WASTE WATCHERS BLOG

Being aware of Earth Day is easy—it’s taking the next step that requires boldness, and for many, knowing where to take that first step is the hardest part. Well, with pollution, emissions, and preserving natural resources in mind, why not take action with recycling?

  Each year in April, we celebrate Earth Day, a united call for the creativity, innovation, ambition, and bravery needed to protect the planet we call home. It’s the largest secular observance around the globe, with more than a billion Earthlings from 193 countries lending their voices for a better world and a sustainable future. All too often, however, those pledging their awareness of the looming environmental crises treat this day with antique shop etiquette: look but don’t touch. Consider this: Earth Day began in 1970—accruing 50+ years of awareness to date—yet, we’re only now beginning to address some of the biggest challenges to ever face humankind.  From here on out, our actions must speak much louder than words.

On March 18th, the world comes together to celebrate Global Recycling Day, a day dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the importance that recycling plays in preserving our natural resources and securing the future of our planet. In our latest blog post, we're exploring the people, places, and activities that are contributing to a more sustainable planet and embracing the circular economy concept.

  Every year, the people of Planet Earth produce 2.1B metric tons of solid waste. 16% of that is recycled, saving 700M metric tons of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere.  Unfortunately, 46% of that trash, enough to completely fill 368,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, is disposed of unsustainably—meaning landfilled, incinerated, and littered or illegally dumped in the environment.  It’s clear a 16% recycling rate is not enough. We need education, legislation, and action to combat this growing environmental and humanitarian crisis. And Global Recycling Day, celebrated annually on March 18th, is a launchpad for businesses and individuals looking to make an impact.

During the holiday season, Americans produce an additional one million tons of waste each week! We put together a resource that will help you reduce your waste this holiday season.

  It likely comes as no surprise that people generate more waste during the holidays than any other time of year—25 percent more to be exact. And given the unexpected circumstances that 2020 brought with it this year, that percentage isn’t expected to decrease any time soon. If anything, with all the online shopping, deliveries, and takeout orders, we’re likely to see an increase in holiday waste generation.  It's also worth noting that we're already deep into prime “waste generation season,” which falls between Thanksgiving and New Years, annually. So we thought it would be helpful to share not just the staggering facts about holiday waste, but also some helpful solutions to reduce waste (and hopefully recycle more) during this time and beyond. Before sharing more about the landscape of holiday waste, consider that reducing waste at your business or home doesn’t just positively impact the environment, but can also help save money by lowering recurring expenses. The reason for this is when unexpected waste increases occur, typical vendors can be required to service your location more frequently, or pick up a lot more trash than what was agreed upon in a waste contract—often resulting, most commonly, in overage charges and unexpected fees.  That’s why it’s important to not only anticipate when waste increases may occur for your business, but also work with a waste and recycling hauler that makes it easy to change service frequencies, add new streams as needed (e.g. cardboard, mixed paper, etc.), and help you avoid unnecessary charges when possible.  All that said, please see some key stats below to put the increase in holiday waste into perspective and check out our sustainable holiday infographic for tips on how you can reduce waste this season and into next year!

Small Business Saturday is an American shopping tradition held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Get a head start on your holiday shopping by supporting your favorite small businesses on November 24th!

  Can you believe it’s almost Thanksgiving? We can’t! This year, among many things, has felt paradoxical—time flying one minute and standing still the next. But despite the unforeseen circumstances of 2020, a major theme that's been consistently present is the resilience among people and institutions in the face of challenges. One area where this resilience is apparent is in the support of small businesses. Whether a local restaurant, unique consignment shop, or small town bakery, there have been numerous examples of communities coming together to support the businesses they love most...even amidst a global pandemic. And, this makes sense when 99.9 percent of businesses in the U.S.— 30.7 million to be exact—fall into this category and contribute to keeping our economy healthy. However, as winter sets in across the country, and COVID-19 cases rise, it’s important to not lose sight of the momentum behind supporting small businesses before, through, and after the holidays, even if that support looks a little different this year. Moreover, it’s worth noting: some small business owners, while grateful for the influx of support, have also struggled to keep up with mountains of new orders or expanding their supply chain, especially if their products are handmade, require customization, or are created with specialty ingredients or parts.  That’s why, it’s important to support these business owners with patience and proactivity top of mind—Shopping earlier this year and giving small store owners the space, understanding, and time necessary to fill your order within the constraints of their business and resources.  This coming week marks the 10th annual Small Business Saturday, but is still happening to call attention to the importance of shopping at small businesses, which, no matter what year it is, happens to be the backbone of our local communities and national economy. So be sure to keep reading for why you should support small business, a few sustainability tips to keep in mind while shopping in-person or online, and a roundup of local businesses to support in key markets (plus, a map for how to #ShopSmall in your area).

Celebrate Sustainability Day (Week & Month) with us by reading our blog post to learn what sustainability is, why you should care, how to get involved, and what businesses and individuals alike can do to make a difference for themselves and the world.

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.

World Oceans Day is an awareness day meant to celebrate the ocean, its importance, and how to protect it. This year, the focus is on "leadership in preventing plastic pollution," and what we can do to help create a healthier ocean. Check out our post to learn more about the day and how your organization can be a leader in preventing plastic pollution!

  HAPPY WORLD OCEANS DAY Each June 8th, World Oceans Day is an awareness day meant to celebrate the ocean, its importance, and what we can do to protect it. In many ways the ocean is the planet's life support system, but things like climate change and mankind's obsession with plastic have had an enormous impact and disastrous consequences on our marine biodiversity. Scientists estimate that if things don't change, in 2050 the ocean will have more plastic by weight than fish. Fortunately, there are lots of smart people out there working towards improving the future of our oceans. The conservation focus for World Oceans Day 2019 is to "demonstrate leadership in preventing plastic pollution and share solutions that inspire and activate the global community". Continue reading to learn more about World Oceans Day 2019 and what your business can do to participate.

Sustainability Day gives the world the opportunity to become more familiar with the topic and come together to learn what we can do to promote sustainability. Check out our guide on how you can make a difference on Sustainability Day.

  A Brief Explanation of SustainabiliTy

We’re taking some time to reflect on the National Park Service history, the everlasting power of parkland and why its mission to preserve these magnificent pieces of Earth is more important now than ever before.

  If you've ever wondered why we have national parks, you've likely never stepped into one. The boundless natural beauty and mind-boggling formations of the 59 parks leave lasting impressions on all who visit them. Each park is unique in its majesty, from the vibrantly red rocks of the Arches to Bryce Canyon's spire-shaped formations, from Yellowstone's storied waterworks all the way to the lush vistas of Zion.