On Tuesday, I shared my conversation with Randi Mail, recycling director for the City of Cambridge, about Cambridge’s new single-stream recycling program. In the process we touched on some general waste and recycling questions that I thought I’d share here. If you have any other questions or want to attend the recycling facility tour, let [...]

I just found out about this Kiehl’s program to recycle their empty containers. For every ten empties we bring in, we get one free full-sized product. I’m not sure that recycling at Kiehl’s is any better than through my town, but I’m always up for free stuff. And I like the idea of companies being responsible for their products from cradle to grave.

Last Friday was the third time that our recycling bin has vanished (as well as our trash can lid and, three months later, our trash can, too). The disappearances have always mysteriously coincided with new neighbors moving in next door.

We were eating at Stone Hearth Pizza tonight, and I noticed a box on the menu that said their takeout containers were made of corn plastic rather than regular plastic or styrofoam. This started a debate about whether corn plastic was actually any better than regular plastic. Okay, maybe not as much a debate as Sharon [...]

Okay, let’s face it: recycled toilet paper sucks. It’s too thin, too rough, and rips too easily. That’s because each time paper is recycled, the fibers get shorter and shorter. I’ve tried different brands over the years and always gone back to Cottonelle (partially because Jason insists he has a sensitive bum). But it seems [...]