Sustainability In Your Ear

Paige Fashoni, founder of FLUX Undies, joins Earth911 host Evelyn Fielding-Lopez to talk about reducing the number of sanitary pads and tampons, along with all the packaging waste they come with, that end up in landfills. FLUX is recently introduced functional underwear for periods, leaks, and postpartum use. Fashoni's commitment as a female founder is to revolutionize the way in which women experience periods, break the taboo around menstruation, give back to girls in developing countries, allow those with mobility issues an easier way of changing their undies, and last but definitely not least, ditch disposable tampons and pads. Order FLUX Undies online.

It's the Halloween episode of Sustainability In Your Ear. The Earth911 team gathers around the microphone to talk about the sustainable way to have Halloween fun. Get your little ghouls ready with DIY and eco-friendly costumes made with sustainable fabrics and consider healthy snacks or starting a Switch Witch tradition that lets kids trade candy for gifts. The gang also discusses how to recycle bubble wrap, EVA craft foam, and the many plastic lids and caps that seal your food and drinks. Find out about your fellow Earthlings in three recent survey results, including how many people actively help their neighbors improve recycling habits, reported recycling program changes, and how many single-use plastic bottles they purchase annually. The recycling learning never stops on Sustainability In Your Ear!

Greg Lettieri, co-founder of New York City-based RTS is bringing a variation on Uber's playbook to recycling. RTS connects local recycling haulers with business recyclers in several states, delivering recycling training and services to employees along with a complete accounting of what happens to materials after they are picked up. By focusing on the logistics of recycling, RTS enables flexible business solutions that have improved recycling rates at Citi Field in New York and Nationals Stadium in Washington, D.C., among other locations. Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe discusses how RTS started, the role of technology, and the value of accountability in recycling in this Innovator Interview.

The Hytch app is a clever approach to incenting ridesharing and carpooling. Mark Cleveland, founder and CEO of Hytch joins Sustainability In Your Ear to explain how the company is working with employers, cities, and non-profits to provide small payments to people who share a car on the way to work.

Author B.F. (Bruce) Nagy discusses his new book, The Clean Energy Future, with Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe. Nagy offers his advice for homeowners who want to clean up their carbon footprint, as well as observations on the progress being made, albeit in fits and starts, across many sectors of the economy. You'll come away from this episode with plenty of actions to take. Follow Bruce at http://bfnagy.com.

Evelyn Fielding-Lopez, Mitch Ratcliffe, and Sarah Lozanova talk the last week's recycling and sustainability news on Earth911. This week, we took a deep dive into planning your garden for next year and extending the growing season. How to minimize leaf cleanups, orchids in the yard, and more. We've also got Earthling Questions! How do you dispose of mercury safely? And a question with a twist: Are dentures recyclable?

As a new generation of Apple iPhone and Samsung Note mobile phones hit the market, we talk with Republic Services about how to safely and responsibly recycle an old phone. Jeremy Walters, community relations manager at Republic, the second-biggest waste management company in the U.S. explains when and how to recycle e-waste. If you don't decide to trade-in or reuse your phone by passing it along to a family member or through donation, take the time to separate your phone from the rest of your recycling. It can save recycling workers from injury and prevent damage to recycling equipment.

Recleim, an Atlanta-based recycler, is the only company in the U.S. using CFC capture technology to recover banned chlorofluorocarbons from pre-2005 refrigerators and HVAC systems. "No refrigerator should reach a landfill," explains Steve Bush, CEO of Recleim, because they can release five pounds or more of CFCs from the coils and insulation they contain. Recleim, which currently operates in 10 states,m is expanding its service area. Are you recycling your refrigerator safely?

Jecka Glasman, general manager of SodaStream USA, maker of the Fizzi, Electric, and Premium home soda-making machines. SodaStream helps reduce single-use plastic bottle waste, letting a household that switches from canned or bottled soda reduce its waste by as many as 3,700 cans or bottles each year. Mitch Ratcliffe of Earth911 explores the recyclability of SodaStream devices and bottles, as well as its innovative Gas Exchange program. Get the lowdown on sustainable fizz.

Magnus Jern, Chief Water Drinker at Tapp Water, explains the company's TAPP 2 biodegradable water faucet filters. Tapp Water filters decompose in industrial compost piles quickly and will break down in backyard compost piles. Even the body of the TAPP 2, which is made with biodegradable PLA plastic, is largely recyclable. American families spend more than $5.5 billion on plastic-bottled water unnecessarily because they are concerned about water quality. They pay between 300 and 2,000 times more than tap water costs for plastic-bottled water. A faucet filter can eliminate plastic pollution and save hundreds of dollars annually.