushes

Used plastic toothbrushes can be recycled at TerraCycle—or you can reuse them at home to assist with cleaning.  

Aluminum Foil

In the U.K. alone, more than 4,000 tons of aluminum foil is discarded during Christmas festivities. If foil can’t be reused, rinse it and roll it into a ball the size of your first so it can be recycled. Or do without.  

Wreaths and Trees

Grass clippings, tree branches, and weeds should be kept out of landfills, as organic matter doesn’t break down properly. Make sure they’re placed in a compost bin or taken to a drop-off point where they are accepted.  

Glitter and Confetti

Glitter and some confetti are made of plastic. It can easily escape into the wider environment, where animals mistake it for food. Think about going without; otherwise look for glitter made from natural materials (such as mica or cellulose) or use a hole-punch to make confetti out of dried leaves.  

Balloons

Balloons are used once. When they escape into the environment, they post a serious threat to wildlife, especially birds. Look for paper decorations and bunting that can be reused over and over. Bubbles are a fun option, too.   Excerpted with permission from Waste Not Everyday by Erin Rhoads, published by Hardie Grant, December 2019.

NASHOBA SCHOOLS - An unnatural calamity has befallen Santa’s elves in the North Pole. Too many toys are returning for recycling, and no matter how hard they try, they just can’t keep up. To save his magical workshop and the North Pole, Santa is going to need all the help he can get.   This is the story told in “Respect Your Toys” by author J. Anthony Garreffi, of Lancaster, who has been visiting students at Florence Sawyer School (Bolton), Mary Rowlandson School (Lancaster) and Center School (Stow) to read his book and share the important message of reducing waste, reusing materials and recycling.   “This empowering story teaches children of all ages that even our smallest, unintended actions can have huge consequences,” Garreffi said. “It’s exciting to teach students about how they can make a difference by reducing waste and recycling.”   As part of Garreffi’s educational school visits, he asks students to donate broken or worn out toys to be recycled. In return, students receive a free copy of one of his two books, “A ‘ChristMax’ Carol,” a story about compassion, or his second book, “Respect Your Toys.” Both books contain music to augment Garreffi’s messages, which he sings while playing his guitar. With the support of Hasbro toys and Terracycle, a zero-waste recycling company, all broken toys donated by the students will be 100 percent recycled.   “We are grateful to Garreffi for spending time with our students to help them understand how each of them and their families can make our environment a safer and cleaner place to live,” said Reina Rago, coordinator of Extended Learning and Enrichment for the Nashoba Regional School District. “There’s nothing better than watching a child’s eyes sparkle when they realize they count and can make a difference in the world.”

The city of Delray Beach is on a major mission to clean up cigarette butts.   In March, the city installed "cigarette butlers" along Atlantic Avenue from Swinton Avenue to U.S. 1. The butlers are little boxes where smokers can drop the end of their cigarettes and cigars.   "Those who are wanting to use it know what to look for," said Amanda Skeberis, the city’s Clean and Safe Administrator.   Skeberis said Delray Beach made the butlers easy to find, but tried to make them not noticeable for those who don’t know what they are. The butlers serve a purpose, and the used butts are passed on to be recycled.   Skeberis said the city has collected 23,000 butts since the program started.   "The paper in the tobacco, they break down, but then the filter has a lot of plastic fiber and that is the part they meltdown to create plastic," Skeberis said.   The butts get mailed to Terracycle at no cost to the city. Skaberis said Delray Beach is looking to add more butlers next year.

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.   For the first time ever, the majority of medical students are women. The proportion of women in medical school has been on the upswing, according to a new report, increasing from 46.9% in 2015 to 49.5% in 2018. This year, that percentage reached 50.5%. The continued growth in applicant numbers indicates that the interest in a medical career remains high, which is crucial as the United States faces a projected shortage of 122,000 physicians by 2032. Association of American Medical Colleges   The NEI is seeking your input on future research goals. Members of the public—including physicians, patients, caregivers and the scientific community—are asked to comment on 2 separate initiatives: NEI’s 2020 Vision for the Future and a new research program called the Anterior Segment Initiative (ASI). The former will look to better define the institute’s research opportunities and areas of emphasis, while the ASI plans to address current knowledge gaps about the anterior segment and barriers to research. National Eye Institute   A presumed case of familial retinitis pigmentosa quite literally got the best of physicians. The patient and her father had all the typical symptoms: nyctalopia, mild microcornea, slightly arrow anterior chamber angles without hyperopia and 1+ anterior vitreous cells. Genetic testing, however, revealed a missense mutation in the BEST1 gene, confirming a diagnosis of autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy. The patient, whose case was described in the latest issue of Ophthalmology, is expected to have a stable visual prognosis. Ophthalmology   Contact lens wearers and dog lovers unite … sort of. The Guide Dog Foundation just received a shipment of training modules including benches, tables, waste stations and agility ramps made from recycled contact lens materials. So far, the ONE by ONE Recycling Program—the only contact lens recycling program in the United States—has collected more than 95,000 pounds of waste such as contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since its inception in 2016. “We are grateful for the efforts of Bausch + Lomb and TerraCycle in reducing the environmental waste of contact lenses while also making this critical donation to help improve the lives of those who are blind or visually impaired,” said John Miller, CEO, Guide Dog Foundation. Bausch + Lomb, TerraCycle   Prefilled aflibercept syringes are now available in U.S. markets, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced. The single-use 2-mg syringes were approved back in August, and is indicated for 4 conditions: wet AMD, macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy. Regeneron

Vaping rubbish is multiplying on our streets and beaches, the latest environment issue to face New Zealanders.   However, a plan is underway to recycle  vape waste, and the companies behind the scheme say recycling it will  be a world first. Petone Beach Clean Up Crew coordinator Lorraine Shaab said the items, including refill bottles and the vapes themselves, were now appearing on Petone shores.   "It's something new that is making it way in to our waterways," she said.   "We have only started to find them this year, 2019."   A partnership between  TerraCycle and  Vapo and Alt New Zealand means used products  can be dropped off at Vapo stores for recycling.     The plan could save millions of pods, e-waste and batteries from ending up in New Zealand's environment.   Vapo and Alt New Zealand co-director Jonathan Devery said the launch would make vaping more environmentally friendly.   "A national litter audit this year found that more than 10 billion cigarette butts pollute New Zealand's ecosystem.   "We don't want to be like the tobacco industry ... we're committed to a smoke-free country and a sustainable future."   Terracycle Australia general manager Jean Bailliard said the national vape recycling program was the first of its kind in the world.   "E-cigarette litter is a growing problem and vapes are extremely hard to recycle due to to the difficulty in separating out the materials."   TerraCycle says it is able to disassemble and separate  the devices into their electrical and metal components, batteries and plastics.   The plastics can be shredded, melted and reused, and the metals and batteries can  be separated and recovered.     "We will reuse, upcycle and recycle the waste instead of incinerating or landfilling it.   "This moves waste from a linear system to a circular one, allowing it to keep cycling in our economy," Bailliard said.   It's the first phase of the programme - next year individuals will be able to send their vaping equipment directly to TerraCycle.   For every kilogram of vaping equipment sent to TerraCycle, Vapo and Alt will donate $1 towards the charity Sustainable Coastlines.

I know the holidays mean you are spiffing up your living and working spaces. That Swiffer is probably getting a workout — and if you’re concerned about the packaging and toss aways of the mop products, here’s a chance to recycle. Swiffer has partnered with TerraCycle to make their Swiffer Sweeper, Duster, and WetJet refills nationally recyclable. Through the Swiffer Recycling Program, consumers can now send in the following Swiffer cleaning products to be recycled for free: Swiffer Sweeper Wet Mopping Cloths; Dry Sweeping Cloths; Wet Heavy-Duty Mopping Cloths; Dry Heavy-Duty Sweeping Cloths; Swiffer Dusters; Heavy-Duty Dusters; WetJet Mopping pads; WetJet Heavy-Duty Mopping pads; and WetJet Wood Mopping pads. Sign up at terracycle.com/en-us/brigades/swiffer and mail in the accepted waste using a prepaid shipping label. The waste is broken down, separated by material, and the plastics are cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. Now, that’s a clean sweep!

"The next morning, the redness I had from trying to exfoliate and extract my milia was gone." I love new products—no, seriously. I’m that whacko that made my parents wait in line with me for Harry Potter books; I preorder the newest iPhones at 4 a.m.; I always try new beauty brands; I change out appliances like most people change their underwear. It’s beyond just wanting to create new memories; I love innovation. Science and technology are exciting for me. You could call me a crazy nerd, but that would be like calling Dolly Parton a blonde guitar player.   When I found out about a new skincare line helmed by a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry called Noble Panacea, I started shaking like a Chihuahua—I couldn’t try it fast enough. I love panaceas (i.e. universal remedies) like giant shrimp and Japanese white peaches from Okayama, and I’m always looking for more things to cure whatever ails me.   If you’re wondering what sets this skincare line apart, I’ll tell you: a promise of high-quality ingredients and a higher quality delivery system with more penetration than any other products.  

First Impressions

Upon arrival, the packaging confused me. Every product came in small sachets containing daily allotted dollops. Given the lack of freedom around portion control and not being able to use less than the sachet’s dose of cream for the day, the monthly price tag clocks in at a whopping weight of $215 for Radiant Resilience Moisturizer, $253 for the Prime Radiance Serum, $232 for the Overnight Recharge Cream, and $149 for the Vibrant Eye Infusion. Because of the non-re-sealable sachets, that is a per month price, making it one of the most expensive lines I’ve ever used.   Skincare is what I choose to spend money on. Even well-before I became a beauty writer, I always prioritized creams over clothes. My complexion is closely linked to my mental health, and if I end up living in a yurt made out of my empty product containers someday, then that’s my choice—and at least I’ll have good skin.   The good thing about Noble Panacea’s packaging (more on this later) is that I don’t have to carry an entire pharmacy when I travel. Flying already sucks, and never mind the pain of pleading and begging a testy TSA agent not to throw away your expensive jar of cream that’s slightly over the limit.   Even though I feel like a chicken that’s just been plucked when I do the math on the annual price of Noble Panacea, I’ll say this: it’s an amazing product. I opted to try the Brilliant Collection as a preventative treatment. Time waits for no man, but it might wait for Nobel Prize-winning chemistry. After one night of using the product, I could see a difference in my skin. I had just gotten off of a long and very stressful plane ride while wearing a hat, so my forehead looked like it had been to war.   The next morning, the redness I had from trying to exfoliate and extract my milia was gone. My skin was glowing, and I hadn’t even slept on my back (I do this when I don’t want to lose product to my pillow).      

The Ingredients

  The ingredients in the product are really good: trioctyldodecyl citrate is a citric acid based skin-softening emollient, N-acetyl glucosamine is an amide used to reduce hyperpigmentation caused by aging and the sun, allantoin is a skin-protecting agent known for its anti-aging properties and speedy cell turnover, just to name a few of my favorites. It also has sea water, which is alkaline and packed with minerals to calm dry and irritated skin—and, in my opinion, is pretty damn cool.   All of the formulas check off my boxes for high-quality products: there’s no artificial or noticeable fragrance, and the line is free from phthalates, mineral oil, parabens, silicone, GMO’s, SLS & SLES, alcohol, nitrates, palm oil, petrolatum, artificial colors, and gluten—plus, it’s cruelty-free (not tested on animals).  

The Packaging

  Now, back to the packaging for a moment. The aluminum-free sachet is a bit hard to open; if you don’t tear it straight across perfectly, you may lose some product. I just used little scissors for this step, but there is definitely room for improvement here. The disposable sachets came a complimentary envelope for responsible recycling. Once your envelope is full of your month’s supply of aluminum and FSC-free packets, the instructions say to contact the Noble Panacea Skincare Concierge for a shipping label for you to print at home. Slap that thing on a box and send the envelope off in a mailbox with TerraCycle, a responsible recycling program.   Look, I’m a busy (lazy) 29-year-old woman with a full travel schedule and lots of things to worry about, like chalky makeup application at high altitude, why a frozen-foods heir is ghosting me, and the fact “anal bleaching” is in my recent Google search history. The truth is, I don’t have time to call anyone (besides my therapist) when I’m done using an expensive skincare product, much less print something (I’m always out of ink in my cartridge) and then drop it in a mailbox (no one walks anywhere in L.A.). While I appreciate the efforts that Noble Panacea goes to in order to protect their bioavailable product and its recyclable packaging, I’m not sending my empties anywhere besides my building’s trash shoot—and that’s if I’m even at home. I am very environmentally conscious in other ways, so nobody try and come for me.  

 

Takeaways

  After two weeks of using Noble Panacea’s entire Brilliant Collection, I’m seriously stunned. I brought it to a facial so that my esthetician could use the products during the treatment, and her feedback was also positive, aside from saying the texture was tacky. The tacky feeling goes away quickly though, because these creams literally melt into your skin. I prefer a heavier feeling product anyway, because my skin is oily yet consistently dehydrated because I’m too lazy to drink water. If the surface of my skin isn’t moisturized, I’ll breakout like a pre-teen.   I genuinely love how my skin looks and feels after using this for two weeks. The products don’t pill under makeup, but I haven’t even needed to wear any, thanks to this. I haven’t had a single breakout, despite traveling for Thanksgiving, eating what I did at Thanksgiving, and being outside in a blizzard at altitude. I’ve been in hot, cold, dry, and downright miserable weather conditions, but my skin hasn’t budged in clarity or complexion. I’m shocked that it’s felt so hydrated, too.   This is definitely a new add-on to the desert island list for me. If I had to choose just one product from the line to put on my team, it would be the Overnight Recharge Cream. If the price tag makes you gag, consider using it for a month when you’re in need of a full skin reset; think about it as the price of 2 facials. With the new year upon us, we could all use a fresh start before the roaring ‘20s. If your 2019 has been anything like mine, you deserve to give yourself the gift of perfect skin. Glowing skin might not cure all, but it certainly comes really close.