Municipal recycling centers, in theory, are a good thing — they make recycling convenient for residents and keep things out of the landfill that can be repurposed; however, several cities have had to remove their recycling centers because of problems, … Continue reading →
Wood waste is a worldwide problem. It accounts for up to 30% of all waste. The U.S. collects 70 million-plus tons of urban woody debris each year but recycles just 48%. The “leftovers” go to the landfill, wasting landfill space … Continue reading →
Snohomish County, Wash., is reducing its carbon footprint by offering a high-yielding battery recycling program to its residents. The solid waste department in Snohomish County has achieved several sustainability awards from organizations such as Call2Recycle and was most recently named … Continue reading →
Mostly when people think about composting, it’s a pile in the backyard. It seems pretty simple. In many ways, it is. But the state of Iowa, long known for its beautiful farms, has taken that a big step further with … Continue reading →
When Carl Rossi started his new job in January 2023 as director of public works in Holyoke, Mass., one of his tasks was to reboot the city’s recycling program. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Holyoke, a city of 38,000 on the … Continue reading →
Reduce, reuse, and repurpose. For most Americans, it’s a concept that has become a force of habit, and over the past four decades, communities across the U.S. have embraced the environmental and financial benefit of implementing recycling programs as part … Continue reading →
In the 1980s, the state of Indiana encouraged cities to test out new technology for wastewater treatment plants. Cities were given money to try out a continuous batch reactor. By the time Mayor Terry Amick of Scottsburg, Ind., took office, … Continue reading →
We all want to feel pride in our communities, and sometimes, that takes a little motivation or assistance from city and town officials. Holding community-wide cleanup events — whether that be large items collections, hazardous waste collections or coastal beach … Continue reading →
If you can drag your trash to the curb and it goes away, you don’t really have skin in the game, said Chip Chesley, general services director for the city of Concord, N.H. If you pay by the bag to … Continue reading →
Pothole patching is one of those jobs no one necessarily looks forward to doing. Without sugarcoating it, pothole patching is a tough, dirty job and usually last on the list of municipal priorities. But with that being said, pothole repair … Continue reading →
In an effort to help businesses and multifamily complexes comply with state recycling mandates and improve the community’s environmental footprint, the city of Santa Maria, Calif., has implemented programs to educate the public and give them the tools they need … Continue reading →
