Earth Day

Materials recovery facilities (MRFs) keep recyclables — including, of course, glass, plastics, and aluminum — out of landfills and put them back into circulation using a fraction of the energy required to make new goods. These eco-friendly centers are a marvel of technology, environmentalism, and collective effort. With Earth Day earlier this week, let's take a look at how MRFs are saving the planet — and how you can help, whether you operate your own MRF or simply wish to be a better recycler in your own home or business.

Clean recycling is a catch-all term that describes high-quality, uncontaminated bales of post-consumer plastics, metals, or paper. It's also the key to keeping the recycling industry healthy, especially the plastics market.

With Earth Day around the corner, many business owners are considering a commitment to recycling electronics, metals, textiles, and other harder-to-handle materials. It's the natural next step for companies that already recycle paper, plastics, and glass.

School green programs, like recycling and composting, have a far-reaching impact. From reducing waste to nourishing leadership skills in students, these programs improve not just local communities, but also the planet — and that makes Earth Day the perfect opportunity to start one. Luckily, there are plenty of resources to help create a program from the ground up.