The tire has been around for approximately 200 years — not as long as the wheel, though even that mechanical marvel has been around for only about five to six thousand years. Even so, the tire has had several tweaks and design variations over the years. Now, as the number…
Make Every Day World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day, declared by the United Nations as a day to recognize the major role that oceans play in everyday life, passed us quietly on June 8 this year. More immediate needs have dominated activists’ attention, and rightfully so. But protecting the ocean doesn’t take place on a single…
Earth911 Podcast: ISRI Chief Economist Joe Pickard Discusses COVID’s Impact on Recycling
The recycling industry, like the rest of the world, is coping with the massive disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Joe Pickard, the chief economist of the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), shares his insights into how recycling will change as a new normal emerges after the pandemic. Even as…
Earth911 Inspiration: Living by Sufficiency Rather Than Excess

Today’s quote is from Yvon Chouinard, rock climber, environmentalist, and founder of outdoor gear retailer Patagonia. He said, “Going back to a simpler life based on living by sufficiency rather than excess is not a step backward.” Is it time to simplify your life? Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your…
The State of the Tropics Matters Wherever You Live
June 29 is the day the world gets a definitive answer to the question, “Are things getting better in the tropics?” The question might not seem particularly relevant to those of us living in North America. But the tropics and the temperate zones are closely interrelated. Each region has serious…
Why and How To Recycle Your Old Mobile Phone

Is your cellphone contract about to expire? If so, your carrier will likely allow you a free or cheap upgrade if you turn in the old phone for recycling. Sending a trade-in device at the end of a mobile contract is the easiest and most common way that people recycle…
Multipurpose Cleaners That Are Doing It Right

I’ve been on something of a rampage when it comes to cleaning products lately. So this time, instead of telling you about all the bad things in your multipurpose cleaner, I’m going to throw some kudos out there to the companies that aren’t just capitalizing on the green revolution. These…
Plan Ahead for Extreme Air Conditions
Residents in some parts of the American West are already used to thinking of wildfires as seasonal, rather than infrequent, threats. As the annual acreage burned by wildfires increases, residential areas throughout the country are coming under threat more frequently. Residents in many regions of the U.S. must now prepare…
Earth911 Inspiration: When Wild Places End

Today’s quote is from environmental advocate David Brower: “The wild places are where we began. When they end, so do we.” Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image. You Might Also Like……
Breathe Easy: Reduce Indoor Air Pollution
Although it may be counterintuitive, indoor air is commonly two to five times more contaminated than outside air. These pollutants are linked to everything from immune system health and chemical sensitivity to cancer. In fact, the EPA ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top five threats to human health….