WASTE WATCHERS BLOG

Did you know, most businesses generate some form of specialized waste, which is a category of waste that requires special handling and disposal due to the potentially harmful properties of the materials. In this week's blog post, we dive into the specifics of each specialized waste category and look into what can happen when these materials are improperly handled or disposed of.

  Specialized waste can be harmful to employees and the environment. However, the various categories can be confusing. We’re here to reduce your confusion with a quick and helpful breakdown of the categories and the impacts they can have. Most businesses generate some form of specialized waste. This waste requires special handling and disposal due to the potentially harmful properties of the materials. Specialized waste breaks down into:  Hazardous waste Special waste Medical waste Chemical waste Each specialized waste category has unique characteristics to classify. Let’s look at each type of specialized waste, what makes them unique, and why it’s important to properly dispose of these materials.

What if we told you that instead of tossing your lunch scraps into the garbage can at your office, you could recycle them into something that saves money, improves employee morale, and helps the environment? The EPA estimates that 63.1 million tons of food waste were generated in 2018. More than half of that was sent to landfills where it does not break down well and releases huge amounts of methane. The EPA believes food waste is having a major impact on global warming.

The 2022 Pittsburgh Pride Revolution was an enormous success on two fronts. Tens of thousands turned out to display their true colors in a celebration of community. RoadRunner’s in-depth planning driven by our green technology engine meant waste management plans went off without a hitch. 

Under blue skies and sunscreen armor, hundreds of RoadRunner employees pored through fields, trails, and forest to help make the company’s hometown of Pittsburgh, PA a little greener. RoadRunner Day is an annual celebration of the hard work team members put in each and every day. It’s an event that offers a look back at how far we’ve come on this green journey together and a recognition that what we do is far greater than waste and recycling.

  Under blue skies and sunscreen armor, hundreds of RoadRunner employees pored through fields, trails, and forest to help make the company’s hometown of Pittsburgh, PA a little greener. RoadRunner Day is an annual celebration of the hard work team members put in each and every day. It’s an event that offers a look back at how far we’ve come on this green journey together and a recognition that what we do is far greater than waste and recycling.    This summer was a little different in that it offered an in-person element for those employees who wished to take part and a virtual element for those who couldn’t travel to the company’s headquarters in Pittsburgh. The day was a smashing success with a nod to our values as an enterprise and our mission to work For the Greener Good™.

In the past few months, it seems like everywhere we turn things are more expensive. Customers are now seeing their waste bills go up due to annual price increases in the waste sector. Landfill tipping fees are increasing and the cost to run recycling programs has many questioning whether it’s worth it to continue. We’re breaking down how this inflation mess all came about and we’ll take a deeper look into the effects on the waste industry.

Zero-emissions vehicles are poised to take over America’s highways. That includes long haul transportation, last mile delivery vehicles, and even trucks hauling waste and recycling. High fuel prices coupled with calls for environmental action growing louder mean major corporations are already moving in this direction. On top of that, industry trends show that within the next decade, zero emissions trucks will be cheaper or at least cost competitive when compared to diesel.

Waste secretly rules our businesses. We have to figure out how to manage it, where to take it, and what happens to it. Besides sending it to the landfill, recycling is another viable option. It means items made from plastic, paper, cardboard, and metal can be broken down and used to create new products. How confident is your business that what you’re putting into the recycling bins is being recycled instead of sent to the landfill?

In the last few years, restaurants and bars that managed to keep afloat were battling one thing: COVID-19. As we rapidly move toward a post-pandemic future, there’s a new set of challenges: sustainability. There is a rising interest for restaurants to be more sustainable, which includes composting, using environmentally friendly takeout containers, and more.

The electric vehicle (EV) market is exploding.  Better technology, lower cost to own, soaring gas prices, and pledges to adopt environmentally-friendly goals are all contributing to rapid increases in the EV market. More are on the road than ever before. With all of this comes a major question: what do we do with all of these batteries once they’ve outlived their usefulness?

  The electric vehicle (EV) market is exploding.  Better technology, lower cost to own, soaring gas prices, and pledges to adopt environmentally-friendly goals are all contributing to rapid increases in the EV market. More are on the road than ever before. With all of this comes a major question: what do we do with all of these batteries once they’ve outlived their usefulness? Along with the manufacturing and sale of EVs, the battery recycling industry is also expected to balloon in the next five to ten years.