Recycling

Nobody wants to spend hours picking through a steady stream of garbage; this is why many recycling operations rely on automated systems to separate plastic containers, glass bottles, aluminum cans and mixed paper. But these systems have an imperfect track rec…

Dollywood mannequin recycling tackles throwaway society

Photograph by Steve Double Peltier cells are flat devices that draw heat from one side to the other through a thermoelectric principle called the Peltier effect. The cells are commonly used to pump heat away from CPUs or graphics cards, and are also found in…

Why is the US so bad at recycling?

Youre not a proper homeowner until youve got a few stacks of half-used paint cans stashed in a dark corner of your basement, attic or shed. A few were leftover from when you threw a fresh coat on the walls before you moved in, maybe one from that time you…

I have several pairs of broken headphones, a non-functional PlayStation, and one cracked iPhone with trace amounts of blood on it. While rummaging through useless belongings in my apartment, I often wonder if my used electronicscracked or notcan ever serve a …

Homes evacuated near Tenn. recycling center fire

We all know that garbage has a terrible impact on our environmenttake a look at the plastic bottles washing up on our beaches and in our waterways. But when it comes to the question of bottles versus aluminum cans, does one container have an even worseimpact …

Every spring, I dry-clean a dozen of my winter coats. By the time Ive stocked them back in my closet, I have enough barely used plastic material to wrap up my entire apartment. If youre someone who gets their clothing dry-cleaned every month or even week, th…

You might want to think twice about buying "biodegradable" plastic bags if you're environmentally-minded. A new study from the University of Plymouth, UK, has found that when bags labeled as biodegradable are thrown away, they can actually survive three years…