By: Ashley Pace
Breakups are hard, but deep down you know it’s usually for the best. Especially, when you are breaking up with plastic bags. Many Austinites are in the habit of bringing their own bags to the grocery store, but there are a lot of unexpected ways to get more use out of the dozens of reusable bags you have likely accumulated. So as you say “bye bye bye” to flimsy single-use plastic bags forever, say hello to your new friend with benefits: the reusable bag.
All the shopping
So you’…
By: Andy Dawson
Each year, Americans throw away 9.4 million tons of electronics! Much of that waste turns up during, and immediately following, the holiday season. Out with the old, in with the new, right?
Electronics don’t seem to last long these days, especially when a new phone with a better camera and newer technology is released every six months. The EPA estimates that 350,000 phones are thrown…
By: Bailey Grimmett
Once the holiday hustle and bustle slows down and the presents have been unwrapped, you’re somehow left with a mountain of excess materials such as cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, ribbon and bows, Styrofoam and other packaging materials. You’re not alone! In fact, the amount of trash produced in the United States increases an estimated 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day! But, did you know that a majority of holi…
By: Andy Dawson and Bailey Grimmett
If you haven’t heard, there’s a colorful way to reuse in Austin. The Diverting Resources for Artistic Works program (DRAW) is an Austin Resource Recovery service aimed at reusing and extending the lives of art supplies such as acrylic paints, canvases, brushes and related items. Located at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center (RRDOC), and as an expansion of the center’s ReUse Store, DRAW is a resource aimed at offering barely-used art supplies to local residents in creative need.
The RRDOC collects all kinds…
By: Thomas Nguyen
Did you know?
The average textile dye used for clothing is made up of 8,000 synthetic chemicals and after the dyeing process, many factories and mills will dump the excess into water streams.
Welcome back to our Circular Innovators series. In this series, we’ll be highlighting Austin businesses that are embracing the circular economy; reducing waste and creating value for their customers and the planet.
What is Biomimicry?
What is biomimicry? If we break it down, bio = life; mimicry = imitate. Thus, biomimi…
By: Thomas Nguyen
Did you know?
It takes 5,300 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans and a t-shirt. That’s the equivalent of how much fuel it takes to fly a Boeing 737 from Austin to the heart of the Amazon Rainforest!
Welcome back to our Circular Innovators series. In this series, we’ll be highlighting Austin businesses that are embracing the circular economy; reducing waste and creating value for their customers and the planet.
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By: Keri Greenwalt
Father’s Day is just around the corner and Dad deserves a gift that honors him, without creating extra clutter. If he’s not in need of another mug, pair of socks or tie, here are some Zero Waste ideas both Dad and the planet will love.
Spend quality time together
Focus on what your Dad enjoys the most and make arrangements to spend the day together doing something he loves. Concert tickets, a round of golf, a nice dinner, kayak rentals or a night of bowling make great gifts and can create memories you will both che…
By: Ashley Pace
Mother’s Day provides us with the opportunity to reflect on everything our incredible mothers bring to our lives. This year, as you decide how you will honor and thank them, take the extra time to give her an eco-conscious gift she will love and feel good about.
The gift of time
Think about what she would like to spend her day doing. Pack a picnic full of her favorite foods and head to a quiet spot, spend the day volunteering together for a cause she cares about, or rent her dream car for the day and explore the hill country. Maybe…
By: Valerie Vines & Ashley Pace
On our current path, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050, so something’s got to change. Austin is taking the next step, but this time, we are taking our commitment global. Along with over 350 businesses, organizations and governments, Austin has joined the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment with the goal of eliminating unnecessary plastic.
…
By: Jennifer Denton
The Curbside Composting program can change the way we think about household “waste.”
Composted material is like gold, and we want to help you find more of it.
Confusion about what goes in the green composting cart is “natural.” Just remember, “If it grows, it goes,” meaning any material that began its life as an organic substance can go in the composting cart. Yard waste makes up the bulk of the materials collected, but don’t forget about your food scraps. Yes, even those moldy leftovers in the back corner of your refrigerator (minus the cont…