I'm looking for statistics on the types of garbage that's currently sitting in American landfills. Does anybody have any good resources for this? To be clear, I'm trying to find the percentage of paper, plastics, metal, etc as they contribute to the greater whole. Statistics from other countries are welcomed too.
posted by wandergeek on Oct 8, 2009 - 7 answers

In North America, how far inland do you have to be before you stop finding seagulls at garbage dumps?
posted by Mayor Curley on Aug 6, 2009 - 36 answers

Several years ago there was a captivating video on the web of a napkin or piece of paper wafting/dancing in the gentle breeze on a street sidewalk. [more inside]
posted by wsg on Jul 29, 2009 - 8 answers

What important household papers and documents must I keep and file? What papers are OK to throw away? [more inside]
posted by fiercecupcake on Jul 28, 2009 - 7 answers

Help me find this grocery bag using trash bin., or something similar, please. I StumbledUpon this link and think it would be an awesome gift for my mother. She doesn't want to use reusable bags because she takes 8-10 empty aluminum cans to the recycle bin every morning along with a bag of cat poop/liter from cleaning the litter box. For convenience she uses two grocery bags a day for the job. If she's going to use bags I figured I may as well make it easy for her.
posted by RunawayOctober on Jan 7, 2009 - 4 answers

The cupboard beneath my sink would seem to be an oddball, I've never found a garbage can that will fit it perfectly - 20 inches high, 10 inches wide, 15 inches deep. I usually buy taller containers and cut them down. I'd love to find something built to fit. Is there a site you can go to find such a thing, or, even better, where you can input the dimensions of the container you're looking for, and then browse results?
posted by boombot on May 21, 2008 - 5 answers

I'd like to stop using plastic grocery bags, but I use them as liners in all of my garbage cans (including the kitchen, where stuff thrown in tends to be moist food detritus). Any ideas on what to use as garbage liners in lieu of the plastic bags?
posted by backseatpilot on Jan 24, 2008 - 21 answers

My HOA negotiated an exclusive contract with a garbage company -- and the garbage company has increased rates and decreased service. Help! [more inside]
posted by parilous on Jan 3, 2008 - 13 answers

How do I stop paper junk mail? Is there an equivalent of the government Do Not Call List for regular mail?
posted by destro on Nov 14, 2007 - 21 answers

Is there anything worth mining/harvesting out of a random old desktop scanner? I was about to throw this heap away, when I decided to take it apart. [more inside]
posted by Quarter Pincher on Oct 9, 2007 - 10 answers

City-living n00b: what do I do with smelly trash on the weekends? [more inside]
posted by olinerd on Sep 15, 2007 - 21 answers

What household items are hazardous to the environment when thrown away? I'm compiling a list of items that we should recycle or dispose of specially instead of tossing, like batteries and fluorescent light bulbs. [more inside]
posted by Alison on Jun 7, 2007 - 11 answers

My "garbage disposal" is all gunked up. How do I clean it?
posted by indigo4963 on Jan 10, 2007 - 17 answers

I have little under-cabinet space and and am looking for a somewhat elegant solution to trash/food waste/recycling. Because of the lack of under-counter space, I need something free-standing and preferably with a small footprint. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Manhasset on Oct 20, 2006 - 10 answers

How do I clean up maggots? [more inside]
posted by ITheCosmos on Jun 2, 2006 - 20 answers

What can I do with a couple hundred pounds of sour oranges? [more inside]
posted by Optimus Chyme on Apr 30, 2006 - 14 answers

I have to pee. I also have to blow my nose. Is it more environmentally friendly to toss my snotty Kleenex into the trash or into the toilet (which I was going to flush anyway)?
posted by mookieproof on Mar 22, 2006 - 18 answers

Something in my rubbish bin stinks, and since I was away for rubbish collection day it's going to be there for a while longer. What can I do to get rid of, or at least reduce, the smell? [more inside]
posted by teem on Nov 24, 2005 - 18 answers

What's your trash can of choice (for the kitchen)? I'm convinced they all suck- please, tell me I'm wrong. [more inside]
posted by mkultra on Apr 22, 2005 - 22 answers

How do I dispose of an old dorm-style cube fridge that has died a horrible death and is not worth repairing? [more inside]
posted by SpecialK on Mar 20, 2005 - 7 answers

I work a standard full-time job. How do I keep the amount of rubbish generated from lunch down to something I'm not ashamed of? [Would you like to know more?] [more inside]
posted by krisjohn on Feb 13, 2005 - 9 answers

Is there some sort of civic reasoning as to why sanitation workers generally make more than police officers? [more inside]
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket on Jan 27, 2005 - 25 answers

Garbage disposal/dishwasher part deux. [mi] [more inside]
posted by Lola_G on Dec 7, 2004 - 7 answers

Yesterday, our garbage disposal died. Then we ran the dishwasher and the food from the sink started to flow into the dishwasher. We didn't realize the extent of the problem until it started cooking during the drying cycle.

Has this ever happened to you? Is it simply time to call the plumber?
posted by Lola_G on Dec 6, 2004 - 13 answers

Raccoon in a dumpster. Girlfriend's place of employment has raccoons caught in the dumpster like clockwork every Friday (pickup is Thursday night and no amount of effort will get the company to latch it.) She usually puts a board in and lets them climb out at their leisure. One has been sleeping in the corner all day and won't move even when prodded. Is he just being nocturnal, or does he need medical attention? (Animal control hasn't returned her call and she's worried for him).
posted by Mayor Curley on Dec 3, 2004 - 17 answers

OK, I have Drain Flies. Dirty, disgusting, ewww, gross!!!! How can I get rid of them quickly without poisoning myself in the process? I hate flies more than spiders, snakes, mice, more than anything; so THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!!!!
posted by lilboo on Oct 13, 2004 - 9 answers

TrashTalk: How do I keep animals from getting into my garbage? [more inside]
posted by grateful on Sep 24, 2004 - 10 answers

What do utilities cost in Seattle? [more inside]
posted by Hildago on Jun 6, 2004 - 7 answers