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More than 70% of soda and beer containers are refilled in Finland, Denmark, and Germany, where policies are in place to require, if not support refilling. In the U.S., less than 5% of beverage containers are refilled. U.S. beverage companies offer their products for sale in Europe and elsewhere in refillables. Why not in the U.S.? … Read More
Institute for Local Self-Reliance/Connecticut Institute for Municipal Studies Deconstruction Conference Hartford, CT March 11, 2002 Nearly 100 people participated in the “ReBuilding Communities Through DeConstruction Enterprises” conference. Co-sponsored by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and the Connecticut Institute of Municipal Studies, Inc. (CIMS), the event was held in the State Capitol Building in Hartford, CT. … Read More
Citizen Perseverance Pays Off; Still a Way to Go for a Zero Waste City By Neil Seldman and Kelly Lease Neil Seldman is Director of the Waste to Wealth Program and Kelly Lease is the program’s Senior Research Associate at ILSR. Seldman is a co-founder of the National Recycling Coalition and the GrassRoots Recycling Network. Please … Read More
Deconstruction, an alternative to demolition, is the systematic dismantling of commercial and residential buildings. The materials from that building are then evaluated for resale. Deconstruction projects can address the needs of low-income people living in distressed areas and provide a pathway to stable, well-paying employment to those on the fringes of the economy. These photos are … Read More
These links to organizations like the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Northwest Product Stewardship Council provide insight on the state of Extended Producer Responsibility in the US and abroad.… Read More
Recycling is an economic development tool as well as an environmental tool. Reuse, recycling, and waste reduction offer direct development opportunities for communities. When collected with skill and care, and upgraded with quality in mind, discarded materials are a local resource that can contribute to local revenue, job creation, business expansion, and the local economic base.… Read More
Between 1990 and 1993, ILSR published its Facts to Act On series, 38 articles covering a wide range of topics on recycling, waste management, and grassroots organizing. The series was renewed between 2000 and 2002.… Read More
Between 1990 and 1993, ILSR published its Facts to Act On series, 38 articles covering a wide range of topics on recycling, waste management, and grassroots organizing. The series was renewed between 2000 and 2002.… Read More
Twenty years ago, many solid waste planners thought no more than 15% to 20% of the municipal waste stream could be recycled. ILSR’s 1988 publication, Beyond 25%: Materials Recovery Age Comes of Age, shattered this myth. It featured 15 communities recycling 25% or more of their residential and commercial/institutional discards. Our 1991 report Beyond 40%: Record-Setting … Read More