WASTE WATCHERS BLOG

Did you know, recycling cardboard only takes 75% of the energy required to make new cardboard? Or that each ton of recycled paper can save 17 mature trees? In our blog post, we list 50 interesting recycling facts like these that will surprise you! Let us know which facts you find most surprising.

A recent study found that almost 70% of consumers under the age of 35 prefer brands based on ethical practices & transparency. Now that consumers are becoming more informed of the environmental impacts of their purchases, brands are beginning to understand their responsibility to take conscious steps towards improving the environment with their activities.

  With raging wildfires, a threatening hurricane season, and the ongoing issue of climate change, there has never been a better time than the present for companies to integrate sustainability into their business practices. And, don’t just take our word for it, mounting pressures from stakeholders, employees, and consumers alike have made it imperative for organizations to prioritize a sustainability strategy as part of its every day operations or risk getting left behind. In fact, almost half of shoppers in the United States say they’ll change their consumption habits to benefit the environment.

Read our latest blog post to learn more about extended producer responsibility, why it’s good for business, which companies are embracing this principle, and how your company can begin applying this concept to its business practices to garner results.

  Did you know that humans produce a whopping 2.01 billion metric tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) worldwide, annually? If this sounds like an incomprehensible amount of waste, that’s because it is! But, it doesn’t have to be this way—Thankfully, in recent years, we’ve witnessed many more effective and sustainable methods of disposal come to fruition. Take for example, recycling: If you recycle just one ton of plastic, it saves 5,774 kWh of energy, 16.3 barrels of oil, 98 million BTUs of energy, and 30 cubic yards of landfill space.

Let’s talk trash… in fact about 258 million tons worth, because that’s how much is created every year in the United States. Here you will find some interesting facts about waste generation and how you can reduce the amount you send to landfill.

This post was originally written March 2018 and updated with more relevant information Sept. 2020 Let’s talk trash… More specifically, 267.8 million tons worth because, shockingly, that’s about how much waste is created in the United States every year. We’ve all heard about the importance of proper waste disposal. Still, most of us are unaware of where our trash goes, or, more specifically, the negative impacts that arise from disposing of it improperly. Of the estimated 267.8 million tons of waste generated annually, approximately 32.5 percent of this trash is recycled or composted, 12.5 percent is incinerated, and the remaining 55 percent is buried in landfill. Considering the majority of our waste gets disposed in a landfill, we wanted to fill you in on what really happens behind the scenes and explore some of the most common questions you may have, like: Are we running out of landfill space? In this blog post, we get to the bottom of what a landfill actually is, what really happens to our waste in landfill, the impacts of disposing of materials in this way, and the alternative disposal methods that exist as replacements. Continue reading for more information!

Given that many organizations are likely in the same boat as we are—working from home, adjusting to a new normal, and considering fresh ideas to engage employees, virtually—we thought it would be helpful to share a full run-down of the event, how we planned for it, what we learned, and the tips that helped make RoadRunner Day 2020 a smash hit.

In this blog post, we are going to explore several actions stakeholders can prioritize to move toward more sustainable supply chains while reaping the benefits that come along with doing so.

In this blog post, we are going to explain why so much of our unwanted electronic waste ends up in the trash, the negative impacts of disposing of them in this way, and how your business can better manage and dispose of its e-waste while making an impact on the planet. Continue reading to learn more!

Dive into the post below to learn more about the history of the plastic bag, measures that are being taken to help eliminate this type of waste, how COVID-19 has impacted plastic bag usage, and tips for saving plastic bags.

Read our latest blog post as we recap the goals of Plastic Free July, how RoadRunner participated in this challenge, what we learned from members of our team on their plastic-free journey, and the tips we picked up along the way that can help your organization reduce plastics too!