EcoMyths TeamPeople ask us all the time about recycling. One of the most frequently asked questions we hear is “Do you need to rinse all containers before tossing them into the recycling bin”? We think that’s a great question and have often wondered that ourselves. To explore this issue, today on the EcoMyths segment on Worldview, … Read more
How are you celebrating America Recycles Day? Our plan: to pay homage to the brilliance of recycling by, ahem, recycling some related content. Here, a few EcoMyths blogs and articles on recycling for your eco-celebrations: EcoMyth: You Must Rinse All Containers Before Recycling Them…or Else! Recycling Blog: To Rinse or Not to Rinse Radio Show: … Read more
—by Debra Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner Today more people than usual will be talking about crap. It’s November 19: World Toilet Day. (You didn’t think I’d forget, did you?) In fact, in her engaging and excellent TED talk, British author Rose George urges all of us to speak about the unspeakable, talk about … Read more
Changing Perspective for a Changing Climate There’s something fishy happening in our rivers, streams, and lakes. Fish species that Americans have enjoyed for generations are experiencing population declines. Water temps are rising, while water levels are, well, doing the opposite. Freshwater ecosystems are changing—and not for the better. Indeed, global warming is at hand… What, … Read more
Remember those wonderful, lazy days fishing at the lake with your grandfather? My Grandpa and I would bait our hooks, reel in a couple of good sized perch, and bring them back for Grandma Evelyn to cook. Those days are under threat now, and not just because of our obsession with Twitter and Angry Birds … Read more
Apple pie lovers, behold: Wisconsin apples just got a lot greener. Ever since a 2011 myth-busting adventure in which I learned apples are epically difficult to grow organically, at least in the Midwest, I’ve been giving my once fave fruit the cold shoulder. After all, pears were easy enough to find locally grown and organic… … Read more
Sacré bleu! Scientists at London’s Kew Gardens recently predicted that before the century’s end, global warming could force into extinction the plant source of most of the world’s coffee. Two main coffee species create the coffees that most people drink: Arabica (Coffea arabica) and Robusta (Coffea robusta). Arabica is most widely enjoyed—about 70 percent of … Read more
No, “Vampire Power!” is not a rallying cry created by Twi-hards camping out at premier of the new Twilight movie. It’s not even a blood-red energy drink. But if you use electricity at home, vampire power is a phenomenon lurking in your household at this very minute. According to energy expert, Eric Masanet, staff scientist … Read more
As the mid-winter chill sets in, a tangy tasting ripe tomato with sweet fresh basil leaves can easily bring summer to mind. But often, grocery-store tomatoes don’t taste good at all times of year and fresh basil is expensive. So how do we find and choose good produce year-round? In this month’s EcoMyths Worldview segment, … Read more
Fishing for the Facts: Is It Safe to Flush Old Meds? What to do when it comes time to ditch old and unused medicine? Flushing old pharmaceuticals down the toilet may seem like a better option than simply trashing them. After all, the FDA recommends flushing some drugs in order to keep them from being … Read more
