That foam coffee cup, takeout box, or packing block likely won’t be recycled. It’s not your fault; most Americans lack access to recycling systems for these materials. The plastics industry says it’s improving, and that’s true in some ways. But there’s still a gap between industry claims and what people can actually do when taking out the trash.

Before we talk about why foam is hard to recycle, it’s helpful to know what it really is. “Polystyrene” is the material, though it is often referred to by the brand name “Styrofoam,” and it comes in different forms. EPS is the foam used in coffee cups, takeout boxes, and packing blocks. The hard kind, found in utensils and appliance parts, is GPPS or HIPS. Both are polystyrene but need different recycling methods.

The #6 symbol on the foam container only tells you what kind of plastic it is, not if it can be recycled. If you put it in the bin just because you see a number and the recycling arrows, it can actually contaminate your other recyclables, like paper, cardboard, and aluminum, and might cause the whole batch to be rejected.

The Recycling That Happens Without You

The plastics industry recently launched the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA), which commissioned a detailed study of where polystyrene foam is actually recycled in the US. Its headline stat: about 105 million Americans — roughly one in three — have access to recycling services that handle at least one type of polystyrene.

That sounds promising. But one must read the fine print to see the whole picture.

The PSRA–RRS Polystyrene End Markets Study, published in February 2026, is the most detailed inventory of US and Canadian polystyrene recycling infrastructure to date. It identified 81 companies handling recovered EPS and XPS foam, with 119 facilities spread across 30 US states and four Canadian provinces. About 52% of those companies are manufacturing end markets, businesses that actually turn recovered foam into new products like transport packaging and insulation.

Most of this recycling happens through business-to-business systems that regular people don’t use. Big retailers, warehouses, and appliance stores create large amounts of packing foam. They have private deals with haulers who collect the foam, compress it into dense bricks called “densified foam,” and send it to manufacturers, mainly to make new packaging and insulation. Some European and Asian companies also import compressed EPS from North America for manufacturing. There are also more than 700 drop-off locations for foam across the country.

Environmental groups note that EPS drop-off access, in stark contrast to industry claims, currently reaches only about 3% of the US population.

Between 2019 and 2023, Foam Recycling Coalition-funded programs nearly doubled the amount collected, according to Waste Dive‘s reporting. The Alliance reported 168.6 million pounds of EPS foam were diverted from disposal in North America in 2022. But it’s largely invisible to consumers, and almost none of it involves your curbside bin.

For the rigid forms of polystyrene, the stuff in your fridge’s vegetable drawer or your blender housing, the recycling picture is much less encouraging. The same PSRA–RRS study found just 45 companies handling recovered GPPS and HIPS in the US and Canada, and only 13% of those actually turning it into new products. Those 45 companies operate just 50 facility sites across 22 US states and four Canadian provinces, compared to 119 facilities in 30 states for foam. Most post-consumer rigid polystyrene that does get recycled comes from medical equipment and e-waste programs, not household recycling.

For consumers navigating this landscape, Earth911’s Recycling Mystery: Expanded Polystyrene offers a practical guide to what’s currently accepted and where it’s accepted.

Why Curbside Doesn’t Want It

Foam is a recycler’s nightmare, and the reason is simple: it’s mostly air.

EPS is about 95% air by volume. A regular collection truck can fill up with foam that weighs almost nothing, so the hauler spends the same amount of money to collect much less valuable material. Also, foam breaks apart easily, and small pieces can mix with paper and cardboard in the same bin, making everything else less valuable.

A 2024 study in the journal ChemSusChem found that processing polystyrene costs about $1,456 per metric ton, more than for most other plastics. This rate works only when there are grants, subsidies, or a guaranteed supply chain in place, but none of those exist at the scale needed to handle all the foam Americans throw away.

What “Chemical Recycling” Can and Can’t Do

You may have heard that polystyrene can be “chemically recycled,” meaning it is broken down by heat into its original building blocks to make new plastic. While that’s technically possible, it’s not happening on a large scale.

The only US facility dedicated to this polystyrene process, run by a company called Regenyx in Oregon, shut down in early 2024. A National Resources Defense Council report from March 2025 found only eight chemical recycling facilities of any kind operating in the entire US. Most of what these plants produce isn’t new plastic; it’s fuel oil, which means the material isn’t really being recycled so much as burned in a different way. The  Regenyx plant generated approximately one ton of hazardous waste for every ton of usable output, a serious problem the industry doesn’t advertise.

The 79% Nobody Talks About

Here’s a number worth sitting with: only 21% of all residential recyclables in the US actually get recycled, according to The Recycling Partnership’s 2024 State of Recycling Report — one of the most comprehensive independent analyses of the US system.

What about the other 79%? Most of it is lost at home before it ever reaches a recycling facility. People might not have access to a recycling program, might not know what their local program accepts, or just don’t take part. The report, along with EPA plastics data, shows that the overall US plastic recycling rate is only about 5–6%. For foam, which most curbside programs don’t accept, this gap at the household level is even harder to close. The industry’s solution is drop-off programs, but these require people to know where to go, make a special trip, and bring clean, uncontaminated foam. That’s asking a lot.

The Recycling Partnership says the biggest problem in the US recycling system isn’t technology or end markets. It’s getting people involved, and the main way to do that is through funding for education and outreach, which most municipalities lack. The EPA’s 2024 Recycling Infrastructure Assessment estimated it would take $36–$43 billion to upgrade the US system by 2030. A Resource Recycling summary found that nearly half of US states don’t even track how many curbside programs they have. You can’t fix a system if you aren’t measuring it.

How The U.S. EPS Recycling Rate Compares

The US lags well behind other wealthy countries when it comes to foam recycling.

Market data compiled through 2023 indicate that EPS recycling rates for comparable packaging are approximately 88% in South Korea, 83% in Taiwan, and 68% in Japan. Europe averages around 40%, though that figure masks wide variations. Some countries, including Portugal and Norway, approach 90% recovery rates, largely driven by fish box collection programs, while thers sit well below the average. North America comes in at roughly 31%, and that figure is almost entirely commercial collection programs, not household recycling.

It’s worth noting that all of these figures come primarily from GESA (the Global EPS Sustainability Alliance) and affiliated national industry groups, organizations with a direct stake in presenting favorable data. Independent verification is limited.

Japan’s foam recycling program has been running since 1978, and the country’s EPS industry group reports an effective utilization rate of 94.2% in 2024. That “effective utilization” figure includes incineration with energy recovery, not just mechanical recycling. South Korea made packaging producers legally responsible for recycling costs as early as 2000, a policy approach called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The US has no federal EPR law for packaging and only seven states that have passed one so far.

Overall, the US ranked 30th in the world on the 2024 Environmental Performance Index’s waste recovery score. Germany, Japan, South Korea, and most of Western Europe all rank higher.

The Biggest Companies Are Giving Up on Foam

One of the clearest signs about foam’s future isn’t coming from regulators. It’s coming from the brands that use it.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), which tracks voluntary sustainability commitments from over 1,000 companies representing about 20% of global plastic packaging production, released its final progress report in late 2025. Since 2018, signatory companies have removed over 775,000 metric tons of the most problematic plastics, including polystyrene and PVC, from their packaging entirely.

The EMF classifies certain polystyrene formats, especially foam foodservice containers, as plastics that should be eliminated rather than recycled. In its framework for problematic plastics, it consistently identifies these materials as candidates for phase-out, not circularity. That’s the stated view of an organization whose members include Nestlé, Unilever, Coca-Cola, and L’Oréal.

Meanwhile, those same companies are falling short of their overall recycled-content targets for plastics. The share of recycled plastic in the broader global packaging market barely moved — from 3.4% to 4.2% — even as committed companies tripled their own use of recycled content. As Chemical & Engineering News reported in November 2025, plastics recycling is struggling across the industry.

Voluntary commitments move the leaders, but they don’t move the system.

States Are Banning Expanded Polystyrene

Twelve states and three US territories have chosen not to wait for the recycling system to improve. They’ve banned foam food containers completely, and Earth911 tracks these changes. Oregon, California, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Hawaii all joined the ban list as of January 1, 2025.

California’s law included a recycling test: foam producers had to show a 25% recycling rate by January 2025 to keep selling EPS foodware in the state. When CalRecycle reported to the legislature that the industry had fallen far short—the rate was about 6% when the law passed—foam containers were effectively banned.

Not every ban effort has succeeded. Montana’s legislature passed a phase-out bill in spring 2025 — only to have the governor veto it. And while a federal “Farewell to Foam Act” has been introduced in Congress, it hasn’t passed.

Globally, the bans are further along. The EU banned foam food containers in 2021. Canada followed with federal legislation in 2022. Over 97% of Australians now live somewhere with an EPS ban in place, according to Wikipedia’s phase-out tracker.

What Would Actually Fix Polystyrene Recycling

The most honest answer is that recycling alone won’t solve the foam problem. But better policy can.

The Recycling Partnership’s EPR analysis finds that states with Extended Producer Responsibility laws have recycling rates up to 3 times higher than those without them. EPR generates funds for consumer education, access, and infrastructure that cash-strapped municipalities can’t provide on their own.

The PSRA’s end markets study is candid about what’s missing for rigid polystyrene. For GPPS and HIPS to be recycled at scale, the industry needs to solve a chicken-and-egg problem. Sorting facilities won’t invest in the equipment without a guaranteed buyer for the output, and buyers won’t commit without a reliable supply. The study’s concrete suggestion is to offer subsidies per pound to sorting facilities that would need to separate polystyrene from mixed plastic streams. Without that financial nudge, the economics don’t work.

As Earth911 has reported on Oregon and Maine’s early EPR programs, the results so far are encouraging, though implementation is still in early stages. Seven states now have packaging EPR laws, including Maine, Oregon, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington, and more are considering them.

The broader lesson is that without policy structures that change the economics, including embracing EPR, mandatory recycled content standards, or bans, voluntary action produces incremental progress against a systemic problem. As Chemical & Engineering News reported, even companies with strong sustainability commitments are falling short.

What You Can Do At Home

Find a drop-off:

• Search Earth911 for EPS foam drop-off locations near you. These are separate from your curbside bin — call ahead to confirm they accept your specific type of foam.
• For foam meat trays, most facilities won’t take food-soiled containers, so they must be clean and dry.
• Retailers like The UPS Store accept clean packing peanuts for reuse.

Cut foam out of your routine:

• Bring your own insulated mug to the coffee shop instead of accepting a foam cup.
• When ordering takeout, ask for paper or compostable containers.
• When shipping things, use crumpled newspaper, shredded paper, or molded pulp instead of foam peanuts.

Push for better policy:

• Find out whether your state has a packaging EPR bill pending. If it does, contact your representative in support. The trend is moving in that direction.
• Support Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation in your state, which shifts the cost of recycling infrastructure from municipalities to the companies that make the packaging.

Related Reading on Earth911

• Recycling Mystery: Expanded Polystyrene
• EPS Foam Packaging & Products Bans Expand to Oregon, California, and Three Other States
• Extended Producer Responsibility in 2025: Progress, With More to Come
• Learning from Maine and Oregon’s EPR Programs
• The State of Plastic Bans in the United States
• Infographic: Plastic Recycling Codes

The post The State of Polystyrene Recycling In 2026 appeared first on Earth911.

Living in a high-rise apartment or a house with a small yard comes with the disadvantage of not having access to garden space. Fortunately, fine wallpaper manufacturer Astek has a way to bring beautiful blooms indoors. The company’s collection of dreamy floral mural designs called Eterna Nouveau reinterprets the Art Nouveau movement of the early 20th century, which historically flourished in Europe and emphasized nature-inspired motifs like flowers and birds.

Eterna Nouveau’s arching, sinuous stems and leaves nod to its namesake style’s characteristic “whiplash” lines. “Aquavita,” for example, features lilies and other water plants and illustrates life both above and below the surface. And “Carnivoria” celebrates more unusual plants, like Venus flytraps. A variety of colorways emphasizes the designs’ bold forms and delicate metallic outlines.

The motifs were first created by hand, then digitized so that they can be sized up or down to fit custom spaces. Printed to order, the colors and shapes can even be customized for special projects. See more on Astek’s Instagram.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article A Line of Mural Wallpapers from Astek Celebrates ‘Eterna Nouveau’ appeared first on Colossal.

When we think of somewhere we’ve been, what are the first things to come to mind? Perhaps there are memorable smells, a sense of other people being around, or a particular quality of light. But what if we remembered landscapes and experiences through plants? For Hillary Waters Fayle, flower petals, seeds, and foliage combine into a kind of album of various places, which she then uses to create bold cyanotypes.

The artist has long worked with botanicals and other organic materials, notably embroidering foraged leaves and feathers with meticulous geometric designs. With the series Portraits of Place, which she’s been pursuing for the past six years, Fayle precisely arranges individual petals and leaves into intricate, symmetrical, mandala-like compositions on acrylic.

She starts by collecting and drying botanicals from specific locations, such as Grace Farms Foundation in New Canaan, Connecticut, or Maymont Park in Richmond, Virginia. These are then laid onto watercolor paper that’s been painted with UV-sensitive iron salts. After being left out in the sun, these result in the bright blue cyanotypes that chronicle the outlines—perhaps one could even say the spirit—of the distinctive layouts.

“The way these portraits illustrate a very particular place and time via botany can be a way to define the relationship that the people of that place have with the land—almost like a modern-day florilegium,” Fayle tells Colossal. She continues:

All of these pieces are so different and special to me, but it has been particularly meaningful to make portraits of areas that are going to change drastically in the near future, either from development or rising sea levels, fire, etc. It feels like a way of preserving and honoring the land and all that is present there right now. 

Flowers and plants symbolize the natural evolution of particular spaces, such as a gardener adding new bulbs or birds depositing seeds. They symbolize the nature of seasons and life cycles, emphasizing a relationship that is simultaneously enduring and ephemeral. See more on the artist’s Instagram.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Hillary Waters Fayle Creates ‘Portraits of Place’ from Seeds, Foliage, and Petals appeared first on Colossal.

Galicia, Spain-based artist Abi Castillo continues to create iterative self-portraits through her evolving ensemble of ceramic personas. Her delicate yet emotive figures are an invitation to consider the inner self, transformation, and the beauty of the natural world.

Femininity, nature, and symbolism play a central role within Castillo’s sculptures, contrasting with the notion of concealment. “This ambivalence between mysticism and drama, between monstrosity and beauty, is all very present,” she explains in an artist statement.

Though each ceramic character is distinct, her body of work carries overarching formal motifs including colorful hairstyles and wide eyes with light blue irises. Organic elements—such as flowers, insects, coral, and marine foliage—wrap themselves around Castillo’s figures, evoking a sense of protection through delicate armor.

Last time we checked in with Castillo, she mentioned plans to move into a larger studio, where she works now. The artist shares that this opportunity has given her larger creative freedom, and she is looking forward to an exciting year including a group exhibition with Beautiful Bizarre Magazine opening next week at Outré Gallery in Melbourne. For updates and studio views, find Castillo on Instagram.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Abi Castillo’s Ceramic Beings Contrast Delicacy With the Natural World appeared first on Colossal.

Before you throw away that empty soda bottle, wine bottle, or milk carton, think about turning it into a bird feeder.

These seven DIY projects show how to reuse common household items to make useful backyard wildlife stations. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re crafting with kids or have experience with tools. Whenever possible, choose glass instead of plastic. Experts say glass bottles last longer in the sun and are easier to clean than plastic.

This article contains affiliate links that help fund our work.

1. Soda Bottle Bird Feeder

The soda bottle bird feeder is a classic project that’s easy for anyone to make. Start by saving a 1- or 2-liter soda bottle from the recycling bin. Then, find two wooden spoons, dowels, or sturdy twigs from around your home or yard. These will serve as perches for the birds.

To make one, follow the instructions from Gardening Know How: mark two sets of holes at right angles, insert the spoons or dowels, fill the bottle with birdseed, put the cap back on, and hang it up with string or fishing line. If you’re working with young kids, adults should handle the cutting.

If you prefer not to do DIY from scratch, you can buy soda bottle bird feeder kits. Just attach the tray and wire to your own bottle.

2. Milk Carton Bird Feeder

Making a bird feeder from a milk or juice carton is just as easy as using a soda bottle. The Audubon Society even has a version that’s great for kids. Cut a large opening a few inches from the bottom on one side, add a stick underneath for a perch, make two small holes at the top for hanging, decorate it, and fill with birdseed.

Keep in mind that milk cartons don’t last as long as plastic or glass feeders. Watch for signs of wear and replace your feeder when needed. Remember to recycle the old carton.

3. Tray Bird Feeder

If you have leftover wood from a home project, you can make a simple tray feeder using Birds & Blooms’ instructions. You’ll need cedar or pine scraps, an aluminum screen for drainage, panel nails, eye screws, and some chain for hanging. You should also be comfortable using a drill and hammer.

You can also reuse old windows, picture frames, or other wooden items from around the house to make a tray feeder. One Instructables tutorial shows how someone built a feeder from the wooden backing of an old bronze award.

Tray feeders bring in many types of birds, like cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, and mourning doves. However, they don’t keep out squirrels.

4. Floppy Disk Bird Feeder

If you have some old floppy disks lying around, you can turn them into a retro bird feeder using an Instructables guide.

You’ll need to take apart three disks, remove the magnetic film, cut a window for the seeds, put the pieces together to form a cube, and attach a string for hanging. Use tape or a hot glue gun to hold it together, then add birdseed inside.

5. Self-Refilling Glass Bottle Bird Feeder

This gravity-fed feeder is a smart upgrade from basic designs. Remodelaholic’s wine bottle bird feeder tutorial explains how to build a simple wooden platform with a notched holder that keeps an upside-down glass bottle just above the seed tray. As birds eat, gravity refills the tray with more seed.

You need only a recycled wine bottle (or any narrow-neck glass bottle) and some wood for this project. The screw-based mount makes it easy to remove the bottle for refilling. Use a low- or no-VOC wood sealer to protect the frame.

6. Plastic Bottle Hummingbird Feeder

Want to bring hummingbirds to your yard? Try this Instructables guide for making a hummingbird feeder from recycled plastic containers. It uses a pop bottle and a deli container lid, like the ones from grocery store takeout, with milk bottle caps glued on as feeding ports.

Fill the bottle with hummingbird nectar. The International Hummingbird Society suggests mixing one part white sugar with four parts water. Don’t use food coloring, honey, or artificial sweeteners. The red parts of the feeder attract the birds, not the nectar itself.

If you want something sturdier and easier to clean, Birds & Blooms offers instructions for a glass bottle hummingbird feeder that uses copper wire and a commercial feeding tube. This version takes more effort to make but lasts much longer.

7. Glass Soda Bottle Bird Feeder 

This is a step up in craft and durability, and a good reason to save that glass Jarritos or Mexican Coke bottle. Birds & Blooms’ glass soda bottle feeder tutorial pairs a recycled glass bottle with a chicken feeder base for a sturdy feeder that holds plenty of seed and will last for years.

The most involved step is drilling a hole in the bottle’s bottom using a diamond drill bit under running water to keep the bit cool so the glass doesn’t crack. A steel rod threads through the bottle and into the chicken feeder base, locked in place with a washer and wing nut; a G-hook at the top completes the hanger. To refill, simply unscrew the base, add seed, and reattach.

This DIY project requires comfort with a drill and patience with glass, but the result looks intentional and well-made, not like a weekend craft project. For the nectar-recipe and feeder-cleaning guidance that applies to all glass bottle builds, the International Hummingbird Society’s feeding page and Birds & Blooms’ black oil sunflower seed guide are solid references depending on what you’re trying to attract.

To find out where to recycle glass bottles in your area, check the Earth911 Recycling Directory. Most curbside programs don’t accept them, but many drop-off sites do.

Tips for Bird Feeders

• Clean your feeders every one or two weeks to stop mold and bacteria from harming birds.
• Hang feeders at least five feet above the ground and away from bushes where cats might hide.
• Black oil sunflower seeds attract the most types of birds.
• For hummingbird feeders, change the nectar every two or three days. In hot weather, change it even more often.
• Plastic feeders break down faster than glass ones in sunlight. Check them regularly and replace when needed.

Related on Earth911

• How to Start a Container Garden
• How to Compost at Home
• The Dos and Don’ts of Glass Recycling

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2014, and was most recently updated in March 2026.

The post 7 DIY Recycled Bird Feeders appeared first on Earth911.

Every kilogram of medical X-ray film holds 5 to 15 grams of silver — enough to make tossing those old films in the trash not just an environmental problem, but an outright waste of a recoverable precious metal. Add the fact that it’s also illegal to throw X-rays in the garbage in most jurisdictions, and the case for recycling them becomes urgent.

Millions of Americans still have film X-rays sitting in file folders, shoe boxes, or back-of-drawer oblivion. These relics from a pre-digital era of medical imaging need to be handled safely. Whether you’re a patient trying to clear out a closet or a smaller clinic still managing physical archives, understanding how X-ray film recycling works, why it matters, and who accepts it can help you make a responsible choice that’s good for the environment and, in some cases, your wallet.

What’s Inside an X-Ray Film

X-ray films are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, the same material used in many beverage bottles, coated with an emulsion layer containing silver halide crystals. When the film is exposed to X-ray radiation, those silver halide crystals capture the image by converting to metallic silver to produce the dark-and-light diagnostic image your doctor reads.

That silver content is why X-ray film is worth recycling. A research paper in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering reports that medical X-ray films typically contain between 5 and 15 grams of silver per kilogram of film. That’s the highest silver concentration of any common photographic material and a meaningful quantity: at 2025 silver spot prices hovering around $30 to $35 per troy ounce, a 50-pound box of old hospital films can yield real financial value through silver recovery.

The plastic substrate, once the silver has been stripped out, is recyclable PET. Nothing in a properly recycled X-ray film needs to go to a landfill.

Why You Can’t Just Throw X-Rays Away

Federal and state regulations prohibit tossing X-ray films in the ordinary waste stream for two separate reasons.

First, silver is classified as a hazardous material in landfill environments. When films degrade in landfills, silver leaches into soil and groundwater, where it can harm aquatic ecosystems and contaminate drinking water supplies. The EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act governs how silver-bearing waste must be handled. X-ray films older than 50 years may be made from nitrocellulose, a highly flammable material that requires special EPA-regulated transport and disposal handling.

Second, X-ray films are protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA and its successor, the HITECH Act. That means they cannot simply be thrown out, shredded in a standard office shredder, or otherwise disposed of without ensuring the images and any associated patient data are rendered permanently unreadable. The responsibility for proper disposal falls on whoever has the films, the originating medical facility, or, in some states, the patient themselves.

How X-Ray Film Is Recycled

The modern silver recovery process is efficient and well-established. According to Radiopaedia, the current standard method — called the “wash” process — recovers more than 99.9% of the silver in the film.

The process typically unfolds in four stages:

• Collection and sorting. Films are collected, weighed, and assessed. Films received in paper patient jackets have those jackets separated first. The paper goes to standard recycling centers, and the film is handled separately.
• Shredding and chemical wash. The film is shredded and immersed in a chemical bath of cyanide solution, though some facilities now use alternative reagents to dissolve the silver emulsion from the plastic base.
• Electrolytic silver recovery. Silver is separated from the solution by electrolysis, producing refined silver that can be cast into bars or coins and returned to the industrial silver market.
• PET plastic recycling. The now-clear plastic substrate is baled and sent to PET recyclers for reuse in manufacturing.

HIPAA-compliant recyclers also provide a Certificate of Destruction documenting that all protected health information on the films has been permanently and irrecoverably destroyed, which is essential for any medical facility’s compliance records.

Most New X-Rays Are Already Digital But Film Persists

The vast majority of U.S. hospitals and large imaging centers have completed the transition to digital radiography, which eliminates film entirely. Digital systems transmit images directly to secure electronic health records, reducing cost, storage burden, and chemical waste.

However, film-based imaging persists in several settings, such as some smaller clinics, rural practices, dental offices, veterinary practices, and industrial non-destructive testing (NDT) applications, which continue to use conventional film. If you’re receiving imaging at a smaller or independent practice, it’s worth asking directly: “Do you use digital imaging, or do you still produce physical film?” If the answer is film, follow up with: “What is your policy for recycling X-rays when they’re no longer needed for my care?”

A responsible provider should have a documented recycling process in place. Many do so because the silver recovery value incentivizes facilities to partner with certified recyclers rather than pay for disposal.

Recycling Programs: Who Accepts X-Ray Film

The X-ray recycling landscape is largely served by specialized national companies rather than municipal programs. Most curbside and drop-off programs do not accept X-ray film. Here are reputable options for both medical facilities and individuals.

If you’re a patient with a few old X-rays at home from a broken bone, a dental procedure, or years of routine imaging, the options are more limited than for medical facilities, but they exist.

Most of the major X-ray recycling companies set minimum weight thresholds for free pickup (often 30 to 50 pounds without paper jackets). A typical individual patient’s collection of personal X-rays won’t meet that threshold, so your options include:

• Mail-in services. Many recyclers, including B.W. Recycling/XRayFilmsDisposal.com and X-Ray Films Recycling, accept small-quantity mail-in shipments. You’ll typically pay postage; the recycler may pay you a small amount or simply provide free recycling in return. Contact the provider first to confirm their current individual consumer process.
• Check local hazardous waste events. Some municipal household hazardous waste (HHW) events accept medical imaging film. Check with your county or city’s waste management program. Call ahead to confirm, as not all HHW programs accept X-ray film, and policies vary.
• Return to your provider. Some medical facilities will accept old films for recycling as a patient service. Ask your clinic, hospital, or specialist’s office directly.
• Contact your original imaging center. Many imaging centers retain legal ownership of films they produce, and some will accept returned films for recycling at no cost to the patient. Policies vary, and a call is often worth the time.

Watch for a common source of confusion: HIPAA’s destruction requirements apply to covered entities, such as healthcare providers and insurers, and their business associates, but not typically to individual patients who receive copies of their own records. As a patient, you are not obligated to follow HIPAA disposal procedures for your own X-rays. That said, ensuring the secure destruction of your imaging records remains sound personal data hygiene.

What You Can Do

• Don’t throw X-rays in the trash or recycling bin. They are not accepted in municipal recycling programs and may be illegal to landfill in your state.
• Ask about digital imaging before your next appointment. Confirm whether your provider uses digital or film-based imaging, and ask about their film recycling policy if film is still in use.
• Search for a recycler using Earth911. earth911.com/recycling-search can help locate the few local options for X-ray film in the United States.
• If you’re a patient with personal X-rays, contact a national recycler directly. Most will advise on mail-in options for small quantities. Don’t let confusion leave films sitting in a drawer indefinitely.
• If your facility still uses film, set up a certified recycling program. The silver recovery value offsets the cost of a certified pickup, and a HIPAA-compliant Certificate of Destruction protects your organization from liability.

The post How To Recycle X-Ray Film appeared first on Earth911.

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In Amazonian folklore, botos are often depicted as shapeshifters, referred to as “encantados,” who transform into attractive humans during the night to seduce villagers. Encantados are believed to attend local festivities, donning hats to conceal their blowholes, and engage in romantic encounters before returning to the river by dawn—a sweet way to account for the children born months later!

Such legends have traditionally fostered a protective attitude toward the Amazon river dolphins, contributing to their conservation. Harming or killing a boto was considered taboo and thought to bring misfortune or bad luck, but changing cultural dynamics and increasing human activities have erased the benefit of those traditional protections.

Contemporary World Wildlife Fund research shows that global river dolphin numbers have plummeted by 73% since the 1980s, with water infrastructure, unsustainable fishing, pollution, and other threats endangering their existence.

This article was inspired by recent footage WWF shared from Ecuador’s Amazon Basin in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, where Amazon river dolphins were filmed playing in ways rarely observed in the wild—swimming alongside kayakers, leaping and interacting with each other. The sighting provides new insights into the social behaviors of Amazon river dolphins.

Amazon River Dolphin Facts

There are six species of river dolphins remaining in the world today; they are all endangered or critically endangered. The Amazon’s pink river dolphin is the largest of them at up to 9 feet long and 350 pounds.

The pink river dolphin also has the largest range and is found throughout much of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela. 

The species is characterized by its long snout and pale pink color. It has two recognized types or subspecies: 

• Bolivian Bufeo (Inia geofferensis boliviensis)
• Common Bufeo (Inia geoffrensis geoffrensis)

The Amazon pink river dolphin, also known as the boto, is a unique freshwater cetacean native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. Here are some key facts about its biology and behavior:

Physical Characteristics:

• Size and Weight: Adult males can reach up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in length and weigh as much as 185 kilograms (408 pounds). Females are generally smaller, averaging around 2.25 meters (7.4 feet) and weighing between 100 to 160 kilograms (220 to 352 pounds).
• Coloration: While calves are typically dark gray, adults exhibit a distinctive pink coloration. This pink hue is more pronounced in males and is believed to result from scar tissue formed during social interactions or combat. The pinkish coloration is a result of the blood vessels located along the body and increases with age.
• Anatomical Adaptations: Unlike marine dolphins, the boto possesses unfused cervical vertebrae, allowing it to turn its head up to 90 degrees. This flexibility aids in maneuvering through flooded forests and complex riverine environments. Pink river dolphins can navigate through the forest and maneuver with their specially adapted necks, which can be moved sideways.

Behavior and Ecology:

• Diet: Amazon river dolphins have a diverse diet, feeding on over 50 species of fish, including piranhas, tetras, catfish, and cichlids. They also consume freshwater crabs and turtles.
• Habitat Utilization: These dolphins inhabit a variety of freshwater habitats, such as rivers, small channels, and floodplains. During the wet season, they venture into flooded forests, taking advantage of the expanded foraging area.
• Social Structure: Botos are generally solitary or found in small groups, typically consisting of a mother and her calf. Larger aggregations may form in areas with abundant food resources.
• Reproduction: Females reach sexual maturity between 6 to 10 years of age, while males mature later, around 7 to 12 years. The gestation period is approximately 11 to 12 months, usually resulting in the birth of a single calf.
• Echolocation: Due to the often turbid waters of their habitat, Amazon river dolphins rely heavily on echolocation to navigate and hunt, emitting a series of clicks to detect objects and prey.

Understanding the biology and behavior of the Amazon pink river dolphin is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies to ensure the survival of this remarkable species.

Threats Facing Amazon River Dolphins

Amazon river dolphins face several threats, including habitat fragmentation from dam construction, pollution (notably mercury contamination from gold mining), deforestation, entanglement in fishing gear, and deliberate hunting for use as bait in certain fisheries.

Across their range, Amazon pink dolphins face threats including:

• habitat loss and fragmentation as a result of unsustainable development
• entanglement in fishing nets
• hunted for fish bait
• pollution
• climate change—heat and drought

The Amazon River dolphin faces challenges from development projects. Dam construction fragments populations and limits the species’ range and ability to breed. Pollution, including mercury, also impacts these dolphins. They’re also often deliberately killed for use as bait in the mota catfish fishery, which gathers fish that demand high prices in cities.

Freshwater dolphin conservation has had good results in other areas of the world, though, prompting optimism. “Now is the time to act,” said Jordi Surkin, WWF`s director of the Amazon region coordination unit. “These dolphin populations are still strong, and their habitats are in relatively good shape. If we address the threats now, we can ensure a future for all.”

River dolphins act as indicators of ecosystem health in the river basins where they live. If the dolphin population in a river is thriving, then the overall state of that freshwater system is also likely flourishing. But if that population is on the decline, then it’s considered a red flag for the ecosystem as a whole.

Recent research indicates the downward trend is continuing, and climate change is a growing threat. In 2023, more than 330 river dolphins died in just two lakes during a period of extreme heat and drought, highlighting the increasing threat to river dolphins posed by climate change.

Tracking the Amazon River Dolphin to Drive Conservation

WWF and numerous partner organizations are actively working to protect these dolphins through habitat conservation, research initiatives, and community engagement to promote sustainable practices.

Despite their iconic status, relatively little is known about Amazon river dolphin populations, habits and key habitats. While there are estimated to be tens of thousands of river dolphins, both pink and gray river dolphin species are currently listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Counting & Monitoring: In 2020, a comprehensive 9-day survey led by WWF, the Omacha Foundation, the Mamirauá Institute, Solinia, and the South American River Dolphin Initiative (SARDI) traversed a 950-kilometer stretch of the Amazon River across Peru, Colombia, and Brazil to monitor and protect Amazon river dolphins.

The survey revealed:

• 484 pink river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis)
• 442 gray dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis)
• a higher concentration of dolphins between Peru and Colombia,
• a noticeable decline in numbers along the Brazilian stretch, raising concerns about environmental pressures or human impacts affecting dolphin populations in certain regions.

This large-scale monitoring, spanning over 3,000 miles of river in the Amazon Basin and using methods like drones and river expeditions, provides essential data on population dynamics and dolphin habitats. These insights help conservationists understand the impacts of threats like habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. SARDI’s efforts, combined with community engagement programs, foster local stewardship, empowering those who live closest to the river to participate in the dolphins’ protection. Together, these initiatives are building an international framework to protect Amazon river dolphins and their essential habitats, ensuring a sustainable future for these unique freshwater species.

Satellite Tracking: In 2017, WWF and research partners attached small transmitters to 11 dolphins—both Amazon and Bolivian river dolphins—in Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia, to gain new insight into the animals’ migration patterns, feeding grounds, and seasonal movement, providing valuable insights into their habitats and movement within the basin​.

The information gathered from the tags will help :

• create stronger conservation plans,
• illuminate threats,
• better advocate for the protection of river dolphins and their habitats, and
• prove these animals depend on connected river systems for survival.

Marcelo Oliveira, a WWF conservation specialist who led the expedition in Brazil, said:

“Satellite tracking will help us better understand the lives of this iconic Amazonian species more than ever before, helping to transform our approach to protecting them and the entire ecosystem. Tracking these dolphins is the start of a new era for our work because we will finally be able to map where they go when they disappear from sight.”

Studies use telemetry data to map overlaps between dolphin habitats and areas of anthropogenic impact, such as planned dams and pollution hotspots. One study published in Cambridge University’s Oryx: The International Journal of Conservation relied on satellite tracking data from eight dolphins (one female and seven males) in the Peruvian Amazon, demonstrating that the dolphins inhabit a variety of habitat types and have core areas and home range areas of variable magnitudes.

To gain a better understanding of exactly how threats affect the dolphins, the authors examined the distance of dolphin records to locations of current and potential future threats posed by human activities:

• On average, dolphins’ home ranges overlapped with fisheries by 89%.
• Dolphins were found at an average distance of 252 km (826 ft) from the nearest proposed dam.
• Dolphins were tracked closer to proposed dredging sites—125 km (410 ft) from the nearest.

Tracking data supports conservation in a variety of ways, including:

• identifying high-priority habitats,
• focusing protection efforts,
• offering decision-making support.

These kinds of data can guide efforts to tackle some of the major threats facing river dolphins, including hundreds of planned dams that would separate many of the Amazon’s remaining free-flowing rivers, worsening mercury contamination from small-scale gold mining and illegal fishing. This would result in further habitat fragmentation—groups of dolphins being cut off from one another, unable to interact and breed and potentially threatening the long-term survival of these populations.

During tagging, scientists also collect samples to determine mercury levels and the general health of the dolphins.

Role of Local Communities in Freshwater Conservation

WWF’s 2024 Living Planet Report indicates there has been a catastrophic 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations in just 50 years (1970-2020). The strongest decline is in freshwater ecosystems (-85%) upon which river dolphins rely. As a result, a variety of conservation efforts are focused on these areas:

• Community Partnerships: Discuss WWF’s collaboration with local groups to promote sustainable practices that reduce mercury use and improve fishing techniques, benefiting both people and wildlife.
• Community Education: WWF educates communities about the ecological role of dolphins, reinforcing traditional beliefs and promoting eco-friendly livelihoods that safeguard both human and dolphin health.
• WWF engages local communities and partners with governments to identify solutions that bridge the needs of economic development and conservation—including providing scientific support to help find dam locations that will do the least harm to the environment. Travel plays a role in this work.

Conservation Travel in the Amazon

Market analysis of conservation travel in the Peruvian Amazon has shown that ecotourism is more profitable in the long term than other common uses of the land. Short-term benefits of large-scale logging, for example, exceed those of ecotourism, but deplete the land at a rate that leaves it unusable within just a few years.

The same study reported that avoiding deforestation had a far greater positive impact than the carbon footprint of visitors; ecotourism significantly reduced carbon emissions when comparing those two metrics. Finally, the study showed that conservation tourism increased the value of other local businesses by making the area increasingly attractive to wildlife, tourists, and locals alike.

Our mission is conservation through exploration: protecting our planet by inspiring travelers, supporting local communities and boldly influencing the entire travel industry. Travel can imbue value to natural habitats, bringing economic resources to local communities and inspiring them to protect wild places and the wildlife that thrives within them. Travel can help visitors and locals alike understand what is at stake in the Amazon.

Nat Hab Guests explore Peru’s Amazon © Nat Hab Staff Megan Koelemay

We offer multiple itineraries for exploring and contributing to conservation in the Amazon River basin:

Discover Amazon & Machu Picchu

Cruise to the headwaters of the Amazon River for an immersion in the primeval rainforest on the Discover Amazon & Machu Picchu’s year-round itinerary. Select departures for this trip sail on Nat Hab’s new 164-foot-long river cruise ship, the Zafiro, which offers guests the opportunity to participate in turtle restoration and forest replanting. The ship eschews single-use plastics, minimizes waste through recycling and repurposing materials, conserves energy and water through automatic shut-off and water-saving devices, and uses energy generated from solar and biomass systems.

Great Amazon River Expedition

On our Great Amazon River Expedition, the journey’s focus is the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve at the Amazon River’s headwaters. According to Nat Hab Expedition Leader Renzo Zeppilli, the reserve is home to 250 fish species and protects more than 130 species of mammals, 150 reptile and amphibian species and 450 kinds of birds. It also contains the largest variety of flora in Peru, including gigantic bromeliads and 22 orchid species.

Supporting conservation efforts through travel and advocacy helps preserve not just the dolphins but the entire Amazon ecosystem. Mariana Paschoalini Frias, Conservation Analyst at WWF-Brazil, reminds us:

“River dolphins are considered ‘sentinels’. In other words: They are indicative of the health of the environment where they live. What happens to them is reflected in the other species that live around them, including humans.”

Delfin III, The Great Amazon River Expedition

The post Ancient Legends, Modern Challenges: Protecting the Amazon’s Pink River Dolphins first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.

These efforts embody the shared mission of Nat Hab and World Wildlife Fund: protecting the planet’s most extraordinary places while supporting the people who call them home.

“Nat Hab Philanthropy and the amazing projects we fund around the world are a major ‘why’ behind what we do as a company. Conservation travel means so many things, and they’re all fantastic, but in this case, the ability to fund grassroots projects doing incredible things for nature, communities and wildlife, supported by the proceeds from our travel programs, is one of my favorite parts about what and how we do things at Nat Hab,” says Chief Sustainability Officer Court Whelan.

Here are 14 new Nat Hab Philanthropy Projects of 2025—and stay tuned to learn about the projects in our second funding cycle of 2025!

Tolga Bat Rescue: A Safe Return for Flying Foxes

Funding Provided: $2,000
Location: Atherton, Far North Queensland, Australia
Partner: Tolga Bat Rescue and Research

Tolga Bat Rescue rehabilitates hundreds of orphaned spectacled flying foxes each year—an endangered species vital to Australia’s rainforests. This grant funds construction of a new release cage where young bats can strengthen flight muscles before returning to the wild.

The soft-release method greatly increases survival rates and helps restore balance to tropical ecosystems dependent on these pollinators.

Bosque Guardián Lodge: Saving Native Bees, Sustaining Forest Communities

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Tiraco Valley, San Martín Region, Peruvian Amazon
Partner: Bosque Guardián Lodge

In the cloud forests of Peru’s Cordillera Escalera Reserve, Bosque Guardián Lodge champions the conservation of Tetragonisca angustula, a native stingless bee revered for its medicinal honey.

Funding supports the construction of 30 wooden hives and training for 15 local women in sustainable meliponiculture—an alternative to deforestation and cattle ranching. The project preserves pollinators, fosters women’s leadership and strengthens traditional ecological knowledge.

© Bosque Guardián Lodge

Ambiomas and Ejido Los Remedios: Biodiversity Monitoring for Responsible Tourism

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Sierra Chincua Sanctuary, Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Partner: Ambiomas Acciones y Respuestas Adaptativas

To diversify tourism beyond monarch season, Ejido Los Remedios is developing year-round biodiversity experiences rooted in conservation science.

Funding supports a three-month monitoring project using camera traps and citizen science tools like iNaturalist and eBird to document flora and fauna. Findings will inform new eco-tours and guidebooks, strengthening local knowledge and sustainable tourism practices.

© Nat Hab Staff Court Whelan

Empowering Women Through Birding in the Peruvian Amazon

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru
Partner: Delfin Amazon Cruises

In partnership with Indigenous communities, Delfin Amazon is launching a program to train women as birding guides in one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems.

Funding supports training, educational materials and equipment, helping participants learn avian ecology, guiding skills and conservation education. The program fosters sustainable livelihoods while reducing reliance on extractive practices and protecting both wildlife and culture.

© Delfin III

FortWhyte Alive: Arctic Science Day Inspires Future Environmental Leaders

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Partner: FortWhyte Alive

Arctic Science Day brings climate research to life for middle and high school students through hands-on learning led by scientists from the University of Manitoba. This free, two-day event fosters curiosity and understanding of Arctic systems and climate change.

Funding supports materials, equipment, honoraria and staffing—ensuring accessibility for all students and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.

© FortWhyte Alive

Forests for Monarchs: Reforesting Habitat, Restoring Hope

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Michoacan, Mexico
Partner: Forests for Monarchs

Since 1997, Forests for Monarchs has planted more than 13.5 million trees to restore degraded land in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. With monarch numbers still in steep decline, this work remains critical.

This year’s grant supports planting 2,500 native trees in sanctuary communities like Senguio and Ocampo. The community forestry model engages Indigenous groups and local ejidos to ensure long-term stewardship and sustainable livelihoods—strengthening forest health and monarch recovery.

© Forests for Monarchs

Open Door Bird Sanctuary: Birds Are for Everyone

Funding Provided: $1,000
Location: Door County, Wisconsin, USA
Partner: Open Door Bird Sanctuary

Through its Birds Are for Everyone initiative, Open Door Bird Sanctuary makes wildlife education accessible to schools, senior centers and community groups that might otherwise miss out.

This grant helps subsidize outreach programs—from field trips to off-site raptor presentations—bringing people of all ages closer to the natural world and inspiring compassion for birds of prey.

Mask Up Uganda: Safeguarding Gorillas Through Health Protocols

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Partner: In collaboration with CTPH and Gorilla Doctors

To protect Uganda’s endangered mountain gorillas, Mask Up Uganda supplies high-quality face masks and health training for rangers, guides and communities at all five gorilla tracking sites.

The initiative—led by Conservation Through Public Health and Gorilla Doctors—reduces the risk of disease transmission from humans to great apes. The 2025 funding transition supports Uganda Wildlife Authority as it prepares to assume full management by 2026 following successful regional models.

© Conservation Through Public Health

Alaska Wildlife Alliance: Wildlife Wednesday Virtual Series

Funding Provided: $2,000
Location: Online (based in Alaska, USA)
Partner: Alaska Wildlife Alliance

Each month from October to April, Alaska Wildlife Alliance connects audiences with experts through Wildlife Wednesday, a free virtual lecture series exploring conservation, science and storytelling.

This grant supports event planning, hosting, communications and digital outreach, helping bring wildlife education to thousands of viewers worldwide while strengthening advocacy for Alaska’s ecosystems.

© Alaska Wildlife Alliance

Wildlife Madagascar: Reforesting Namoroka National Park

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Namoroka National Park, Madagascar
Partner: Wildlife Madagascar

Building on success in Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve, Wildlife Madagascar is expanding its conservation work to Namoroka National Park—a remote, biodiversity-rich area sheltering ten lemur species, over 100 bird species and dozens of reptiles and amphibians.

To restore this fragmented landscape, Wildlife Madagascar is launching a hands-on reforestation initiative led by a full-time specialist who will collect seeds (even from lemur droppings), germinate saplings and coordinate bi-monthly tree-planting events with local residents.

The grant provides essential field gear—boots, rainwear, uniform and a tent—for extended seed-collecting missions. These efforts will reconnect forest corridors, ensure gene flow among wildlife populations and safeguard the park’s ecological resilience.

© Wildlife Madagascar

Gyekrum Lambo Primary School: Restoring a Classroom for Learning

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Karatu, Arusha, Tanzania
Partner: Gyekrum Lambo Primary School

This project revitalizes an unused classroom, turning it into a safe, welcoming space for students. Funding covers new flooring, glass windows, fresh paint and labor costs—ensuring children can learn in comfort and security.

By reopening this classroom, the school expands its capacity to serve a growing student body and improves education and opportunity for the Karatu community.

© Nat Hab Guest Diann Jinks

Bwindi Plus Menstrual Health Project: Dignity Through Hygiene and Education

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Bwindi, Uganda
Partner: Bwindi Plus Orphanage School

In Uganda’s Bwindi region, many girls face barriers to education due to limited access to menstrual products and persistent social stigma. This project addresses both through training and empowerment.

Funding supports the purchase of an overlock machine, cloth materials and a tailoring instructor to teach girls and women to make reusable pads. School workshops on menstrual health help reduce stigma and improve confidence, leading to higher school attendance and community awareness.

© Bwindi Plus Orphanage School

Community Library for the Galapagos and the World

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Partner: AGIPA (Galapagos National Park Interpretive Guides Association)

The Agipa Community Library—the only library in the Galapagos—serves as a vital center for education and creativity. This non-profit, guide-led initiative uses art and literacy to connect young readers with conservation.

Funding supports ten youth workshops in 2025, engaging children with the IUCN Red List through reading, art and storytelling. Each session inspires curiosity and conservation-minded thinking among the next generation of island stewards.

Tasiilaq Community Cookbook: Celebrating Greenland’s Local Flavors

Funding Provided: $2,500
Location: Tasiilaq, East Greenland
Partner: Community-led initiative

The Tasiilaq Community Cookbook preserves Greenlandic food traditions through recipes gathered from local chefs, home cooks and families.

With Nat Hab’s support, this project funds research, photography, community tastings, printing and distribution. The cookbook will serve as both a cultural archive and educational tool, encouraging sustainable eating and local pride.

East Greenland Arctic Adventure © Nat Hab Expedition Leader Lianne Thompson

From tree nurseries in Madagascar to bee hives in the Amazon, these 2025 projects show how small grants create lasting impact. Each initiative reflects a shared commitment to protect wild places, empower communities and ensure conservation thrives alongside human well-being.

Through Nat Hab Philanthropy, every traveler becomes part of this story of restoration, resilience and hope.

The post Seeds of Hope: Nat Hab Philanthropy in Action first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.

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