By Nima Kapadia
What do unwanted catalogs, coupon packs and credit card offers have in common? They each share the same destination: our trashcans. 41pounds.org can help Americans reclaim their mailboxes and reduce junk mail by 80 to 95 percent.

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By Harriet Blake
Independence Day brings back memories of picnics and fireworks. Lots of paper and plastic, coal or gas grilling, and a brilliant light show. Is it possible to celebrate the Fourth and remain green? Let’s take it step by step.

Photo: Elke Dennis/Dreamstime.com
Having a daytime party that makes use of natural outside light is great. [...]

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By John DeFore

Big American retailers like Wal-Mart and Home Depot have been embracing compact fluorescent light bulbs for a while now, but some customers who read the fine print have been peeved that, since they contain mercury, the twisty little energy-saving bulbs are easier to buy than to dispose of properly. This week, Home [...]

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By John DeFore

While scientists make news with super-towels designed to repair eco-disasters, consumers may be happy to note that their more humble domestic clean-up needs aren’t being ignored.

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By Nima Kapadia

Best Buy, the nation’s largest electronics retailer, is asking consumers for their electronics this summer.

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By John DeFore
Call it a solution to a problem that has ceased to exist: Now that Netflix whisks DVDs to your mailbox and downloadable movies threaten to make all physical home video media obsolete, a company called Flexplay wants to sell movie lovers discs they throw away after a single viewing.

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By John DeFore
In 2002, the City of New York was recycling about a fifth of its waste, but some in the Bloomberg administration thought the program cost too much. In response to a budget crisis, the city stopped collecting glass and plastic (they continued paper and metal collection), arguing they’d save $40 million [...]

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By Lynette Holloway
As part of the rite of spring, families will gather in parks and nature preserves across the nation to celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, dragging out barbecue grills, blankets, coolers, and traditional picnic fare such as cheese, sandwiches, chips, and beer. Children will take advantage of the open air and romp around [...]

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By Harriet Blake
Your first reaction might be YUCK. Composting is not for the squeamish among us.
The definition alone is enough to turn you off: the aeorobic decomposition of biodegradable organic matter, performed by aerobic bacteria, yeasts and fungi and in the later stages, assisted by ants, nematodes and worms.
Organic gardening expert Howard Garrett describes compost [...]

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By Barbara Kessler
Manufacturers have pounced on the composting trend, giving you, the consumer, many choices for how you want to recycle your kitchen and garden waste. Here are a few:

This Tumbleweed Compost Bin was Member Tested and Recommended by the National Home Gardening Club, according to Clean Air Gardening, an online store that sells [...]

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By Harriet Blake
You’ve just moved to town and somehow you still have too much stuff. The Salvation Army is about 20 minutes down the road. But perhaps there is someone closer who could use that antique desk or the comfy but well-worn recliner? And with the price of gas and all those carbon emissions, that [...]

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By Emily Speir

Photo: Phoenix Composting Toilet Systems
 
Outdoor venues such as Quail Ridge County Park in Missouri use composting toilets.
As a kid watching the remains of my latest goldfish swirling into oblivion, my thoughts were a mix of horror and curiosity. Where was my dear fish going? Where did anything go that got the flush? The [...]

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