Products without packaging: How refill stores can help solve the plastics crisis
A world without single-use plastics might seem a long way off – but the rise of zero waste retail provides a glimpse of what that world could look like.
Recycling & compost
The Latest on Recycling & compost
The recycling symbol doesn’t belong on things that aren’t recyclable
America’s waste system needs an overhaul
Sustainable development groups create options for abandoned mine lands
Bernie’s mittens and the limits of recycling plastic
Infrastructure is coming! Let’s get it right.
More Resources
Trash in America
Break the Waste Cycle
Reducing food waste and improving supply chain resilience: What we learned from the pandemic
From boxes to gloves: Three ways the waste stream changed during COVID-19
Did You Know?
Every year, Americans throw out nearly 1,800 pounds of waste per person -- most of which goes to landfills.
The Latest
The future is now: Plastics at a turning point
The world already has more plastic than it needs, wants or can handle. And the world is starting to push back.
The power of a nickel: Bottle bills and producer responsibility
Container deposit laws fund recycling programs at the point of purchase – a surprisingly powerful idea about to have its moment.
Solar panel recycling: A circular economy for renewable energy
Solar panels have a major role in the transition from an extractive, polluting economy to a sustainable one. Planning ahead for how to dispose of them responsibly is a smart move.
A clamshell in the forest: Why we need public policy to address the plastics problem
Plastic waste sits in landfills, cities, and forests. It breaks down into microplastics that fill the ocean, accumulate in wildlife, and cause health problems in humans. If we can implement some key policies, we can reshape our single-use economy into a circular one; reduce waste, protect the environment, and live healthier lives.
The real problem with toilet paper: Where it comes from
Americans use 4 times more toilet paper than the global average. Producing it puts a global carbon sink at risk.