Category Archives: New Products

New Waste Recycling Product Innovations

Cell Phone Self-Serve Waste Recycling

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Recycling old cell phones can result in small financial windfalls for consumers while providing manufacturers with recycled metals and plastics. However, the process can often be cumbersome and inconvenient as a result, less cell phones are recycled. However, a new system is being implemented in Texas with the introduction of self-serve cell phone recycling kiosks.

Produced by the California-based EcoATM, the self-serve kiosks, which resemble large ATM cash machines, will accept cell phones and small electronic devices from customers and provide cash back depending on the make and model. Dozens of these kiosks will be placed in shopping malls throughout the state.

Based on the success of the Texas project, the kiosks will be making their way to malls and shopping centers throughout the rest of the country next year.

Three years of testing self-service recycling in California yielded very positive results and high consumer response. The most often cited benefits were the instant gift card payment and the ease of use not found in other cell phone recycling programs.

The EcoATM machine also addresses security issues in that it erases all data from the phone or device when the customer accepts the offering price. Approximately seventy-five percent of the collected devices are re-furbished and re-sold. The rest are recycled for their metals and plastics.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: What can your business do that the competition is falling short on? With so many opportunities for waste recycling, where can you provide a valuable service while enhancing your bottom line?

Remyxx’s 100% Recycled Shoes

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How about this for an innovative business idea? Using a mixture of number 5 recycled plastics such as yogurt containers, Remyxx shoes is making a name for themselves while promoting recycling. Printed on the very top of the shoe, and making quite a statement, is the number 5 recycling symbol of a triangle made of three arrows.

Gary Gagnon is the founder of this new venture, and he is currently working on getting these shoes in front of a larger audience. The entire shoe is 100% recyclable from the bottom sole to the laces to the padding in-between. The idea for the Remyxx shoe came about when he noticed a pair of old sneakers in a trash can – ready to go off to a landfill. He  then met with a chemist who helped him to create the mix of plastics that go in to making his distinctive, unique sneakers.

The material created by the recycled plastics has the appearance of canvas, but is something else entirely. Remyxx has recently raised almost forty five thousand dollars through a fundraising campaign and plans on using the funds to make more of the eco-friendly shoes and officially start his business. The average cost of the shoe, which will be available in both youth and adult sizes, averages $65.

Each year over three hundred million pairs of shoes end up in landfills through traditional waste disposal means. The break-down time for most footwear is up to forty years depending on the material they are made of.

For buyers of the shoes, the company will offer the incentive program Reduce, Reuse, Remyxx, where their old Remyxx shoes can be sent back for recycling in return for a five dollar coupon for their next pair.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: One person’s trash can be another person’s goldmine! Take a look at what ends up in your trash bin. Are you missing out on an opportunity to make money and increase your business?

 

Waste Recycling of Unwanted Plastics

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A recent research study at the University of Texas in Austin indicated that if only 5% of all unusable materials at U.S. recycling facilities were converted to fuel, it would create energy to annually power almost seven hundred thousand homes.

Led by Dr. Michael Webber, the associate director of the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy, the research study determined that fuel created from unrecyclable plastics had a higher energy capability than select grades of coal and could be used in industrial settings.

The study was part of a project designed to demonstrate that fuel from non-recycled plastics, paper and cardboard could successfully power a cement kiln.

In addition to the energy produce, the study also indicated that carbon and sulfur emissions were reduced – almost to the equivalent of remove a million automobiles from U.S. roads.

The study was funded by the American Chemistry Council, which is interested in finding new ways to harness and profit by America’s most abundant and affordable energy resource – those materials disposed of in landfills.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: One business’s trash can be another’s treasure. When was the last time your business did a waste disposal and waste recycling audit? There may be innovative new ways to save green all the way around!

 

Composting Toilets Takes Green Homes A Step Further

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There is a grown trend in the green housing community for using composting toilets. While traditional toilets flush human waste and paper away with water to a septic system or municipal sewer treatment plant, the “green” composting toilet is allowing homeowners another way to conserve water and contribute to replenishing nutrients in their soil.

Owners and manufacturers of the composting toilets vigorous agree that when disposal is done correctly there is no smell or danger to humans or animals. Several styles of composting toilets have been designed to keep pace with the demand. While some require emptying every few weeks, and more closely resemble outdoor port-a-johns, there are also design that look identical to traditional toilets that contain a special internal composting unit that needs to be emptied only a few times each year.

Users of composting toilets need to add a mix of special bacteria to accelerate the composting process and create an odorless environment.  Composting toilets can save homeowners up to eight thousand gallons of water each year and for communities with high water and sewer prices, this can result in significant savings.

While not every residence is ideal for a composting toilet, they are suitable for areas with weak sewers and limited septic capabilities. They are also ideal for pool-houses or outdoor cabin where traditional plumbing would be cost-prohibitive.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: While composting toilets may not be ideal for every  home, they can provide both cost-savings and environmental benefits to some.

Waste Recycling of Aseptic Cartons

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A new waste recycling innovation is starting this month in Des Moines, Iowa. In a collaborative effort between schools, the residential Metro Waste Authority, and a local recycled goods manufacturer, aseptic cartons can now be placed in the recycling bin.

This change from waste disposal to recycling will divert close to 375 tons of milk and juice box waste from landfills annually.

Greenstar Recycling, which handles recycling for Des Moines, is utilizing an infrared machine with the ability to identify the slick coating that milk and juice cartons contain. These cartons will then be purchased by ReWall Co., a local company which manufactures building materials from polyethylene-coated cartons and cups.

Des Moines is a part of a single-stream waste recycling system, which means all recyclable materials are co-mingled and then sorted at designated facilities. It is uncertain if this new effort will result in job creation at this time, but it is expected that up to three tons of cartons will pass through the facility each month. City officials are clear that the new recycling stream for aseptic containers would not have happened without ReWall’s market demand and the technology advances available through Greenstar.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Is waste recycling of aseptic cartons available in your area? If not, this could be a great opportunity to expand business while helping to divert garbage from landfills!

Zero-energy Building

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A popular new trend in residential and commercial building construction is zero-energy or zero net energy building. A zero energy building is one without any energy consumption or carbon emissions. Zero energy buildings are often “off the grid” in terms of energy supply and instead generate all energy on-site utilizing technologies such as solar and wind power. Zero energy construction is becoming increasing in demand as the cost for traditional fuels such as natural gas, oil, and coals continue to increase and consumers are looking for alternatives that have less of an impact on the environment.

Most traditionally built homes and commercial spaces use over 40% of all energy consumed in the US. While zero energy buildings are still relatively uncommon in the US, they are steadily gaining in popularity as the design has great potential for reducing carbon emissions, reliance on fossil fuels, and drastically cutting annual energy costs.

Achieve zero energy may be a challenge depending on the geographical location of the building. Those areas that require heating or cooling for several months during the year have a better chance of achieving a ultra-low energy usage status when the overall living size space is kept small. Additionally, some building may develop a surplus of energy during certain months which can then be used to offset more energy intensive times of the year.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: While zero energy buildings may be a new concept, it’s worth being informed about. Consumers are always looking for ways to save money on energy costs and being familiar with zero energy construction may help you to help your customers!

Recycling Industrial Hazardous Waste

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If your business involves hazardous waste, it’s important to be aware of both the legal and regulatory issues as well as the environmental ones for toxic and harmful materials. The Environmental Protection Agency provides resources and best practices to assist businesses of all sizes with recycling and disposing of the hazardous wastes that are a part of their materials stream. Recycling practices for materials such as electronics, chemicals, and tires, are changing rapidly as new and innovative uses for these products are developed – so staying current in the latest news is to your benefit.

When you’re ready to start the process of recycling your hazardous waste, consider the following:

  • First, have a comprehensive understanding of how the state and federal government regulate the hazardous waste you have.
  • Find a recycler who is responsible and knowledgeable. Make sure they are qualified and permitted to handle hazardous waste, offer full disclosure for any prior contamination problems as well as compliance audits, and employ sound practices in both their financial management and waste screening.
  • Once you’ve found a recycler that meets your needs, periodically confirm that legitimate recycling is taking place.
  • Participate in the EPA’s WasteWise program which is designed to help businesses reduce their solid waste and cut disposal costs.
  • Monitor your business’s recycling success! Keeping track of your recycling efforts helps to measure your cost savings and is good public relations in your community.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: When you adapt your practices to be more environmentally friendly and less wasteful, it shows your investors, employees, and clients that you will not put them in danger of violating regulations, incurring heavy fines, or receiving adverse publicity.

Green Building Benefits

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Sustainable building, also known as “Green” construction, is unique from other methods of constructions in that the design and implementation goals are to allow for each building to more efficiently use and re-cycle water, energy, and materials. This focus places greater emphasis on protecting the environment and quality of health for humans living and working in the space.

Green construction can be identified by several characteristics:

  1. Efficient use of water, energy, and other resources
  2. Protecting and improving occupant health and productivity
  3. Reducing pollution, waste, and use of environmental resources

To provide a few examples, green construction often utilizes sustainable materials that have been recycled, reused, or manufactured from renewable sources; they are designed to foster healthy indoor air quality; and incorporate landscape design utilizing native plants which require less water to sustain.

Green construction has a significant impact on our economy, environment, and human health. Research from the federal, state, and private levels continues to support and strengthen the positives of building green, and how businesses can achieve the greatest benefits without incurring large expenses.With each passing year it becomes clearer that green building practices can increase both the environmental  and economic performance of the building and the businesses who design and build them.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Green building is not only good for the environment but  “in demand” by both residential and commercial consumers. Going green can also help to make your business some “green” as well!

 

Design for the Environment

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The Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment program assists individuals, businesses, and institutional purchasing agents locate environmentally-friendly cleaning products that are cost-effective, have excellent performance, and safe for the environment.

These special products are identified by the DfE label and can be found through a variety of store-based and online suppliers. A full list of approved manufacturers and their products can be found the the EPS’s Design for the Environment website. There you can find products for all ranges of cleaning needs – from domestic to institutional use.

When you see the DfE label, you can be certain that the ingredients have passed a rigorous EPA review and that every ingredient meets DfE’s stringent criteria. When people use Design for the Environment-labeled products they are protecting their families, colleagues, and customers by making safer chemical choices.

If you are a business manufacturing environmentally-friendly cleaning products, submit them to Design for the Environment (DfE) for review. If your product is successfully evaluated, you’ll be listed on the EPA’s website and allowed to use the DfE’s logo – opening up your product to new consumers interested in healthier cleaning solutions.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Alternative cleaning solutions can be effective against grime and dirt in addition to being a healthy alternative to potentially hazardous chemicals!

Building Green for Today and Tomorrow

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With every day more examples are generated showing that “green building” practices save  energy, money, and resources by creating homes and commercial space that is appealing and environmentally friendly.

In the U.S., buildings are responsible for:

  1. Thirty-nine percent of total energy use
  2. Twelve percent of water consumption
  3. Sixty-eight percent of electrical consumption
  4. Thirty-eight percent of all carbon dioxide emissions

By enacting green building practices, businesses can maximize both environmental and economic performance. Green building practices can easily be incorporated into the building process at any stage, from design to construction, renovation and deconstruction. However, the greatest benefits can be derived if the design and construction team begins their planning and implementation at the earliest stages of a project. Some of the positive environmental outcomes of green building include:

  • Environmental protection
  • Enhance and preserve biodiversity and ecosystems
  • Improve air and water quality
  • Reduce waste streams
  • Conserve natural resources

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Building green doesn’t have to cost extra “green”!  Research the materials options that are available when planning for your next building project – you’ll be surprised by the choices and their relative cost.