The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and national nonprofit The Recycling Partnership have just completed a study on the state of curbside recycling in the U.S. in 2016.

The resultant report – now publicly available HERE – provides analysis of key curbside recycling attributes that influence performance, notably: offering recycling wherever trash pickup is available, using carts to collect recyclables, and having robust engagement from municipal recycling program managers.

Characteristics of curbside recycling programs that were evaluated include type of container, frequency of collection, MSW tip fee level, material mix as well as a number of other variables.

“The EPA is working to support communities as they make the transition to sustainable materials management. The insights from this research and analysis will allow us to more tightly target our resource allocation to that end,” said, Jon Johnston EPA Region 4, Chief, Materials and Waste Management Branch. “We are very pleased with the depth and breadth of this report, as it shines a bright light on areas of opportunity that EPA can start supporting and the pathway to tangible progress.”

Key findings from the report show that there is not just one program characteristic that supports successful programs, but a host of attributes that, together, support the strongest recovery of bottles, cans, containers and paper. Annual pounds per household collected was the key performance indicator used to measure program performance and of the 465 geographically dispersed cities researched, the average was 357 lbs/hh/yr with an average MSW tip fee of $47 per ton.

“Entering into this research, our goal was to simply evaluate common attributes of high-performing programs, but the findings go far beyond that,” noted Cody Marshall, Technical Assistance Lead for The Recycling Partnership. “Recent research by the State of North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality shows that there is roughly 800 to 1,000 pounds of recyclables available in the household each year. There are great opportunities to recover more of that material across the country. This curbside report points to strategies that lead to higher recovery and clearly more resources need to be made available to local governments to unlock their full potential.”

When evaluating the programs with higher-than-average recovery (over 400 lbs/hh/yr), common themes quickly took shape. All (100%) of these had some type of public action that influenced curbside recycling, 96% were single-stream, 93% collected automatically and 83% of those high-performing communities were using carts.

“This report provides key insights about what drives successful recycling programs,” said Craig Cookson, Senior Director, Recycling & Energy Recovery, Plastics Division, American Chemistry Council (ACC) and Executive Committee Member of The Recycling Partnership. “ACC is a proud member of The Recycling Partnership because informed actions at the local, regional and national levels, amplified by strategic partnerships, are producing measurable on-the-ground results.”

**Original posted 12/13/16 by The Recycling Partnership (www.recyclingpartnership.org)

In November, Earth Day Network (EDN) launched a “Help for the Holidays” contest to recognize and reward 10 inspiring teachers with help from partner Southwest Airlines. The giveaway recognized 10 educators who use innovative techniques to teach environmental and climate education in their classroom and rewarded each with a roundtrip ticket to use for the holidays.

Entry to the giveaway required an email which described how the educators address environmental and climate change education in the classroom and why they need a little “help for the holidays”. Every entry email had a great story to tell.

“So far, we’ve built a school garden, sponsored a tiger at the Wild Animal Sanctuary, and conducted an energy audit of the school” boasted one winner, an 8th grade science and high school physics teachers from Colorado.  She recently lost her mother and plans to use the ticket to surprise her dad with a holiday visit.

A 4th grade science and math teacher and her husband, a first-year environmental science teacher, each won a ticket for their exceptional dedication to environmental science in their school district. “Planning [an environmental science] class with no formal resources and little support has me exhausted,” said the husband. The couple plans to use the tickets to “take a break from all the negativity towards teachers”.

This year, a 7th and 8th grade science teacher from Florida has led her class in many projects, including “climate change world conference role play[s], removing invasive plants from sensitive sites, and evaluating how to safely develop crops that feed more people and are adapted to new climate conditions.” She is using the ticket to visit a friend who is one of four survivors in a clinical trial that is helping battle cancer.

Stories of great classroom triumph, but also personal hardship, were present in almost every entry. From teachers trying to support their students through recent fear “because so many of them have immigrated to the country as refugees and have family members still in the process of trying to become naturalized citizens,” to teachers who have spent every single ‘vacation’ day in professional development to be a better educator and leader for their students, EDN was overwhelmed by the quality of entries from dedicated educators across America.

Earth Day Network is inspired by the work of teachers and educators around the world. EDN is happy to support everything they do to increase student learning and environmental awareness in the classrooms and beyond.

*Original at http://www.earthday.org/2016/11/18/earth-day-network-gives-ten-inspiring-teachers-little-help-holidays/

The producers of Dancing with the Stars (#DWTS) recognize an attractive bench when they see it. From a variety of site furnishings at Pan Pacific Park next to the ABC studios in Los Angeles, they chose the Fibrex Envirodesign Victorian bench to film Val & Laurie. While this season’s winning couple took a well-deserved break and relaxed during a long day of rehearsals, our appealing and comfortable recycled plastic lumber Victorian bench was featured in numerous shots during the DWTS part 2 finale on November 21st, 2016.

The Los Angeles Parks Foundation has been supplying and placing Fibrex’s sustainable Envirodesign memorial and standard benches in their numerous parks throughout the City of Angels for more than seven years. The Fibrex Group is honored that one our most fashionable and sustainable benches was featured on a hit series finale. Here’s hoping that the DWTS participants might be filmed while recycling a water bottle next season in one of our receptacles.

Work. Play. Recycle.

After the retail frenzy that is Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you may have a bit of a retail hangover. The cure for that slightly sick feeling could be the great feeling you get from helping others, and that's what Giving Tuesday is all about. Claire Costello, national philanthropic practice executive with U.S. Trust, answers key questions about the event, held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Q: What is Giving Tuesday?

A: Giving Tuesday is a globally celebrated day of giving back. The holiday has gained massive influence thanks to the power of social media, with #GivingTuesday serving as a call-to-action for people around the world to donate money, time and talent to the causes they care most about. The day is also intended to signify the kickoff to the charitable giving season surrounding the holidays and annual year-end giving — though, for many, giving starts even earlier or is a year-round activity.

Tomorrow you can double your donation to the National Park Foundation. #GivingTuesday is the perfect day to share your passion. Especially since a long time donor and friend to the National Park Foundation will be matching every gift up to $50,000! It’s only happening on November 29, so please give and show your support for the National Park Service and their mission.

*Select info from www.usatoday.com and www.nationalparks.com

Instead of encouraging the traditional Black Friday shopping on Nov. 25, retailer United By Blue will be celebrating a nationwide cleanup initiative dubbed "Blue Friday" that encourages consumers to take action against waste and litter.

The company — which has a mission of removing one pound of waste from the ocean for every product sold — has already sold out of its free "Blue Friday Cleanup Kit" including gloves and trash bags. A downloadable guide gives advice on safe collection, recycling separation and location selection for anyone else who wants to participate.

United by Blue will also be providing some cleanup supplies at its Philadelphia and New York brick-and-mortar stores. The company intends to encourage consumers to organize their own local cleanup efforts and share them on social media using #BlueMovement.

*Original article and image posted by Waste Dive

In honor of America Recycles Day on November 15, Fibrex Group is supporting the movement that the entire country should recycle more. Americans recycle just 35% of our waste and we need YOU to help us change that.

Think for a moment about all the trash you produce in a day. If you’re like the average American, you generate 4.4 pounds of trash in just one 24 hour period. Instead of all that trash going into a landfill, help us ensure that more of it gets recycled and given a new life.

Check out www.fibrexgroup.com for the most attractive & economical recycling solutions for your office, university, dorm room, school, home, or apartment building. Our vast line of products can accommodate any recycling program of any size. We are also offering a 15% discount off our entire line of products! (Exceptions apply. See below**). Just mention our America Recycles Day promotion when you call or make on online request.

Work. Play. Recycle.

**15% discount does not apply to the Steora Solar Bench or Play Mart product lines**

Applies to new quotes & orders only. Offer expires 11/30/16

Not All Superheroes Wear Capes

When he's not making the most iconic films of our time or making love to the world's most beautiful women, Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio is attempting to save the world. As a consistent activist for our planet's environment, the acclaimed actor has used his leverage, intelligence, and booming voice for good in this world. Traveling around the planet to the places where climate change is felt the most, Leonardo DiCaprio makes a desperate case to viewers in "Before the Flood" begging the world to pay attention and wise up.

“Climate change is the most critical and urgent problem facing our world today, and it must be a top issue for voters this Election Day,” the actors told The Hollywood Reporter. “We need leaders not only in the United States, but across the globe, who believe in the science of climate change and who have the courage to take a stand for our planet.”

Watch DiCaprio's "Before the Flood" for free here.

**Original POSTED BY BRANDON BARRETT · OCTOBER 31, 2016

HTTPS://WWW.WORLDCLASSNEWYORK.COM/BLOGS/NEWS/WATCH-LEONARDO-DICAPRIOS-CLIMATE-CHANGE-DOCUMENTARY-FOR-FREE 

America Recycles Day (ARD) has been the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States since 1997. Every year on and around Nov. 15, thousands of local event organizers mobilize throughout their community to educate millions of people about recycling within their communities.

One of the biggest barriers to recycling is knowing what items can (can cannot) be recycled.

This year, the National Recycling Coalition is working with Keep America Beautiful (KAB) to promote and spread awareness of what can be recycled, and how to recycle it correctly, in celebration of America Recycles Day. We invite you to plan your own ARD event by taking advantage of the wide variety of tools and resources KAB offers to make event planning easy and successful. Once planned, register your event here - this allows your event to become part of the national network of America Recycles Day events!

"America Recycles Day provides the encouragement and 'know how' to make recycling a common practice every day of the year," said Brenda Pulley, senior vice president, recycling, Keep America Beautiful. "We invite you to host an event in your community -  invite your family and friends from work, school, your neighbor to participate in America Recycles Day and to take the #BeRecycled Pledge in a collective national effort to improve recycling in our country."

Events can be scheduled at any time during the fall leading into the official America Recycles Day celebration on Tuesday, November 15.

Additionally, as part of the campaign, we encourage you to live a recycled lifestyle by taking the #BeRecycled Pledge, which is a promise to actively choose to live a recycled lifestyle by committing to "Reduce. Reuse. Recycle." in all aspects of daily life. This includes:

• Recycling at home, work/school and on-the-go;
• Buying products made with recycled content; and
• Educating and encouraging friends, family and neighbors to take the #BeRecycled Pledge. 

The Steora Solar Smart Bench presented by the Fibrex Group has been chosen as a finalist in the Old Dominion University’s Lions’s Lair Innovation Competition! Sponsored by the Strome Entreprenerial Center at ODU, this competition is seeking to find the most innovative and exciting ideas to social, cultural, or environmental problems. The panel of judges narrowed the select finalists down from a large group of applicants. Product pitches will take place on Friday, November 4, 2016 in ODU’s Webb Center in front of a panel of independent professionals involved in entrepreneurship.

The Steora Smart Bench unique design provides self-sustaining green solar energy to power a large suite of applications such as cell phone charging, WiFi Hot Spot Internet Connection, area LED lighting, sensor data gathering capabilities and temperature control. Yes, it even has a built-in cooling fan system to keep the seating area below 80⁰F on hot days!

Because mobile technology is such an essential aspect of modern life, properties want to support and attract the mobile generation by providing more charging device options than ever before. Make your public spaces smarter and greener with the Steora Smart Bench.

The Fibrex Group is excited to present the Steora Solar Smart Bench to a panel of experts next week. Stay tuned for final results!

This Halloween skip the disposable plastic decorations and heavily packaged (and unhealthy) candy. Celebrating Halloween can be more fun, cheaper, and healthier for you and the environment if you follow these simple tips for a green Halloween. They’ll save you money, too.

1. Re-use costumes. Tap into the treasures hidden in your closet or attic to pull together a fun, no-cost costume (it won’t take any longer than going to the mall, and will be a lot cheaper). Trade costumes with friends and family if you don’t want to wear last year’s get-up. Shop for accessories at yard sales or resale stores. Use your imagination but don’t obsess. The point is to have fun, not be fashionable!

2. Trick and treat.  In lieu of junk food, hand out pencils made from recycled paper, erasers, nickels or dimes – be creative!. My husband used to live in the same neighborhood as baseball legend Casey Stengel – he gave out silver dollars. My neighbor started doling out small cups of apple cider when she realized how much kids love a drink when they’re running around like banshees. NatureMoms offers lots of great links to organic lollipops and other fun and healthy treats.

3. Reverse trick and treating. Global Exchange and other charities encourage kids to help educate adults about Fair Trade cocoa by handing Fair Trade chocolates back as they trick or treat. The chocolates are attached to a card explaining why Fair Trade offers an alternative to child labor, low wages for farmers and a healthier environment.

4. Have a party. If you opt to celebrate at home in lieu of trick or treating, put out bowls of snacks rather than serve up individual throwaway treat bags. Offer popcorn, hummus and pita chips, carrots and dips, fresh apple cider, bat-shaped cookies and muffins. Kids will enjoy painting pumpkins, decorating cupcakes, reading scary stories, bobbing for apples, and going on “flashlight hunts” in the yard (if the party’s after dark) for hidden Halloween surprises. Send electronic invitations to avoid wasting paper and postage.

5. Decorate with Nature. A trip to your yard or the farmers market will provide everything you need to dress up your house for Halloween: leaves and branches, hay bales, gourds, pumpkins, mums, dried flowers.

6. Light up the night. If you string lights (especially to keep walkways safe for kids), use strands of LEDs, which you can get at any hardware store these days. They use much less energy than conventional holiday twinklers. Illuminate carved pumpkins with candles from beeswax or soy . Decorate windows and glass door panes with washable crayons or chalk. If kids need flashlights to get around in the dark, try one of the many flashlights that can be recharged with solar energy.

7. Turn it over to the kids. Forget the store-bought hanging witches and skeletons. Have your kids make hand print spiders for the walls and windows. Recycle egg cartons into bats. Carve and paint pumpkins.

8. Try a new bag. The best option for candy collectors is last year’s bag; a pillowcase; or a reusable shopping bag with handles.

9. Save for next year. When Halloween is over, pack up costumes, treat bags, lights, and decorations in one big box or bag. Store everything in an easy-to-find place so next year, you don’t have to start completely from scratch.

10. Get even more ideas. Between Green Halloween and the Green Moms Carnival, you’ll find everything you need to know to make your spooky night as eco as possible.

*Original posted by: http://www.biggreenpurse.com/top-ten-eco-tips/top-ten-green-cheap-halloween/