• A Holiday Guide to Recycling Wrapping Paper, Adhesive Tape, and Gift Bag Handles

    December 5, 2025

    Almost 10 years ago, the EPA reported that 25% more waste was generated between Thanksgiving and January 1st. If you consider the increase in online shopping, it’s likely much higher.When you buy gifts in stores or online, wrap them, and give gifts during the holidays, the amount of trash sharply increases. Protect the environment by […]

  • The Growing Problem of Vape and E-Cigarette Battery Waste

    November 26, 2025

    Vapes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) came out as a safer way to enjoy tobacco products. Instead of lighting up, the device creates a vapor from e-liquid, a mixture of chemicals, flavorings, and nicotine or THC. Because a vape, aka e-cigarette, doesn’t depend on combustion to deliver the nicotine, it was promoted as a safer alternative. Charge […]

  • How 3D Printing Is Turning Waste Materials Into New Products

    November 17, 2025

    Americans consume approximately 84.3 million tons of plastic annually. Worse, waste generation stands at 73 million tons. Plastic use has tripled since the 1980s, and much of it doesn’t get recycled correctly or at all. According to Statista, PET, HDPE, and LDPE/LLDPE are the three most recycled plastics. PP, PS, PLA, and PVC are barely or […]

  • Why Multi-Material Packaging Is the Biggest Challenge in Modern Times

    November 10, 2025

    While I strive for the highest possible recycling rate, multi-material packaging is one of the most significant challenges. Many items that should be recyclable become a problem for recycling facilities, as even the smallest amount of additional material makes them challenging to handle.Like many people, I become confused about how to recycle items. If a […]

  • Local Laws vs. Corporate Programs: Who Is Really Responsible for Plastic Bag Waste?

    October 24, 2025

    A startling 90% of plastic bags and other film, sacks, and wraps go to the trash. In 2018, approximately 4.2 million tons of plastic film and bags were generated, and only 420,000 tons were recycled. Instead, plastic bag waste ends up in landfills, where it takes an average of 20 years to break down.Thick plastic […]

  • Why Cutting and Shredding Paper Short Cuts Its Recycling Potential

    October 17, 2025

    You shred your paper and send it off with your curbside collections, figuring it will turn back into another paper product. That’s not always the case. Per the EPA, paper and paperboard generation reached 67.4 million tons in 2018. Only 68.2% of that paper was properly recycled. A total of 4.2 million tons went right to […]

  • 80 Best Recycling Blogs and Websites in 2025 (Waste Management)

    October 16, 2025

    ERI and RecycleNation are proud to be included in FeedSpot’s 80 Best Recycling Blogs you should read and follow in 2025. Here are the top 30 ranked recycling blogs, but follow the link to read the full article and see the complete list.1. Earth 911Blog https://earth911.com/ Earth911 believes humans can successfully reduce their impact by using […]

  • Eco-Friendly Halloween Party Decorations: Spooky Without the Waste

    October 3, 2025

    Halloween is a fun time of year, but it’s also one of the worst when it comes to waste. A UK charity found that people generate over 2,200 tons of plastic waste from just their costumes and clothing. You also must consider that there is plastic waste from candy wrappers and the plastic bags they […]

  • From Trash to Treasure: Home Remodeling With Recycled Materials

    September 24, 2025

    Every year, every American throws away an average of five pounds of trash and sometimes recyclables. Of the 292.4 million tons thrown out in 2018, only 94 million tons were recycled or composted. It’s not enough, and part of the problem is that some items that aren’t easily recycled end up in the trash.Have you […]

  • Microplastics: Can Recycling Really Help Reduce Them?

    September 16, 2025

    Edward Carpenter discovered microplastics back in 1972, but they didn’t become known as microplastics for 32 years. A team led by Professor Richard Thompson studied the long-term accumulation of these tiny plastic particles in the oceans in 2004. Since then, microplastics have been of growing concern as they’re found in everything from the fish we […]