The Conflict of Interest That Is Killing Recycling

Recycling doesn't come easy for small, rural towns where the cost to export recyclables often realistically outweighs the benefits of this sustainably practice. Clean Valley Recycling, a nonprofit launched by local community members in the tiny town on Swink, Colorado, has gone against all odds though and serves not just as a recycling resource for the town, but for the surrounding region as well.

Nosara, a district in the Costa Rican region of Nicoya Peninsula, is being overcome with trash after the Nicoya City Hall closed the local dump. Because local officials have been slow to act, citizens have had to take matters into their own hands that includes creating their own recycling company.

Poachers are causing the population of lions in Zambia to decline at rapid rate. Conservationists working with the Zambian Carnivore Program are not only actively tracking the lions, but also teaching students about the importance of the species and how to contribute to the research in order to inspire the next generation to continue protecting wildlife.

San Francisco is aiming to achieve zero waste by 2020. Thanks to the implementation of public policy that made recycling and composting mandatory and a focus on city-wide awareness, however, the Californian city has already been able to divert 80 percent of its waste from landfills. It diverts more waste from landfills than any major city.

Nationally, only about a third of municipal solid waste is recycled. An initiative to use simpler, standardized signs and labels is helping communities reap greater benefits from recycling.

Michigan cities are using AI to identify non-recyclable items in household recycling bins and then send the geotagged photo on a postcard to the homeowner with recycling tips. Over a 24-week period in East Lansing, more than 5,000 postcards were mailed and recycling stream contamination decreased by more than a fifth.

The Recycling for the Environment by Strengthening Income and Livelihoods of Entrepreneurs (RESILIENT) Project helps support the economy of waste collectors and aggregators by providing training, safety equipment and mentorship on how to handle finances and operate a waste business. Waste collectors and aggregators who have participated in the RESILIENT Project earn increased profits and are able to collect and recycle more plastics and other materials.

Local women have begun washing diapers and using the inner cotton material as stuffing to make reusable sanitary pads. This practice of cleaning and repurposing the materials from these diapers helps to prevent excess waste from disposable diapers, which has a significant impact on local waste management, long-term sustainability and environmental preservation.

The Shred Up Halabja Recycling Center is the first successful plastic collection and recycling system in Halabja, Iraq. The project collects plastics from schools, homes, and public places to recycle and turn into usable products. It also educates students about the importance of recycling to encourage understanding and innovation.

The Detroit nonprofit Arts and Scraps reuses donated materials like yarn and fabric to teach kids to create art and take care of the environment with free programs.