Tyler Talks Trash

New at Temple University: Water Bottle Refill Stations

2012-02-20T18:12:00.000-08:00

photo: Peter Hahn

I saw one of these in California not too long ago, then I heard about one in Delaware, and now they're happening at the new architecture building at Temple University: water bottle refill stations. A pretty simple concept- get a drink of water, refill a bottle with water.

What I didn't notice is that they have a readout on them that shows how much waste has been eliminated through refilling your bottle. Bottled water sucks, plain and simple.

Not sure how you can hate on this one. Tests have shown over and over that tap water trumps bottled water in both quality and taste. While I'm at it, I'll remind you to check out The Story of Bottled Water if you haven't seen it yet (some of the video comments might depress you, but isn't that the case with everything on Youtube?).

Waste of the Week: Garbage is not food?

2012-01-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

...yes it is.

Recently I saw this dumpster diving documentary called Dive. It had a lot of "no duh" moments, but for the uninformed, I can see this one opening some eyes...I hope. It's even on Netflix, so go watch it!

The Sheraton Shuffle (video)

2011-12-22T12:29:00.000-08:00

I just realized I wrote that whole article on my stay at the Sheraton, but I didn't put the video up for it. Here it is!

Happy Holidays. Don't Give the Gift of Garbage.

2011-12-18T21:09:00.000-08:00

Buying stuff for the holidays has to rank near the bottom of things I like doing. Of course I get salty hearing other people's conversations about rushing to the store after work, or struggling to find a toy that their kid wanted. Even worse is seeing the huge piles of waste by the curbside a few days later. I like to view the holidays more like artistic expression, mainly with how I package a gift, and secondarily what I choose.

This nation consumes a huge amount of paper each year, and as much as half of that consists of packaging. Wrapping paper is a big contributor: it's too thin to be recycled, and it contains additives and dyes. Many things can substitute as wrapping paper…think newspaper, magazines, or really anything that you can mash together in a creative way. Ideally, you should pick a material that is going to be recyclable or compostable.

I openly admit that I obsessively hoard packaging materials that only get utilized for holidays and birthdays. Under my desk is three garbage bags full of padded mailers, styrofoam peanuts and gift bags that I've received and try to reuse later on. By ordering products online, I don't really get to choose what packaging material the sender uses, so it ends up under my desk.

I find it sad that nearly all packaging material is so close to being conveniently recyclable. Padded mailers have plastic bubble liners that are difficult to remove, tyvek packaging is becoming popular, but no one is willing to pay shipping to mail these in bulk back to the manufacturer. Some copy centers and post offices may accept styrofoam peanuts, but no one wants to make the effort to return them. Therefore, I suggest reusing these types of materials as many times as you can.

Gift bags are equally frustrating because they're not recyclable due to their inseparable composition of paper, plastic, and anything from sequins to rope handles and ribbons. If you absolutely need to use gift bags for that special someone, choose a generic/neutral design and suggest to the recipient that they reuse it.

If you're not that interested in using materials other than wrapping paper for gifts, you can look for 100% recycled paper gift wrap which uses soy-based ink instead of the usual toxic petroleum-based ink. Taking it a step further, scour the internet for plantable seed wrapping paper. You can even get business cards made with this material, and it looks and feels great. These options are a bit more expensive, but I like to think of the extra cost as part of the final gift.

Being both creative and responsible with your gift giving doesn't have to come off as cheap and weird. Done right, it can act as a subtle way to get your recyclephobic friends one step closer to being accepting of greenie practices. When you're laying around digesting all that food this holiday season, strike up a conversation about holiday waste. I think it's on people's minds but it doesn't get enough attention, and it might connect you a little closer to those you care about. Getting creative is always a good thing, and you know they always say it's the green thought that counts.

The Sheraton Shuffle

2011-12-06T17:40:00.000-08:00

Every time I travel and stay in a hotel (or anywhere really), I find myself critically analyzing every material detail to the point that I sound really obnoxious. My recent stay in LA was no exception. The funniest part was flying in to a blacked out windy city, and being handed a glow stick at check in. Yes! Luckily, the power came back on an hour or so later.

Hotels really fascinate me with their room layouts, as they're meant for single use and efficiency. I always look at product design and placement, and wonder who pays $3 for a bottle of water when they have a sink in their room. My room came with the following:

I know it's commonplace to hate on Starbucks, and I won't waste much time here. They seem to improve their image and talk with time, but I can't help but keep an eyebrow raised nonetheless. "Fair Trade" coffee in the room, with single use coffee cups…wrapped in plastic for your cleanliness and enjoyment.

Right away I wonder why they don't have mugs, but I guess they figure people take them. My answer: Brand them as Sheraton mugs and charge $10 if they're yanked. Maybe the 10 seconds of time for an employee to wash out the used mugs in the sink wouldn't justify it.

Luckily, there's a recycling can in the room! I spoke to cleaning staff and they proudly explained the sorting process: very, very nice to see. There's hope that the wet coffee cup and essentially worthless polystyrene lid get separated properly at the Material Recovery Facility. At least the (unnecessary) coffee sleeve is recyclable, and made of 60% post consumer recycled fiber (actually an important characteristic).

Want to make a green choice? Request not to have your bedsheets and towels changed. Save water, soap, labor and electric while receiving a $5 food voucher. Let me guess, "go green and save green"? Blah. Most hotels have adopted this practice and marketing at this point, and I'm glad…although it still comes off as a bit corny. But so do I.

The best part of this sign is the "Made from Earth Friendly Materials" line. Really? Wow! I'd be happier if you said "Made from 0% recycled fiber", or even "Printed on paper with soy based inks" (or water based inks)…what isn't? If you're gonna reach, go for the top shelf.

Speaking of top shelf, the clean air sign (in photo 1) is awesome. I'm so psyched I get to breathe clean air in this room…look at the earthy design. I have to give it to them, such a smart way to say "This is a non-smoking room and we'll bill you $200 if we smell anything".

Now I ask the question: Does this come off as greenwashing to you, or innocent changes in the hotel's perception? OK, I'm done hating now.

I also love checking out public restrooms, especially in hotels although I haven't figured out why yet. My parents can confirm my obsession with rating bathrooms ever since I was a little kid…counting the urinals was an early favorite. It's all waste related, right?

Yes! I love waterless urinals. A win-win all around, and these have a killer shape to them which makes it super hard to backsplash any pee on yourself. I don't know how they did it, but I'm going to try making a phone call to an engineer at Sloan about this…I'm sure that a lot of work went into the curvature of this thing.

Now that we eliminated touching the urinal flusher from the picture (since we all use the flusher every time, haha) it's time to move on to the touchless soap dispenser…and non-touchless faucet. Maybe the next phase is replacing those and the paper towel dispensers next. I hate touchless paper towel systems. I just want a piece that's less than a foot long, not enough to wrap several christmas presents.

What I don't like about these is the electric eyes never seem calibrated correctly, and you'll get extra squirts of soap and excessive water blasting down the drain after you walk away. Finally, after your hands are supposedly all clean and sterile, you grab a paper towel (is that totally clean?) and then grab a door handle fresh with cooties of all the people that don't wash their hands. I love it!

Now I'm not a microbiologist by any means, and I think that was my worst class in school (memorizing names of stuff you can't see, great!)…but perception of cleanliness plays a big part regardless. Perception of greenliness (bad joke, don't use that word) appears to be more and more playing a part, too.

You must be thinking I give this hotel an F, right? No way, not even close. Sure, there's some things that could be replaced or modified a bit, but overall it's a better look than a lot of hotels I've stayed in. The best look? Get composting already!

Artful Littering

2011-12-01T07:08:00.000-08:00

As much as I hate littering, I have a soft spot for this. Kinda.

What really irks you about waste?

2011-11-16T15:16:00.001-08:00

Waste Watch Episode 3: Toner Cartridge Recycling

2011-11-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

I've been hoarding toner cartridge waste for a while now, and I noticed the variety of ways that companies try to appear "green", or not at all. Greenwashing is a serious thing, and I'd like to get your mind in gear for spotting weak attempts to appear environmentally responsible.

What level of sustainable effort (or lack thereof) is acceptable to you? Let me know.

Waste Watch Episode 2: Cell Phone Packaging

2011-10-09T21:51:00.000-07:00

It's time for another waste watch episode! I've graduated to a dumbphone again (remember when a phone just made calls?), and I couldn't be happier. Phones have the potential to be pretty wasteful, although I think I made a good purchase here. What do you think?

"Wipe Out" article in Grid Magazine #031

2011-09-28T20:09:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder about napkins? It's definitely an item that I think about constantly and I can't tell if I'm perceived as dirty for denying them any chance I get. Napkins are seen as this free item that can be liberally obtained in any quantity, without question. Why do you need napkins? Do you spill food at every sitting, or get your hands and face dirty every chance you get?

I would like to see napkins become an item that isn't provided unless asked for, with the business in full control of how many are disseminated. Honestly, how many times have you either taken napkins or received napkins with a meal, only to throw them in the trash after you're done eating? They're only napkins, right? Yes, but they are a resource that contribute to our wasteful habits.

Over the last few weeks, I've been observing people when they get up to leave a restaurant and it never fails that unused napkins get trashed…and not one or two, but a tidy stack of them. I'm always entertained when I get to watch people figure out creative ways to use their stack of napkins before throwing them in the trash. Wipe the table down? Wipe your mouth for the third time? Blow your nose? I feel like a lot of people are one step away from saying "hold the napkins".

Did you know that paper makes up a whopping 40% of our landfills? This is the most prevalent content disposed, and it exceeds plastic bottles, diapers, food waste and appliances combined. Think about it this way: for as long as you've been on the planet, paper hasn't changed. It's always weighed the same and taken up the same space while glass and plastics (bags and bottles alike) have lost nearly half their weight and thickness.

Some paper products such as napkins, paper towels and phonebooks are made of a minimal amount of low grade material, to the point that their recyclability is questionable, but their compostability or (better yet) overall reduction is not. Yes, it's a low grade of paper that is most likely near 100% recycled material, but why use it if you don't need to?

So here's my challenge for you: Do you really need all the napkins you receive when getting your meal from the lunch truck or at a restaurant? See what happens when you pocket those extra napkins and tell the server to hold off on them from here on out. Remember cloth napkins? They still exist, seemingly at bars and a couple restaurants…that's not a bad habit to support. If you're at an establishment using paper napkins, ask why they can't go with the cloth alternative.

This one might be a stretch: how about handkerchiefs? They were a trend that hung out of people's back pockets for a while, but were they being pulled out at restaurants to wipe hands and blow noses? I doubt it. The key here is reuse.

The extreme: have you tried putting your hands into your pockets after you washed them instead of pulling 5 paper towels from the dispenser? Unless you work in a hospital, chances are you don't need your hands sanitized and free of visible soil at all times.

Why would I pick such a trivial product to focus on for an entire article? That's exactly why. Paper has a bigger impact than you may think, and you have the power to change that…quite simply, actually. So go for it- it doesn't make you dirtier, it makes you a more mindful and in-tune global citizen.

Wasted Opportunities at School

2011-09-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

I was taking a stroll and I happened to pass by a school's dumpsters. I couldn't help but take a look at all the opportunity that was being passed on. Don't you think schools should be recycling, composting and donating as opposed to trashing? I mean, the students are the future and all... setting an example and being a steward in the community shouldn't be an option.

Who knows, maybe I'm really ahead of myself... maybe not a single person at the school has ever thought about waste segregation. Maybe no one at this Philadelphia school lives in Philadelphia and recognizes that they participate in single stream recycling at home already.

Are the schools near you recycling? Composting? Donating excess supplies and lost and found never found? Are they getting the students involved?

I wonder what the waste hauler thought...maybe they never proposed providing the service anyway. Either way, this isn't about blame as much as it's about looking through trash and asking questions...so take my lead and go do it.

Waste Watch Episode 01: Lacie 1 TB Hard Drive Review

2011-09-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

This marks my first official episode of Waste Watch!

In this series, I'm going to evaluate products based on their packaging. How much of it is recyclable? Can it be reduced or reused? I recently needed an external hard drive, and I was pretty impressed with the minimal packaging at work here.

What do you think? Check it out:

Tiny Parks are on a Roll in San Francisco

2011-09-02T07:25:00.000-07:00

These things are genius. What do you do when you're in a big city and you're all built out? Bring in a few dumpster parks. I'm not sure if San Francisco is the only place with these right now, but I hope there's more to come.

For the full story, click here.

Biohazard Wine...tastes great!

2011-07-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

Biohazard Wine, my favorite. For all of you non-waste regulations people out there, they got all the classifications on there just right. What an awesome gift.

"Kill Your Java Jacket" article in Grid Magazine

2011-07-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

Pick up the August issue (#029) of Grid Magazine to check out my debut article, "Kill Your Java Jacket". You can find their magazine throughout Philadelphia, or online at http://www.gridphilly.com/digital-edition/.

Kill Your Java Jacket

The insulating coffee sleeve and the damage done

By Tyler Weaver

I don’t go to coffee shops that often, but I’m obsessed with the waste they generate. (Okay, I’m obsessed with the waste everyone generates).

Coffee shops are big business, and, as such, one with a big footprint. But it’s also an industry with a reasonable shot at attaining nearly zero waste, at least on the retail end—very little that goes into making coffee can’t be easily reduced/reused/recycled.

There are a few shops that make good choices: offering condiments in shakers, providing mugs for on-site consumption, and even extending composting programs to customers. Then there's the majority that continue to do unspeakable things: doubling up paper cups, offering only wasteful single-serving sugar packets, using plastic lids and simply throwing out unsold baked goods.

But there’s one practice—one patently ridiculous practice when you get right down to it—that nearly all coffee shops engage in: the innocuous insulating sleeve for to-go coffee. Now, some are worse than others, but are any of them even good, let alone neutral? I mean, we’re talking about a mass-consumed item that a) didn’t exist 20 years ago, b) exists only to protect the hands of people who didn’t bring a reusable travel mug (or can’t figure out how to hold a hot cup of coffee without burning themselves) and c) is probably seen as a preemptive device for our wildly litigious society.

I burn my hand occasionally, but that’s because I'm a klutz; it doesn't make me think that I need to kill a tree to span the 10 minutes between when I get my coffee and when it cools enough for me to pick it up without caution.

I'm depressed, fascinated and dumbfounded by coffee sleeves. I just wiki-ed the term “coffee sleeve” and found that they were invented in 1993 by some dude named Jay Sorenson. (Thanks Jay! That would rule if you’re retired on an island living off of patent money from your “java jackets.“) Anyway, I collected a whole bunch of these things from coffee shops across town to get an idea of what's being used, and why.

I had no idea that coffee insulators came in so many different sizes and styles (and I certainly didn't know they’d become a space for glossy advertising. $2 off my next Visine purchase? Sweet.).

One common trait among cardboard sleeves (and plenty of other paper products) is that they want you to know how much recycled content they consist of. Keep in mind the difference between something boasting a recycling symbol, the level of post-consumer content, and that its simply “recyclable“ (one of my favorite greenwashing terms).

In the above picture of various sleeves I collected (click to enlarge), the best is the bland looking one with 100 percent recycled paper and made of 90 percent post consumer material. The worst (of the cardboard candidates) is definitely the Saxbys: “100 percent recyclable and post-consumer.“ Yes, cardboard is recyclable, but how much post-consumer content is there?

To my mind, the worst of all of them is the Styrofoam “degradable” sleeve (sadly named the “Eco Sleeve”). Practically, there is nothing "eco" about “degradable“ plastic. Just about anything is degradable, and it will eventually degrade over X-hundred years, or break up into smaller pieces to choke up our waterways.

Sure, plastic is cheaper and insulates better against heat. But these sleeves aren't recyclable in any economic measure, and, practically, they do not biodegrade. This is where paper cups swoop for the glory. Yes, their recyclability is debatable, but their compostability is not.

With millions of cups of coffee consumed per day, it’s a reasonable estimate that millions of these things are being disposed of per day. How hard would it be to tell your barista to hold off on the sleeve and the lid? Give it a shot. If your morning coffee was that much worse, you should think about bringing your own cup. Heck, just bring your own cup and help make this whole discussion moot.

Tyler Weaver is a garbage and compost expert who’s been obsessed with waste since he climbed into his first dumpster two decades ago. Read more of his musings at tylertalkstrash.com and crazyaboutcompost.com.

Tyler’s ideal coffee shop:

1. Reusable mugs for sale (with a discount for use).

2. A compost receptacle available for customers next to the recycling can and trash can (which should have next to nothing in it)

3. Give away coffee grinds to anyone interested in starting a composting effort at home. Have a composting 101 fact sheet on hand for the curious (Starbucks claims to do this, although I haven't found one that knows about this program, even in San Francisco).

4. Environmentally preferable purchasing program created by the coffee shop to minimize impact up front, including no “degradable“ coffee sleeves and minimal usage of plastics.

5. No single-use items. Feature a sign explaining why they’re lame.

6. Composting of baked goods and coffee grinds. If paying for composting is totally unreasonable (check out Bennett Compost or Philly Compost first), build a simple bin out back.

Waste of the Week #7

2011-07-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

Today I've decided I should post a Waste of the Week that's a bit more positive than the usual idiotic, so here's a flick from a Target in Sacramento, CA. I'm a fan of minimal and clean design, so this obviously scores immediate points with me:

photo: Elena Nestico

The trash can gets the "red" designation, which I'm guessing is to mean "NO" to all things not trash, which is most things. What do you really need to throw in the trash while you're at Target anyway? It's pretty nice of them to offer a collection station for that area as it is.

Plastic bags have been getting more attention lately, and I still question their recyclability although it has to vary from place to place like all programs do. Here in Philly, "keep it simple stupid" seems to prevail, which encourages all plastics 1-7 to be put in the curbside bin for recycling... although when you call the recycling facilities, the answer you get for plastic bags (and plastic film) is "it clogs the machines".

In a recent tour to the brand new state-of-the-art recycling center here, that appeared to be the case...I think. I didn't get a straight answer for the fate of plastic bags, which to me just means that it depends on the economy of recycling them, which isn't that good. They need to be clean, and any color but black for any effort to be made to recycle them...otherwise they're landfill bound.

I'm surprised the hole in the top of the plastic bag can isn't smaller, maybe in the shape of a tilde or something goofy. I had this dark thought of an unsupervised kid jumping in the container, tying ten bags over his head, suffocating and dying. That could be a fun lawsuit for profiting off an unwanted kid...I wouldn't be surprised if this happened already in some capacity. Sadly, that is a thought in my mind, and possibly in yours.

Moving on, we have commingled recycling and finally a container to recycle your "MP3". MP3 player, maybe? That one's a little funny. MP3s don't really have any value, do they? CDs? Another day. Notice that the hole on this one is really small... they don't want people digging through there to take them out and get cash for themselves. Target makes money by sending in cell phones, ink cartridges and MP3 players...so this is most likely how they pay off the expense of the other containers...way to go Target! I'm a fan. I feel like this is where business and ethics come together to make a happy medium.

Once businesses start viewing recycling as a commodity instead of an expense, they'll see that there's no need to trash everything, and that they're actually throwing away money while being ignoranuses to the public (need help with this? Hit me up). Here's to hoping other businesses start copying what Target's doing...get your heads out of your asses, execs of the world.

Next week, I'll show yet another method that one ups this process in both effectiveness and public relations, while missing out on the book balancing effect of collecting profitable items (electronics). Guess what company it is before I post it and I'll send you something.

Tyler, What have you been up to?

2011-06-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I wrote stuff on here, but rest assured I've been busy with the right stuff.

First off, I have an article coming out for Grid Magazine in the next few weeks, so I'll be reposting that here obviously. Super excited about that: my first article and it's for a magazine I actually like. Does that officially make me a writer? I feel pretty good.

I've also been really busy with my other website, crazyaboutcompost.com , so you should go check it out. I just finished a new experiment involving growing basil in a number of different soil types. The results were definitely not quite what I (or anyone I've talked to) expected. Here's the video:

...too much fun.

I should get back in the swing of things within the next week, and I'm doing some traveling so you can be certain I'll be uploading some waste receptacle photos. Can't wait!

Till then, keep it trashy!

Something Fantastic About Plastic: When It's Crafted by Diedra Krieger

2011-06-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

So strange, I looked outside my window this morning and happened to catch someone throwing an empty water bottle out of their car as they drove by...couldn't be more perfect for today's post.

I forget, did I write about plastic bottles before? I can't remember, but they upset me on a daily basis. It's an unforgettable item that will continue to plague us, whether in the form of plastic islands larger than Texas in every ocean, in our favorite rivers and streams to swim in, or wedged into every crack and crevice of our environment.

Diedra Krieger is a friend of mine that has been building rather immense structures out of plastic bottles for years now. When I first saw one of them, I didn't at all think about how nice it was, to be honest. I got really bummed out that there was this ugly item in such a large quantity in front of me...which in itself can be rather beautiful...and I think it's safe to say that that is her point (But what would I know, I can never hope to "know" an artist's complete multi-layered approach anyway).

Seeing a giant geodesic dome of these things can invoke some strong emotions, of which you can select whether to be bummed out or rather delighted by it. I can't say that for most art that I look at (usually just bummed). Pictures just don't do justice of one her creations, but here's my favorite shot:

She's making a monster one of these from June 10th - 12th for Figment 2011, a killer participatory/interactive exhibition on Governor's Island NY, check out the video below:

While I'm at it, I'd like you to check out another favorite video of mine related to our friend the water bottle. Annie Leonard, as you may know from "The Story of Stuff", has a series of "The Story Of" videos now. My favorite of hers is definitely (you guessed it): "The Story of Bottled Water". I love it how she manages to invoke so many harsh emotions on the Youtube comment section, people that just don't want to acknowledge the reality at all. Anyway, here's the video:

Does plastic waste tug at your heart strings? Or does it feel that it hasn't made its way into your daily life yet, so it's not a priority to confront? All is well and good if you listen to the American Chemistry Council...right. Give them a call and ask some real questions, their responses are humorous to the point of depression: (202) 249-7000

That's Not A Trash Can. Now It Is!

2011-05-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I forget how many different ways waste/trash can be perceived. While I have no respect for people that litter, I rarely make mention of it...on a blog about TRASH. I love the often-used excuse "that's why people are paid to clean it up...job security!" Actually no, prick, it's not job security and your lame ass needs to learn how to clean up after yourself. When I tell people what I do for a living, they tend to think they can offend me by telling me they litter...they're right.

Oh yeah- I was writing to let you know about a fellow Philadelphian Andrew Jeffrey Wright who happens to have a trash blog as well... it's a well-done photo gallery of all the best ways that people utilize this city. Check out his most recent "poles and posts post":

It's strange, I don't get mad when I look at these pictures, but I definitely don't laugh either... what is the "responsible" emotion for checking out pictures of litter? I think I'm just heavily desensitized to it since I work with it on the daily. Anyway, his page is well worth checking out...so do it.

Click here: http://thatsnotatrashcannowitis.blogspot.com/

(Infectious) Waste of the Week #1

2011-04-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

Hopefully this is the last time I ever see this happen:

What the hell is going on here? I'm riding around in Fishtown and I find this pile casually sitting on the side of the road. People are walking by, taking a good 20 extra feet going around it. Not me. Coming from an infectious waste cleanup background, I can't begin to tell you how excited I was to find this, now matter how unreal and ignorant.

With the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection code firmly ingrained in my head, I started formulating some questions...what regulation is this scenario satisfying?

Protection from rodents and animals? No. Placed in a leak proof container impervious to moisture? Nope. How about secure from the public? Bags tied off properly? Waste labeled in any way whatsoever? Hell to the no.

Peeking in the bags, they contained nothing but cardboard. Take a look:

That's right: I don't see any blood in quantities greater than 20 cc's (haha), or even a lazily disposed syringe (which don't belong in there either). This is cardboard, folks. Infectious toothbrush holders? I want to know who is going to pick this up. The City's garbagemen wouldn't want to touch this stuff, nor get in trouble for trying to dump this at a waste transfer station.

If this is actually to be disposed as infectious, it's breaking every rule in the book...so whatever waste vendor is taking this, needs to have their license revoked (if they have one to begin with). Maybe I'm all wrong. I can't think of a possible situation voiding this building of being completely negligent.

Well, infectious waste bags are extremely rigid to deal with large quantities of liquid waste...I guess it's nice to have them on hand for when you're dealing with... INFECTIOUS WASTE. Not empty cardboard boxes. How did you people even obtain these to begin with?

Yes, it's only trash in a garbage bag that's colored red and has biohazard symbols on it, I get it. Tyler, stop freaking out. Well, no. If you ever see this in your neighborhood, please contact your appropriate city office, or your state environmental office. While it's "just" a bag, it's not just a bag.

I called the DEP about the incident, this should be interesting. Even if for some reason this company is okay with their disposal habit (which they aren't), I don't mind being the nosey annoying dude here. Either way, it's highly entertaining to me and I can't wait to see how this unfolds. Maybe the company reads my page regularly and I'll get my ass kicked. Whatever.

Waste of the Week #6

2011-04-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

Something about this photo just makes me laugh.

Waste of the Week #5

2011-03-27T22:33:00.000-07:00

In my experience, rest stops always suck when it comes to accommodating recycling...not in Wisconsin! Super old and uninteresting looking waste receptacles bum me out, but whatever.

When the text finally wears off of the containers, I wonder how much compliance will drop since no one will look at the fugly graphics on them. I don't think trash cans can get uglier than the stone/pebble look, either. Well, maybe. Time to dig deep into the photo archives...

Sun Chips: Make a coffee table book listing all the complaints you received about the bag being too noisy. I'll buy it.

2011-03-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

I had so much stuff planned for tonight, and then I stumbled upon this video about a new Sun Chips bag. Reading people's comments about the bag being too noisy heavily increases the chances of me attempting to stomp my own face into a jar. What is the issue here? Are you really going to stop eating something based on its packaging?

First of all, kudos to Frito-Lay for trying to design a compostable bag. Someone's gotta start the movement sooner or later. Be clear about whether it is actually biodegradable, or a product that just breaks down into smaller pieces causing problems.

To all my fellow composters out there: Good luck composting this bag at home. It isn't easy. The bag is designed for disposal in a commercial composting facility (example video of the process found HERE) that maintains crazy high temperatures that can even process stuff like chicken bones. If you're going to try it anyway, be sure to shred it up before adding to the pile. If you try to compost it whole, it will be more trouble than it's worth (think of how unshredded leaves and newspaper clump up your finished product).

I don't know why something like this gets me so riled up...I guess it's because there's really no reason to complain that a chip bag is too loud. It's just a chip bag. If you're complaining the bag is too loud, your friends (if you have any) think you complain about everything. If you liked Sun Chips before the bag was created, why wouldn't you like them now? The product is the same.

Hell, I feel just as lame because I'm going to buy one of these new bags just to make a new video reminding you yet again why you should be happy that a major corporation is attempting to try something innovative for once.

There is one major flaw on Frito Lay's part: A good portion of people that buy this bag will think that they can just dispose of this in the regular trash and that it will magically biodegrade...it won't. Landfills are anaerobic, which means there's no oxygen. Whether your bag is designed as biodegradable or not won't make a significant difference...don't let anyone tell you different, not even waste hauling companies.

I guess that I'm not really helping by saying that, either...because now even more people will be disenchanted that their bag isn't going to do anything differently in the dump. Well, apply that thinking to all of your waste from here on out. Reduction is the key here, and it will lead to satisfaction and simplicity. I promise.

How to Make Laundry Soap For 5 Dollars In 5 Minutes (video)

2011-03-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

Proper Pick #1: Paper Parking Placards

2011-02-22T16:37:00.000-08:00

I was walking home earlier today, and I happened to see a cop tossing a handful of these in the trash:

Really? What's wrong with these? Quite a nice candidate for paper recycling. I pulled them out, and was actually quite impressed with how sturdy they were...so I took them. I feel like these always have the same timeframes scribbled on them, too...so how about "No stopping today from the hours of 9a - 6p"? Might not need to print so many...