Each year, we throw out a whopping three billion batteries. That's a lot of batteries. Question is, where do they all end up?

Like other types of electronic waste (e-waste), batteries don't go in your recycling or trash bins. Ever. Some of those used-up batteries you've got lying around the house are actually household hazardous waste. That's because they contain plenty of harmful stuff, like heavy metals. The only exception is alkaline batteries, such as Duracell or Eveready batteries, because some cities accept them in the trash. Best thing to do if you're not sure is to treat all batteries as electronic waste.

Lead-acid automobile batteries

Most of these puppies get recycled, assuming you dispose of them correctly. 90%, to be exact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That's why it's so important to bring them to a certified e-waste recycler. Many auto retailers and service centres will accept them for recycling, too. Between 60 - 80% of lead-acid batteries contain recycled plastic and lead. They're a crucial part of the circular economy.

Non-automotive lead-based batteries

These types of batteries power heavy-duty industrial equipment, alarm systems, even emergency lighting. The same disposal rules for lead-acid automobile batteries apply to them, as well.

Dry-cell batteries

Dry-cell batteries cover everything we use at home, including 9-volt, A-type, C, D, button, coin, or rechargeable batteries. As mentioned, some cities accept alkaline batteries in the trash. You can find them in plenty of battery-operated devices, from your TV remote to your flashlight.

Before tossing an alkaline battery out, check to make sure it's actually alkaline. It'll say so right on the battery. Lithium-ion batteries, which sometimes look like alkaline batteries, should never go in your garbage or recycling bins. These batteries pose a serious risk to the people who have to sort through your waste.

In the first four months of 2018 alone, lithium-ion batteries were partly responsible for 347 unique waste and recycling facility fires across the U.S. and Canada, resulting in five deaths and five injuries to facility workers. This is a growing issue in the waste industry, and it's something we can fix by simply recycling our batteries correctly. So, again, don't toss these guys in your garbage or recycling!

For anything that's not an alkaline battery, make sure to get it to the correct drop-off location. Many retailers will take them back. Some university or college custodial services will do the same. Organizations like Call2Recycle offer take-back programs in the U.S. and Canada. You can download the Recycle Coach app, too. If your city is a part of our network, we'll show you where to recycle all the batteries. It's easy. Seriously.

Are there any sustainable alternatives?

If you want to waste less batteries, kudos to you. Instead of buying single-use batteries, look for rechargeable ones instead. With over 1000 charges, they're definitely more sustainable. And cost effective. Once they've worn out, you can dispose of them at an e-waste recycler.

There's an easy way for you to make recycling economically viable for your community, and it only takes a second of your time. Seriously, just one second. So, what is it, you ask?Stop bagging your recyclables.Unfortunately, most of us like to put our plastic bottles, metal cans, and paper items in a plastic bag before tossing them into the recycling bin. No matter how harmless those plastic bags might seem, they're a big no-no.

What's the damage?

Turns out your community's material recovery facility (the place where your recyclables are processed) can't handle plastic bags. They jam the processing equipment, which creates work stoppages. By work stoppages, we mean the whole recycling facility has to shut down. Just because of plastic bags.Some facilities don't even bother with the bags. When workers see them, they toss them in the garbage - even ones that contain perfectly good recyclables. Others schedule in time for employees to clear bags from the machinery. This can take up to an hour every single day. Sometimes longer. Plus, it can be dangerous, since facility staff have to scale the equipment and use sharp carpet knives to cut the bags free.Now, imagine if you couldn't do your job for an hour daily? You probably wouldn't be all that productive, would you?That's exactly what's happened to the recycling industry. Some cities are losing up to $1000 per day because of these stoppages. According to the City of Phoenix, plastic bags cost them $1 million in lost time every year. Recycling is becoming less productive and less profitable. So much so, that cities across the country are rethinking their recycling programs. And none of us want that.Thankfully, the fix is easy. By keeping plastic bags out of your recycling bin, you can have a significant impact on the long-term sustainability of recycling. And wouldn't that be swell.

Dealing with plastic bags

Now that you know plastic bags don't belong in your recycling bin, you're probably wondering what to do with them. You could toss them in the garbage, but keep in mind, they take a long time to photodegrade - up to 500 years, according to experts. Plus, they wreak havoc on wildlife.If you're not into creating more waste, here are some other things you can do with those pesky plastic bags:

 
1. Reuse them. Instead of getting new ones, reuse the ones you already have.
 
2. Recycle them. Yes, you can recycle plastic bags - just not in your recycling bin. Every year we use about half a trillion plastic bags. Only 1% of are recycled correctly. Plastic bags can be dropped off at most supermarkets and big box stores. Keep your eyes peeled for takeback bins. British Columbia residents can drop plastic bags and overwrap off at a Recycle BC depot. You can find your nearest depot here. Tacoma, Washington residents can do the same at the Recycle Center. Plastic bags are recycled into more plastic bags and composite lumber.

Whatever you decide, just remember not to bag your recyclables. That way, you can contribute to a more efficient, more profitable recycling program.

A new season is in full swing, and for those who have it, yard waste collection season is, too. When it comes to yard waste, or green waste, as some call it, most of us just bag it, bin it, or bundle it up for curbside collection. But not every city offers yard waste collection services. And even if yours does, there are other ways to make use of those extra grass clippings, twigs, leaves, and plants.

Each year we produce 32.9 million tons of green waste. Though most is recycled through municipal composting programs, 11.7 million tons of it get incinerated. Or worse, deposited in landfills where it takes up valuable space. Thankfully, reducing yard waste is easy. And by doing so, your yard will be the envy of the town.

Grasscycling

Grasscycling is perhaps the easiest way to reduce your green waste output. Instead of tossing grass clippings out, simply leave them on your lawn when mowing. They only take a couple weeks to break down, and they're great as fertilizer. By weight, grass makes up 50% of the yard waste we produce. Grasscycling is an effective way to decrease that number. Plus, it'll make your lawn look better than ever.

Home composting

Home composting doesn't just apply to food waste, it's also perfect for grass clippings, shrub and plant trimmings, leaves, etc. To get the basics of household composting down pat, check out our post on the topic. Keep in mind, if you're looking at composting pine needles, they take longer than other materials to decompose. They'll also acidify your soil, so be sure to limit how much you include.

Mulching

For this, you might need a mulcher. If you don't have one, that's okay. They can be rented. Some lawnmowers also offer a mulching option for leaves and plant clippings. A thin coat of mulch is a healthy addition to any garden. It improves soil moisture, fertility, and limits the growth of weeds. It also adds aesthetic value. Leaves, grass clippings, and moss are all suitable. Items like branches, bark, and twigs can be woodchipped.

Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is a method of landscaping that was developed for arid regions. That said, it can be implemented anywhere. With its emphasis on drought-resistant plants, it's a great way to conserve water resources. More than that, xeriscapes actually require less maintenance than a normal garden. That means less trimming and pruning, which also means less yard waste.

Though yard waste is organic, it's still waste. With these four tips, you can make your green waste greener and reap the benefits of a healthier yard.

There's nothing quite as satisfying as a fresh pizza on a Friday night.

When it comes to recycling greasy pizza boxes, however, the results can be less than ideal. To understand why, let's take a look at how paper and cardboard recycling works.

Paper recycling process

The heat processes required for glass, metal, or plastic recycling can burn off small amounts of food residue. Unless there is an excessive amount of food left on recyclables, your glass, metal, and plastic materials will come out just fine.

But paper recycling is another story. Since paper doesn't get heated during the process, grease and oil combine with the pulp, which can ruin the entire batch.

Once your paper and cardboard are sorted into grades and types, they move on to the paper mill where they may spend weeks in storage, ample time for food particles to turn rancid and attract insects or animals.

After that, they are washed with soapy water and sometimes chemicals to remove inks, plastic film, staples, and glue. The batch is then sent to a large receptacle where it's mixed with water to create a slurry.

That's where your greasy pizza box (or any paper product that's greasy) gunks up the works. Even though it's been through a soapy bath, if you've ever washed something full of grease or oil, you know that it takes quite a bit of effort and soap to remove it completely.

Once in the slurry, the remaining oil floats to the top and becomes impossible to separate. Depending on what type of paper the mill was going to make and how much contamination is present, the entire batch may be ruined.

To avoid contaminating clean materials, it is good practice to cut off the clean tops of your pizza boxes to send to recycling but dispose of the greasy bottoms in the trash.

Wish-cycling

Many of us have the best of intentions when we go to toss non-recyclables into curbside bins. Because we want an item to be recyclable, we 'sneak' it in, even when we know we're not supposed to. Enter, wish-cycling.

When this happens, unwanted items often cause problems. They may be caught early in the process, pulled out, and thrown in the trash, or they may make it through and contaminate an entire batch of clean materials.

Due to this troublesome issue, it's always best to look up your local rules when it comes to greasy and soiled products.

New advances in technology

In the simplest form of advanced technology, many pizza places have started to add an extra layer of corrugated cardboard under the pizzas to avoid the entire box becoming soiled. This layer of cardboard can then be disposed of, leaving the rest of the box clean and ready for recycling!

As for recycling facilities, there are some programs that are now accepting soiled paper products because of the machinery they have or the volume of paper collected that makes it feasible to accept these greasy items. These locations are few and far between, so make sure to check your municipal recycling requirements before you accidentally wish-cycle.

There are also some municipalities that accept greasy pizza boxes in their organic waste collection if they use an anaerobic digestion process to recycle organic waste. Check your organic program to see if this applies.

The bottom line

Grease and oil are two of the worst contaminants in paper recycling, and greasy pizza boxes are one of the biggest culprits. Check with your local recycling program to find out what you should do the next time you grab that final slice, but when in doubt, cut off the greasy parts, throw them in the trash, and recycle the rest.

Today, let's turn you on to composting and get you slinging soil that'll make your garden happy and increase your local landfill's lifespan. According to EPA estimates, about 30% of our household waste is made up of compostable material, i.e. plant food. Unfortunately, when our biodegradables are landfilled, they take up much-needed space that could be used by other garbage items. When landfills run out of room, we need to create more of them. By composting, we cut waste and conserve space. Who wouldn't want that?

The basics

Composting is all about finding the right balance of ingredients. Using water, air, sunlight, green materials, and brown materials, you can start producing what gardeners like to call "black gold' rich topsoil that'll give your homegrown herbs and veggies a natural boost.You're probably wondering what green and brown materials are, exactly. No worries, let's break them down.Green materials are high in nitrogen. Because they contain moisture, they tend to decompose quickly. They include:

 
• Fruit and vegetable scraps
 
• Coffee grounds and unbleached filters
 
• Tea bags
 
• Fresh leaves and plants
 
• Grass clippings
 
• Clover
 
• Seaweed

Brown materials are high in carbon. They're dry, so they take a longer time to break down. They include:

 
• Corncobs
 
• Breads and grains
 
• Nutshells
 
• Shredded newspaper
 
• Dead leaves
 
• Twigs and small branches
 
• Sawdust

This list is by no means exhaustive, by the way, but it's a great place to start. Though fruit and vegetable skins make great compost, any that have been treated with pesticides should be left out. Remember: the stuff you compost is returning to the earth, so it's important to keep bad chemicals out. If your community has an organics program, check in with them to see exactly what's accepted.

Mixing the perfect pile

Now, the tricky part: finding the right mix of brown and green materials. Depending on who you talk to, you'll get a different answer. Some say one-part green to two-parts brown materials. We've even seen one-part green to thirty-parts brown materials.Really, though, it comes down to preference. If your compost stinks, brown materials will eliminate the odor. Too much brown materials will slow down the process, though, so keep that in mind. Be sure to keep your materials wet, too. For reference, think of a damp sponge, and if you can, try to turn your pile to air out your materials. Composting is all about creating the ideal environment for the microorganisms that break down compost. Like us, they need air and water.The perfect pile shouldn't stink. It should smell like soil. And when it's done composting, it'll look like chocolate cake.

No yard? No worries!

Condo and apartment dwellers can compost, too. Whether you make your own composter or purchase one that does all the work for you, there are options for everyone. If you don't use the soil yourself, you can donate it to a friend, a community garden, a school, or local grower. For a simpler solution, services like CompostNow will provide you with an organics bin and do all the heavy lifting, for a fee.It doesn't matter if your community has an organics program or not, it's easy to get involved. Plus, we can help. If your city is on the Recycle Coach Network, you can download our app for free.

I'm willing to bet you recycle your receipts. And why wouldn't you? After all, they're made from paper, which is recyclable, right?

In this case: wrong.

Well, mostly.

Turns out there are two types of receipts floating around out there. The paper ones, which are recyclable and compostable, if your city has an organics program, and the thermal ones, which aren't. But because it's hard to tell the difference between the two, we recommend keeping them all out of the recycling bin.

That's because  93% of thermal receipts contain Bisphenol A (BPA), an industrial chemical that's used to produce specific kinds of plastic. And, yes, this nasty chemical is as bad as it sounds. In case you don't believe us, BPA can mess with human health in high enough doses. In fact, in many countries, on top of being declared toxic, it has been outright banned.

Every year, we make about 8 billion pounds of the stuff. So, yeah. Not great.

Okay, so what should I do?

Before tossing all those receipts into the trash, see if your community has a special take-back program. If they're on the Recycle Coach network, download our app for free and we'll fill you in on everything you need to know and then some. If not, check your public works site or give them a call. If thermal receipts aren't accepted, feel free to trash'em.

Keep in mind, much of what you throw in the garbage ends up getting landfilled (or incinerated). In other words, all that BPA coating your thermal receipts ends up outside where it can leach into our soil, water, and air. If this worries you, there are other options.

You can always opt to receive an e-receipt at the point of purchase. Or, you can refuse a receipt altogether and manually track all your purchases using a budget app.

You toss on some rouge, a little mascara and cap it off with a swipe of lipstick. You think: Dayum, I look fine!

And you know what? You do. But here's the thing: even though cosmetics look good on people, they look awful on our planet. And that's not good for anyone.

Before I fill you in on how to safely dispose of old and unwanted cosmetics, let's look at why these products are such an issue. You might not realize it, but makeup is filled with chemicals that don't mix well with people (or the environment). Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), which include cosmetics, get in our water table and stay there. And they're messing with human physiology.

So yeah, if you were rinsing or dumping your beauty products down the drain, stop. It'll come back to haunt you. It'll come back to haunt all of us.

Without further ado, here's everything you need to know about safely disposing of those problematic beauty products.

Greener is leaner

Yes, buying eco-friendly products is generally better for the environment. The same is true for makeup. Thankfully, there are plenty of options out there. The greener the product, the easier it should be to dispose of since sustainability will be factored into the packaging. Something to keep in mind next time you're shopping.

Recycling options

Let's start with the easy ones first.

If you bring your empties to Aveda, Everyday Minerals, Kiehl's, Lush, MAC, Origins, or Zoya, they'll recycle them. In some instances, restrictions apply. For example, Zoya only offers recycling once a year on Earth Day, while Lush takes back branded packaging. TerraCycle has also partnered with companies like L'Oreal, L'Occitane, and Garnier to offer recycling programs, so there's plenty out there.

Some companies have also moved towards refillable packaging to reduce the bulk of wasted packaging. In the US, TerraCycle is also working with Ulta in their waste-free packaging program Loop.If you still have a lot of product left in the container, you could also consider donating it to a friend.Some women's shelters will also gladly take your unwanted makeup. Plus, you'll be doing someone a solid.

Okay, now for the tough stuff. Most cosmetic packaging is made from glass and polypropylene, or plastic #5 for all you resin identification number nerds, making them recyclable in most communities. Just make sure those bottles are empty AND cleaned out before tossing them in your bin. And if you've got half-empty bottles of makeup, remember: don't rinse or dump them. Wipe them the clean instead.

To check and see if this applies in your community, download our app (assuming, of course, that your city is part of our network).

Worst-case scenario

If you're unable to take part in one of the recycling programs above, then you should toss it in the garbage. Just make sure the product is sealed if there's anything left inside.

If you're looking for water games for kids or adults to wrap up the summer, we have a great list for you. As families prepare for back-to-school season, here are ideas for low-contact, low waste water games to wrap up the sunny days.Water balloons are a classic water game for families, adults and youth, but balloons are not the best for the environment. When balloons touch down on the ground, they create litter  litter that also pollutes waterways and land, where it enters the ecosystem of wildlife animals, disrupting natural diets, habitats, and more.

Not sure the proper way to dispose of balloons? They likely belong in the garbage, but it's best to check if your municipality is part of the Recycle Coach network and download the app; there, you'll find our Ask Milo 'What Goes Where?' search tool. Alternatively, you can visit your municipality's recycling rules and requirements.If you have a field day or party that could use water games, what are the alternatives to water balloon fights? Below are suitable fun games to play with water, minus the balloons.

Alternatives to water balloon fights to beat the heat

Water games for field day, parties, or just your backyard on a hot, summer day is refreshing. While fun water balloon games for adults and kids are common, here are a few ideas to cool down without the potentially problematic balloon.

Water gun fight

We would never condone violence, but a water gun fight is a fun, classic alternative to water balloon fights. It's just as active; you're required to run and chase each other around. You can reuse water guns summer after summer. Because most of them do as little as squirt water at other players, you're less likely to use as much water.And in our post-Covid19 lockdown world, it's perfect in ensuring distance between players.

Cup-to-cup water race game

This game requires two buckets, a queue of players, a reusable cup, some water. Players line up in a single queue with one bucket filled with water in front of the first player, and the empty second bucket behind the last player.

 
• The first player fetches the water from the bucket.
 
• The cup is passed to the player behind over their head without turning their body.
 
• The team passes the cup overhead from one person to the one behind them, until the last person can pour it all into the empty bucket behind them.

The first team to finish the water from the first bucket wins! For added difficulty-such as if adults are playing this water game-players can wear blindfolds.This cup-to-cup water game replaces the water balloon passing game while eliminating the use of balloons, increasing the chances for more soaked players, and keeps minimal contact between players. Once again, unlike the water balloon game, this water game uses fewer disposable materials.

Wet sponge or fabric ball throwing game

A wet sponge throwing game creates just as much cooled down, soaked up fun for the family without using disposable, harmful balloons. You can even create sponge balls for absorbent, soft projectiles to replace water balloons.However, something to remember about most daily sponges is that they are usually made with oil-made plastic particles. These sponges, while reusable, are likely made of a material that still harms the environment in its production and when it breaks down.An eco-friendlier option can be double the fun: an arts and crafts upcycling project, making some old fabrics into a rag/sponge that can hold water and be tossed around.If a DIY project isn't up your alley, you can also simply bundle old shirts into balls and ribbons, dip them in water, and toss them around the same way you would with a water balloon.

Visit the beach or waterfront

Following Covid 19 restrictions and social distancing guidelines, visit your nearby beach, river, pond, or lake and take a dip! Splash around without the need for any tools or toys  just the joy of kicking over waves and swatting water at each other.

Being mindful of water conservation while enjoying water games

While these ideas serve alternatives to water balloon fights and water games for your field day and parties, it's important to remember that water is a finite resource and should not be wasted.While it's easy to take water for granted when it flows so freely through your kitchen faucet, many regions around the globe are experiencing shortages. For other activities you can consider outside of this popular water game, check out our post on how to enjoy the summer in an eco-friendly way while staying responsible.