WASTE WATCHERS BLOG

We throw out some of the world’s most valuable materials at record numbers because they’re part of what makes electronic devices work. We’re swimming in a sea of charging cables, battery indicators, touch screens, and headphones. Electronic or e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. It’s a major threat to our planet and human health. We break down what e-waste is, three reasons we have to do a better job dealing with it, and some solutions for your business.

  Each year, your business might toss several pounds of gold in the trash. As of late August, an ounce of gold was valued at $1,743. Would you try to get that gold back out of the trash bins now? We throw out some of the world’s most valuable materials at record numbers because they’re part of what makes electronic devices work. We’re swimming in a sea of charging cables, battery indicators, touch screens, and headphones. When that technology gets outdated or the device breaks, we throw them out with the trash. Electronic or e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. It’s a major threat to our planet and human health and contributes to climate change. We break down what e-waste is, three reasons we have to do a better job dealing with it, and some solutions for your business.   CLICK HERE to see how RoadRunner can help your business deal with e-waste!

From mountains of cans to piles of pizza boxes, colleges and universities stand to play an important role when it comes to managing waste. Campuses are unique in that their waste management plans can change with the seasons. They’re a hive of activity one month, and then once the semester ends it can be nearly empty. Universities can serve as a model to the community on how to manage waste in an ever-changing landscape. Now is the perfect time for higher education to take an in-depth look at waste management.

  From mountains of cans to piles of pizza boxes, colleges and universities stand to play an important role when it comes to managing waste. Campuses are unique in that their waste management plans can change with the seasons. They’re a hive of activity one month, and then once the semester ends it can be nearly empty. Universities can serve as a model to the community on how to manage waste in an ever-changing landscape.   With autumn around the corner and students back to rushing between classes, now is the perfect time for higher education to take an in-depth look at waste management.    CLICK HERE to see how RoadRunner can work for your school, college, or university!

Every business generates waste. When you understand the impact waste management can have on a business's bottom line, the value in doing a better job with it becomes immediately clear. Improperly dealing with waste can affect everything from a business’s reputation to the amount of trash that winds up in the ocean or landfill. It has also become a global concern, going far beyond “it’s just the right thing to do.”

  Every business generates waste. It’s a fact of life like the weather changing and taxes. When you understand the impact waste management can have on a business's bottom line, the value in doing a better job with it becomes immediately clear. Roughly 300 million metric tons of plastic waste are created every year across the globe. Improperly dealing with waste can affect everything from a business’s reputation to the amount of trash that winds up in the ocean or landfill. It has also become a global concern, going far beyond “it’s just the right thing to do.”   >>>READ MORE: What your business needs to know about specialized waste

The green technology career field encompasses a wide range of positions, from wind turbine technicians to software engineers, and construction managers to public relations specialists. Several careers in this arena are projected to experience rapid growth by the end of the decade. We’re getting into just what makes up green technology, why it’s a great time for a career in the field, and some of the fastest growing positions in the coming years.

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.