RECYCLING

The Best Time to Buy a Christmas Tree

Technically, the most cost-efficient time is December 26. But your kids probably won't like that.

It's got just a hint of Head and Shoulders.

Waste Not: This Beer Is Made From Recycled Shower Water

Who wants to buy a round of wastewater brews for the gang?

Plastic bags are an environmental disaster.

How Long Does It Really Take for a Plastic Bag to Decompose?

Technically, they really don't.

Big Poo-Tential: Researchers in Japan Built a House Using Old Diapers

Civil engineer Siswanti Zuraida built a concrete structure using diapers that would otherwise sit in a landfill for decades, making for a literal brick sh-t house.

Think twice before removing that bottle cap before you recycle.

Why You Should Always Leave the Cap on a Plastic Bottle Before You Recycle It

Many of us were taught to crush plastic bottles and leave the cap off. As it turns out, that isn't such an eco-friendly approach.

If you're looking for an easy way to reduce your e-waste, this hub can help.

This Hidden Amazon Page Makes It Easier to Fix, Recycle, or Trade in Your Old Tech Gadgets

The Amazon Second Chance hub helps take the guesswork out of recycling, fixing, or trading in old tech products.

This at-home composter fits right on your countertop and can help make the whole process faster and less messy.

We Tried It: Is the Lomi Countertop Composter Worth the Investment?

Is the Lomi countertop composter truly a fast and easy way to get rid of food waste? Here's what happened when we tested it.

This Eco-Friendly Kayak Is Made From More Than 60 Pounds of Recycled Plastic

There’s not much crossover between the lists of best kayaks and eco-friendly products. Osiris Outdoor is trying to change that.

Octopuses Are Recycling Bottles and Cans for Shelter

A new study found that octopuses are repurposing marine litter to create protective shelters for themselves.

DCWater transforms poop into fertilizer with the help of microbes.

5 Surprising Uses for Recycled Poop

People usually want plenty of distance between themselves and their poop, but some engineers argue that all that waste is going to waste.

What You Should Know About Recycling Empty Pizza Boxes

Corrugated cardboard pizza boxes are made from recyclable material ... but that doesn't mean they can always be recycled. In other words: It's complicated.

Dogs can benefit from your busted-up socks.

Got Some Old Socks? A Colorado Company Wants to Turn Them Into Cozy Dog Beds

Colorado-based Smartwool is trying to cut down on textile waste by accepting busted socks and recycling them into dog beds.

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Recycle Your Giant CVS Receipts

You can blame that glossy finish, which comes from a mysterious, potentially harmful chemical called BPA.

Those potato peels are ready for a glow-up.

Make the Most of Your Food Scraps With IKEA’s Free New Cookbook

IKEA is helping you cut down on food waste with 50 free chef-developed recipes for everything from banana peels to broccoli stems.

This could be a 'gotta catch 'em all' situation.

Cut Down on Single-Use Plastics—And Smell Fresh—With This Refillable Deodorant Applicator

This applicator will also make sure that the sizable chunk of deodorant always stuck in the bottom never gets wasted.

Sustainable packaging looks good on this sweater.

prAna and Other Apparel Brands Are Starting a Movement for Sustainable Packaging

It all started when a store manager asked what to do with the piles of empty plastic bags after unpacking products.

Compost is delicious trash salad for your soil.

Vermont Just Banned Residents From Throwing Food Scraps in the Trash

The state has expanded its trash pick-up services to accommodate the new policy, but many residents are already composting pros.

McDonald’s Is Testing Out Plastic-Free Restaurants in Germany and Canada

Sustainability innovations include grass-made burger wrappings, edible waffle cups as condiment containers, and more.

Highwaystarz-Photography/iStock via Getty Images

We’re Wasting More Than Half of the Food In Our Refrigerators, Says New Study

When it comes to food waste, the world trashes about 1.3 billion tons of it each year. For Americans, confusing expiration dates may be partly to blame.

Target and Walmart Are Running Car Seat Recycling Events Throughout September

You’ll get a little more than a pat on the back if you help Target and Walmart try to save the environment.

A Project in India Is Turning Discarded Fishing Nets Into Surfboards to Reduce Ocean Plastic

The fishing nets, which contribute greatly to ocean plastic waste, are living a new, eco-friendly life.

San Francisco International Airport Bans Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles

Don’t forget your reusable water bottle if you’re planning a trip in or out of the San Francisco airport after August 19.

The New Tokyo 2020 Olympic Medals Are Made From Recycled Electronics

The organizing committee for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo collected 78,985 tons of used electronics to make medals for the upcoming games.

Aluminum Cans vs. Plastic Bottles: Which Is Worse for the Environment?

Between aluminum and plastic containers, one material is probably worse for environmental health. You might be surprised which one it is.