Plastic products cost us, even after we’re done with them — That’s because municipal recycling is paid with taxpayer money. But could the companies that made these products be responsible for paying for them?
Recycling
Posted inNPR
Christmas is over. Here’s what to do with your holiday trash
Household waste increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Years. Rules vary by municipality on what you can recycle and what needs to go into the trash.
Posted inNPR
Sell it, donate it — recycle it? A beloved old minivan faces a fork in the road
After 20 years of service, an NPR reporter’s beloved minivan is on the fritz. But what is its best and highest calling now: Pass it on to another family, or recycle it into parts?
Posted inEnvironment, Local
What actually happens to recycled plastics in Rhode Island?
In order to help reduce plastic waste and help the environment, Rhode Islanders are encouraged to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics. But what actually happens to the plastic the state collects for recycling after it leaves the Materials Recycling Facility in Johnston? A lot of it ends up in landfills, according to an investigation led […]
Posted inEnvironment, Possibly Podcast
How can hospitals cut their plastic waste?
Hospitals have to use a lot of single-use plastics to deliver care for patients. In today’s episode, we look at how one hospital is cutting down through their medical plastics recycling initiative.
Posted inNPR
California sues ExxonMobil for misleading public on plastic recycling
California’s lawsuit alleges that ExxonMobil has known for decades that recycling would not effectively stem the flow of plastic waste.
Posted inEnvironment, Possibly Podcast
Do bottle bills work?
Today’s question comes from a listener here in Rhode Island. They’ve been following local efforts to start a deposit recycling program for bottles and cans like some other states have, and they’re wondering, do these incentive programs really work?
Posted inEnvironment, Possibly Podcast
How do I Recycle Damaged Clothes or Fabric?
With spring cleaning right around the corner, we’re looking into ways you can keep your damaged fabrics out of the landfill.
Posted inEnvironment, Possibly Podcast
Should I wrap my presents in fabric or paper?
Today, we have a question from a listener named Susan. She wants to know about gift wrapping: “Is it better for the environment to wrap Christmas gifts in fabric you can use over again rather than paper?”
Posted inEpisode, Possibly Podcast
Is it better to drink from a can or a bottle?
Drink from a can! It takes fewer emissions to make an aluminum can and fewer emissions to deliver beer that comes in cans. Cans are also more likely to be recycled, it takes less energy to recycle them, and they’re safer to pick up if they’ve been thrown on the ground.
