The Massachusetts DEP has released their “Master Plan” for solid waste management in Massachusetts. The major components in the plan include increase in recycling, reduction in overall waste, monitoring and enforcement of waste bans, and modification to the incinerator moratorium. The proposed modification of the incinerator moratorium would encourage the use of alternative technologies, such as gasification, for converting waste to energy or fuel under certain conditions (nma.org).
The incinerator moratorium was introduced in 1988. At that time there were fourteen applications at DEP for new incinerators to be built. Fourteen were way too much for the DEP to handle. Having that many incinerators would mean our state would be burning all trash/MSW. Possibly hurting municipal recycling programs. ... read more
Plastic bags still seem to be one of the hardest materials to recycle. Although they are made of very easily recyclable materials they can many times be a contaminant in regular recycling. Problems with trying to properly recycle plastic bags is nothing new. Plastic bags have always been one of those commodities that have posed a challenge to collect and recycle. It’s no wonder why so many people would like to see them banned from being used.
Plastic bags are typically made from one of three basic types: high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The thicker glossier shopping bags from the mall or retail stores are LLDPE, while grocery bags are usually HDPE.
Today most recycling haulers are seeing plastic bags mixed in with recycling. This is occurring in both single stream and multi stream recycling programs. Plastic bags are being found mixed in both municipal and commercial recycling.... read more
Are you an environmentally-conscious individual looking to translate that passion for the planet into a fulfilling career? Do you long to extend your green efforts further than just your backyard? Then you might consider obtaining a sustainable degree.
Steadily growing in popularity the last few years, this is a field that’s in demand NOW and shows no signs of slowing. Recognizing the rising interest in the subject of green work and sustainability, numerous colleges and universities are now offering degree plans and certificates in this area.
If you’ve decided this is the direction you’d like to take, there are more than a few options from which you can choose. In fact, some prospective students find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices they have. Luckily, for them, two organizations have taken it upon themselves to provide a full, informative list of the academic programs available in this area of study. ... read more
In the recent years, Lexmark has been earning a reputation in being an environment-conscious company contributing with its program that helps in our environment’s conservation and sustainability. From its efforts of designing its products with the environment in mind, to how they engineer their packaging to reduce materials, all the way to their recycling programs, Lexmark strives to be an environmentally responsible provider of products and services.
One of these recycling programs Lexmark have conducted is their Ink Cartridge Recycling Program, these allows its customers to ship back their used inkjet cartridges back to them to be remanufactured, re-filled with new toner and re-sale as quality Lexmark remanufactured printer cartridges. But last 2010, Lexmark came up with a bright idea to remanufacture or recycle empty inkjet cartridges and that’s by converting them into pens.... read more
These days there's no denying the green revolution is upon us. Solar trash compactors replace traditional trash and recycle bins. Recycling campaigns run rampant throughout colleges and organizations alike, and buildings strive to earn titles such as "LEED Certified" to prove their efficiency and dedication to sustainability.
So what does all of this mean for colleges and students alike? A revamp of curriculum and course offerings is happening at campuses across the country as schools, such as the Savannah Technical College incorporate new programs to meet the demands of the growing green job market.... read more
Summer’s about to end and you know what that means; it’s back-to-school time! Are you already excited for the first semester to start or completed buying everything in your back-to-school shopping list? If you haven’t yet, then why don’t you consider going green this school year by buying eco-friendly school supplies and show your concern to Mother Earth. Here are some popular eco-friendly school supplies in the internet that have been receiving awards and great reviews.
•The Dream Collection Banana Paper Recycled Notebooks – is an 80-page eco-friendly recycled notebook made from post-consumer waste and banana fibers. A college notebook with a hard cover designed beautifully with water-based inks and has two pocket dividers. Plus, it was made acid-free and bleach-free.... read more
I’ve been working for a small recycling hauler for about two years now. We collect all around Boston and the surrounding area. I have come across a lot of items that are not recyclable stashed away in our recycling containers; in the business we call these contaminants. Some are funny and some are gross. Many are interesting.
Here is short list of interesting things I’ve found in the recycling:
Women’s shoes. So far I’ve found one and a half pairs of women’s shoes. Apparently women’s shoes appear discarded in recycling bins more than you think. My co-workers have also come across a few pairs in their day. In the past twenty five years of my company being in business collecting recycling, we have found about five pairs of women’s shoes, but no men’s shoes.
Dirty Diapers. This really sucks, almost as bad as dog waste. The smell is just horrendous. I’ve seen one or two of these in my short and illustrious recycling career. Why are you dumping your kid’s stinky diaper in a recycling bin? Please, moms of the world, stop this.... read more
Are you an environmentally conscious college student or recent grad looking for a way to help Mother Earth? Do you find yourself constantly wishing you could do more to lessen the detrimental effects our way of life has caused? Perhaps you should consider participating in a study abroad program.... read more
Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco, CA is home to one of the best MBA programs in Sustainability. We are excited to have our first guest blog post from Stephen Boni at PGS, an interview with Prof. Audrey Davenport. ... read more
Are you an environmentally-conscious individual looking to translate that passion for the planet into a fulfilling career? Do you long to extend your green efforts further than just your backyard? Then you might consider obtaining a sustainable degree. 
In the recent years, Lexmark has been earning a reputation in being an environment-conscious company contributing with its program that helps in our environment’s conservation and sustainability. From its efforts of designing its products with the environment in mind, to how they engineer their packaging to reduce materials, all the way to their recycling programs, Lexmark strives to be an environmentally responsible provider of products and services.
Summer’s about to end and you know what that means; it’s back-to-school time! Are you already excited for the first semester to start or completed buying everything in your back-to-school shopping list? If you haven’t yet, then why don’t you consider going green this school year by buying eco-friendly school supplies and show your concern to Mother Earth. Here are some popular eco-friendly school supplies in the internet that have been receiving awards and great reviews.
I’ve been working for a small recycling hauler for about two years now. We collect all around Boston and the surrounding area. I have come across a lot of items that are not recyclable stashed away in our recycling containers; in the business we call these contaminants. Some are funny and some are gross. Many are interesting.
Are you an environmentally conscious college student or recent grad looking for a way to help Mother Earth? Do you find yourself constantly wishing you could do more to lessen the detrimental effects our way of life has caused? Perhaps you should consider participating in a study abroad program.
