waste management Archives - State of the Planet

Predicting The Pace of the Transition to Environmental Sustainability

The size of the human population, the political demands globally for increased material consumption, and the finite resources we still draw from the earth will drive the transition to environmental sustainability.

by |August 28, 2023

Food Waste and the Complexity of New York City’s Garbage

The goal of reusing food waste is worthwhile, though NYC’s new mandatory residential food recycling has some design problems.

by |June 20, 2023

New York City’s Food Waste and the Circular Economy

Food waste provides an opportunity for New York City to place itself on the cutting edge of waste recycling.

by |December 5, 2022

Mining Garbage and the Circular Economy

The construction of waste management and material mining facilities is essential for the development of a circular economy, and the evolution toward a circular economy is a prerequisite for sustainable cities.

by |March 28, 2022

An Environmental Agenda for NYC’s New Mayor

Our new mayor should let our environmental actions do the talking for the next eight years. It would be a refreshing change.

by |December 6, 2021

The Necessity of Recycling

Without recycling, there can be no circular economy. Without a circular economy, we cannot build environmentally sustainable cities. Without sustainable cities, we’d better start looking for another planet.

by |July 26, 2021
Bags of trash and recycling spill out onto a New York City street.

New York City’s Trash Dilemmas — and Opportunities

A conversation with Professor Steven Cohen on how to make New York City’s waste management less noxious and more equitable.

by Russ Kuhner |April 27, 2021

Symposium Will Discuss How Businesses Can Lead on Climate

An event on March 6 will bring together representatives from the world’s most powerful industries to discuss the role of business in addressing today’s urgent sustainability challenges.

by |February 27, 2020
landfill with tractor on top

The Aftermath of China’s Waste Ban

The initial ban created a worldwide headache for scrap managers. The new version of the ban will surely lead to migraines.

by |March 11, 2019

What’s in Our Waste Bins?

Sustainability Management student Asami Tanimoto dug through the university’s trash to discover what we’re throwing out, and how we can do better.

by |November 5, 2018