小時候訂羊奶，每天收到新鮮羊奶，再把喝完的罐子放回信箱的購物方式，如今可能成為「零廢物」購物的解方，幾大消費品牌，聯手推出零廢物平台Loop，把不確定到底回收到哪裡去的容器，重新送回製造商，比垃圾分類更簡便，可能重新顛覆我們的購物方式。

据英国《卫报》1月15日报道，英国本周启动首个国家性的隐形眼镜免费回收计划。据报道，在英国，约有370万人佩戴隐形眼镜。任何品牌隐形眼镜的佩戴者都可以选择要么把他们丢弃的物品和包装收集起来，要么把它们扔到Boots光学公司和选定的独立商店的回收垃圾箱中。

医学制药商Johnson & Johnson Vision（强生）与回收公司TerraCycle（泰瑞环保）合作推出了一项隐形眼镜回收计划。这项计划建议英国民众可事先查看安视优（Acuvue）和TerraCycle的网站，了解最近的公开回收地点，也可请人到府收件或邮寄回收。

São Paulo, 27 de fevereiro de 2019 – O Programa Nacional de Reciclagem de Cápsulas de Café, o Reciclo, de L’OR e Pilão Cápsulas de Alumínio, conquistou, na última quinta-feira (21), o Prêmio Eco Brasil. Lançado há dois anos, o projeto é uma parceria entre a JDE Brasil, detentora das marcas, e a TerraCycle, empresa especializada em soluções para resíduos sólidos.

With the demands of modern parenting, baby food pouches leave some caregivers in a dilemma: Is the quest to feed our children nourishing food while on the go more important than environmental stewardship? In general, baby food pouches contain nutritious, often organic, whole foods and serve as way to healthily feed a child while in transit, on a conference call, at the park or when engaged in any of the other myriad activities that today’s busy families contend with. However, as reported time and again, the pouches are constructed of laminated mixed materials, such as aluminum and plastic, that aren’t easily separated. In countries around the world they are nearly impossible to recycle through municipal recycling programs. Ella’s Kitchen, a UK organic baby and toddler food brand whose products can be found in more than 40 countries worldwide, was the first in the sector to bring food to the market in pouches. The trend quickly gained momentum. According to industry data, the global packaged baby food market is a $53 billion dollar (and growing) business. As reported by The New York Times, 25% of baby food sales in the U.S. today are dedicated to pouches. For the foreseeable future, at least, pouches are here to stay. Some in the sector, including Ella's Kitchen, argue that in the grand scheme pouches may be relatively climate-friendly compared to other forms of packaging, like glass jars, as they are lighter-weight and space-saving. The result is fewer carbon emissions during the product’s life cycle. Ella's Kitchen reports that in 2018, 26% of their product packaging was recyclable through municipal recycling programs in their home country of the UK. This packaging accounted for the company's cardboard and plastic pots/trays. The remaining 74% of the company’s product packaging, pouches and snack wrappers, could not be recycled by municipal providers, the company says. To address this situation, since 2010 Ella’s Kitchen has partnered with Canadian-based TerraCycle to offer a recycling program for the company’s pouches in a program they have termed "EllaCycle." TerraCycle’s business model is built on repurposing traditionally non-recyclable waste. In the EllaCycle model a collection point for pouches is established by what the company calls a “Superhero EllaCycler.” Any baby food pouch, regardless of manufacturer, is accepted at this community collection point. The collected pouches are then sent to TerraCycle for repurposing. According to Ella’s Kitchen, the pouches are broken down into hard plastic granules and used to manufacture items like benches, plant pots and fence posts. There’s an added social dimension to the program: For every pouch collected, the Superhero EllaCycler earns two pence for donation to a charity of their choosing. Ella’s Kitchen says that there are now more than 400 EllaCycle drop off points across the UK and last year alone, more than 335,000 pouches were recycled through the program. On the social front, since EllaCycle started in 2010, more than £40,000 have been raised for charity. In the U.S., consumers can download free shipping labels from TerraCycle’s website to mail multiple brands of pouches, including those from Ella’s Kitchen, to the company for reuse. However, more can be done in the industry to ensure that 100% of the packaging used by consumers is easily recyclable. It is clear that Ella’s Kitchen agrees with this based on the targets established in their first sustainability report released this month, titled "The Good Stuff We Do." In the publication, Ella’s Kitchen promises that by 2024, 100% of the company’s product packaging will be recyclable or compostable through municipal programs. Ella’s Kitchen notes in "The Good Stuff We Do" that the company is willing to explore a solution for improved product packaging that better meets current recycling industry standards as well as support new recycling technologies. However, the company is confident that a greater impact can be made by collaborating with partners and other organizations to rethink waste streams and municipal programs, they say in the report. As part of this effort, last year Ella’s Kitchen signed The UK Plastics Pact, an initiative of the UK’s Waste and Resources Action Programme with support from the Ellen McArthur Foundation. The Pact aims to bring together constituents from across the value chain to create a circular economy for plastics in the UK. “We’re proud to have signed The UK Plastics Pact,” Chris Jenkins, the brand’s European sustainability manager, tells me. “It brings together brands and businesses, the waste industry and government to look at how we can work together to solve an issue like this,” he says regarding current limitations in the plastics recycling industry. Jenkins led the process of developing "The Good Stuff We Do" report including setting the sustainability targets outlined in the publication. As one of the first Certified B Corporations in the UK, a fundamental part of "The Good Stuff We Do" strategy is a focus on “being the change” and using the company's voice to maximize the positive impact that Ella's Kitchen can have on the world, Jenkins says. The company hopes to lead the industry in finding a 100% recyclable solution for baby food pouches, he says. Jenkins notes that he believes sustainable change in the industry will happen only when all the stakeholders in the life cycle of a product work together to ensure that there’s consistency in the type of materials used at the start for product packaging with what recyclers and waste handlers seek at the product’s end of life. He says that this currently isn’t happening industry-wide, and the UK Plastics Pact is a momentous undertaking that aims to engage all parties in a conversation to work towards this end. “It’s about joining all of those dots,” he tells me optimistically.  

Paper and plastic bottles typically come to mind when we think about recycling, but they're only a fraction of our waste — this company wants to make our waste stream 100% recyclable.

From wind power to office plants, associations have many opportunities to choose more environmentally sustainable options—on a macro and micro scale.

Recycling office paper no longer cuts it. So, beyond the familiar mantra of reduce, reuse, and recycle, where can an association start to make its workplace greener? Corporations have taken some bold steps that might be difficult for most associations to fully replicate, but implementing pieces of them on a smaller scale might be perfectly doable. For example, as part of Microsoft’s commitment to going carbon neutral, it imposes an internal carbon fee on all its business groups. The fee goes toward carbon offsets and other projects to neutralize the company’s carbon use. This means that as each group budgets its air travel, it also has to budget for carbon offsets for that travel. With that in mind, here are some different areas where your association can boost its green efforts: Carbon offsets. While Microsoft’s approach might be too much for most associations, you can purchase carbon offsets through terrapass that fund renewable energy and methane capture projects. At the same time, associations can help staff be more aware of their department’s carbon footprint—including staff and member air travel—and consider ways to monitor it and reduce it. Energy. Your office’s energy use is likely to be a large portion of your association’s environmental footprint. How do you go about becoming wind- or solar-powered? APPI Energy can help assess renewable energy options, and the Green-e website includes a search for green power and renewable energy certificate programs. Other energy-saving tips: Turning office equipment off—rather than leaving it in standby mode—and installing motion-activated lights. Your headquarters. If you’re heading to a new space, LEED certifies green buildings—those that are designed and built to reduce waste and negative effects on the environment, decrease lifecycle costs, and maximize the building occupants’ health and productivity. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do in an old building. LEED also has a program for existing buildings: LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance, which certifies the building for operating sustainably rather than for its design. Trash recycling. Office recycling programs for the basics like paper, cans, and bottles are common, but what about everything else? Many items that we typically throw away can be recycled, but not through our regular recycling channels. TerraCycle offers zero-waste boxes for all the other stuff—you fill it up the box and send it back. The company has all-in-one boxes that you can put nearly anything in, as well as more specialized ones, including a coffee capsule box for offices that use single-cup coffee machines. Compost. Another way to reduce the amount of office waste that goes to the landfill is to compost, and it doesn’t have to be messy. Services like CompostNow collect the compost and clean the designated compost can. Plants. Office plants can improve indoor air quality, as well as improve your well-being and productivity. Beyond these ideas, another important aspect is to get your staff involved. A sustainability team can pay attention to these and other sustainability-related issues, as well as educate other staff about them. A walk- or bike-to-work day can encourage staff who usually drive to choose no-car options when possible. And a volunteer project with staff or members pulling invasive species out of a nearby park or trail gets people outdoors and boosts morale. What has your association done to make its workplace greener? Tell us about it in the comments.

Sitting outside year after year, through the blazing summer sun and the freezing winters, patio furniture has to endure a wide array of extreme conditions. Sooner or later, it’s going to wear out. But can you recycle your old patio furniture? Well, that depends on the materials used to make it.

Recycling Patio Furniture by Material

Patio furniture is made from a variety of materials, each with its own recycling options — or frustrations. While metal outdoor furniture is easy to recycle, plastic furniture is far more challenging. Wood furniture, on the other hand, simply isn’t recyclable if it’s been painted or sealed to protect it from the elements. Below, we’ll investigate these more in depth. As with all recycling mysteries, we need to include one important note: If your furniture is still in usable condition, consider selling it or giving it away. Most donation centers that accept furniture will also accept patio furniture. You can also use Facebook garage sale groups or apps like Letgo and OfferUp to find a new home for your usable furniture. IT’S UNLIKELY YOUR CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM WILL ACCEPT THESE ITEMS. PHOTO: MABELAMBER, PIXABAY

 

Plastic Patio Furniture

There's a good chance you’ll find a resin identification code somewhere on your plastic furniture. Look for a little triangle with a number in it. The code indicates what type of plastic your furniture is made from. Most plastic furniture will be made from plastic number 5 or number 2. Due to the size and shape, it’s unlikely your curbside recycling program will accept these items. However, if you have a larger recycling facility in your area, they may accept them, so be sure to give them a call. To search for a recycler in your area, you can use Earth911 Recycling Search — just enter your ZIP code. Unfortunately, if your local recycling facility doesn’t accept plastic furniture, you don’t have many recycling options. TerraCycle has an outdoor furnishings zero waste box you can purchase. You’ll then be able to ship the furniture to them for recycling (be sure to fill it only with the materials they designate). However, this option is quite expensive. Some plastic furniture can be refinished, so that is an option to extend its life. These step-by-step instructions from WikiHow show you how to paint plastic furniture. IF YOUR FURNITURE IS STILL IN USABLE CONDITION, CONSIDER SELLING IT OR GIVING IT AWAY. PHOTO: PAMJPAT, PIXABAY

Metal Patio Furniture

Metal patio furniture is not only durable, it’s easily recyclable. Most metal furniture is made from aluminum, steel, or wrought iron. While your local recycler is unlikely to accept furniture in your curbside bin, your city probably has at least one scrap yard that will accept your old metal furniture. Just visit the Earth911 Recycling Search and search by the type of metal. Not sure what kind of metal your furniture is? Use a magnet to determine if it’s a ferrous or nonferrous metal (ferrous metals attract a magnet; nonferrous don’t). Then, search for ferrous metals or nonferrous metals with our Recycling Search tool. Be sure to call the facility before you make the trip to verify they will accept your specific items.

Wood Patio Furniture

Unfortunately, wood outdoor furniture isn’t recyclable. Since it’s usually treated with some type of varnish or sealer, it can’t be composted either. You still have some options. You can refinish it, repair it if broken, or break it down and reuse the good pieces to make something new. If it’s too broken or rotten for any of those options, you’ll have to throw it away. YOU CAN SIGNIFICANTLY EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR OUTDOOR FURNITURE WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND CARE. PHOTO: SILVERSTRIKE24, PIXABAY

Maintaining Your Patio Furniture

  While outdoor furniture will eventually need to be replaced, you can significantly extend its life with proper maintenance and care. Regularly cleaning your furniture is a good first step. When using soap to clean furniture, stick to mild detergents and read instructions/warnings carefully. Some soaps can discolor the furniture. Also, during the seasons when you aren’t using your patio furniture much, it’s a good idea to store it inside or under an overhang to limit exposure to the elements. You may also want to consider buying patio furniture covers, which, when used regularly, can dramatically lengthen the life of your outdoor furniture.

Sponsored by D’Addario and TerraCycle, musicians can bring any old instrument strings for recycling and get their electric or acoustic guitars restrung with D’Addario NYXL or Nickel Bronze Acoustic strings. Old strings collected during the event will be recycled through Playback, D’Addario’s free, national recycling program.

ALVAS MUSIC’S FREE RESTRING/RECYCLING EVENT SPONSORED BY D’ADDARIO AND TERRACYCLE

Local musicians are invited to attend a free recycle and restring event at Alvas Music in San Pedro, CA on Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Sponsored by D’Addario and TerraCycle, musicians can bring any old instrument strings for recycling and get their electric or acoustic guitars restrung with D’Addario NYXL or Nickel Bronze Acoustic strings. Old strings collected during the event will be recycled through Playback, D’Addario’s free, national recycling program.