ZeroTrash® Revolution Blog Blog
Explore articles on recycling, waste management and sustainable habits by category
Holiday Composting Guide 2025: How to Reduce Wa...
The holidays bring plenty of food, cheer, and …. waste? With all those extra food scraps, packaging, and single-use holiday supplies, household waste increases by roughly 25% between Thanksgiving and...
Holiday Composting Guide 2025: How to Reduce Waste at Christmas & New Year Events
The holidays bring plenty of food, cheer, and …. waste? With all those extra food scraps, packaging, and single-use holiday supplies, household waste increases by roughly 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, per an estimate by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). One of the most effective ways to reduce this seasonal spike in waste? Composting. With a little preparation, you can make composting easy this holiday season, whether you’re organizing a small home gathering, office celebration, or large community event. This guide summarizes what can (and can’t) be composted during holiday meals, how to set up event waste stations that actually work, and the practical tools that households can use to manage organics without the mess or the stink. Key Takeaways Food waste increases by 25%–40% during the holiday season. Most holiday food scraps can be composted with the right method and clear sorting rules. Certified compostables are accepted at commercial facilities — but not always at home. Clear signage dramatically reduces contamination in compost bins. Indoor-friendly organics collector appliances can help families and offices cleanly and efficiently manage food scraps during busy events. Why Holiday Food Waste Spikes — and Why Composting Matters The holidays are often associated with abundance — for better or worse. In November and December, there’s a pronounced increase in over-purchasing, buffet-style serving, and leftover-heavy cooking. This all leads to a lot of extra waste — and most of it goes straight to the trash can, then the landfill. The problem is, when organic waste goes to landfills, it decomposes anaerobically and produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is at least 28 times more potent than CO₂ over a 100-year period.To help reduce your footprint, use the peak waste periods of the holidays to introduce easy composting habits that can persist beyond the season. What You Can (and Can’t) Compost During Holiday Meals Take note of the following lists to guide you through proper composting this holiday season (and beyond): Food Scraps & Decorative Organics You Can Compost at Home Fruit and vegetable peels and scraps (pumpkin pieces, citrus peels, apple cores, etc.) Dried fruits Cinnamon sticks Bread and grains Herbs Rice and pasta Coffee grounds and tea leaves Cookie crumbs Pinecones Natural wreaths (no wire) Kraft paper wrap Items That Require Commercial Composting BPI-certified compostable plates/cups “Compostable” bioplastic utensils Some dairy- and oil-heavy foods Waste Not Compostable at Home Turkey bones and meat scraps (acceptable with the Organics Collector) Glossy paper plates Foil, chip bags Glitter decor Metallic wrapping Plastic ornaments Synthetic ribbons Holiday Composting Reference Table (2025) Item Home Compost Organics Collector / Bokashi Commercial Compost Trash Fruit and veggie peels, scraps Yes Yes Yes No Turkey bones No Yes Sometimes Yes Cheese, gravy No Yes Sometimes Yes Stuffing, casseroles Risky Yes Yes No Uncoated paper plates Yes Yes Yes No Certified compostable cups No No Yes No Foil, plastic wrap No No No Yes Glitter decor No No No Yes Tools That Make Holiday Composting Easier Traditional home compost systems can be difficult to maintain during holiday events because they often get overloaded, attracting odors and potentially pests. Many are located outdoors, making it less convenient to throw away scraps. And most do not accept big food items like meat or dairy. For these reasons, households and offices are opting to use indoor organics collection systems to manage high-volume holiday scraps cleanly and without odor. Organics Collector Appliance Kitchen appliances, such as Clear Drop’s Organics Collector, are designed for odor-free indoor storage of mixed food scraps. They are especially useful during holiday gatherings because they: Suppress smells, even when holding meat, bones, and other rich foods Prevent fruit flies and pests Allow guests to easily sort waste Reduce contamination in compost bins Keep kitchens organized during peak cooking days Using this type of device does not replace composting, though. Instead, it simplifies the first (and often messiest) step — collecting holiday scraps and organics before they are taken outdoors or to a drop-off site. How to Set Up a Holiday Compost Station for the Home, Office, or Events Not sure where to start? Follow the below steps to keep the party going and the waste at bay. 1. Choose the Right Collection System Figure out which type of composting system will work best for you. Choose from options such as: Countertop caddies Outdoor compost bins Municipal green bins (where available) Bokashi systems Organics collector appliances for clean indoor storage Large event composting totes 2. Place Bins in Strategic Positions Think about the natural flow between dishing up, eating, and disposing. Some good locations to place trash and organic waste bins include: Near the buffet or food stations Next to the kitchen island By drink tables Along high-traffic areas 3. Add Clear “YES / NO” Signage Offer clear printed instructions as to what waste goes where. For example YES — food scraps, napkins, paper plates NO — plastic, foil, glitter, coated paper Better yet, include visuals of examples and recruit a volunteer “green lead” to manage waste areas. How to Reduce Food Waste Before & After Your Holiday Event Before the party even starts, plan ahead to avoid too much extra food and waste. Consider the number of guests and: Plan realistic portions Use smaller plates Prepare low-waste recipes Encourage reusable containers for leftovers Freeze portions ahead of time Dealing With Leftovers After the Event You can’t always calculate your food needs exactly, but you can donate, repurpose, freeze, or compost any extras after the event. Donate: The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects good-faith food donations. Most communities offer at least a few places where you can donate food. Repurpose: Be creative and use any leftover food or ingredients to make new dishes like soups, casseroles, grain bowls, or frittatas. Freeze: Bigger items such as meat, roasted vegetables, baked goods, stuffings, and breads freeze well and can come in handy for later. Compost: Of what remains, make sure to compost it either at home or through a community program. Sustainable Holidays Start With Small Changes Small, repeated behaviors during the holidays and other peak waste seasons can help build long-term waste-reduction routines. As cities continue to expand food-waste programs, households across the country are adopting composting habits and taking advantage of indoor-friendly compost solutions like Clear Drop’s Organics Collector. Whether you host a small dinner or a large office celebration, a well-planned compost system, supported by clear signage and simple indoor tools, can dramatically reduce your holiday waste footprint.
How Much Food Americans Waste and What You Can Do
Key Takeaways Americans waste 30%-40% of their total food supply each year (USDA, 2024). In 2019, the U.S. generated 66 million tons of wasted food, with more than half ending...
How Much Food Americans Waste and What You Can Do
Key Takeaways Americans waste 30%-40% of their total food supply each year (USDA, 2024). In 2019, the U.S. generated 66 million tons of wasted food, with more than half ending up in landfills (EPA, 2023). The average household loses ≈ $1,500 per year on food that is never eaten (NRDC, 2022). Food waste produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is 28x more potent than CO₂ (EPA, 2024). ClearDrop's Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) and Organics Collector (OC) help reduce food waste and food-related soft plastics — one household at a time. Millions of tons of perfectly edible food are thrown away in the United States every year. Add to that all the water, land, fertilizer, energy, and packaging required to produce it. When wasted food ends up in landfills, it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The good news is that small, consistent changes at home can make a meaningful impact. Every household can reduce its environmental footprint with helpful tools, such as Clear Drop's Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) for responsible soft plastic recycling, and the Organics Collector (OC) for clean food-scrap collection. 30%–40% of the total U.S. food supply is wasted each year. 66M tons of wasted food were generated in the U.S. in 2019. $1,500 is the average annual value of food wasted by one household. 28x more potent than CO₂ is methane released from food waste in landfills. The scale of food waste in America According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Americans waste up to 40% of their total food supply annually (USDA, 2024). U.S. households and retailers generated 66 million tons of food waste. 35 million tons of food waste were landfilled. Food became the largest single category of landfill material (EPA, 2023). What Americans waste most Tempted by bulk deals and discounted offers, Americans often overbuy at the grocery store, which leads to rotting produce and expired foods, including: Fruits and vegetables Dairy Baked goods Leftovers Prepared meals Remember that nearly all of these products come packaged in soft plastics, such as produce bags, bread bags, cereal liners, frozen-food bags, snack wrappers, and cling film. To save on waste, these materials can be compacted and recycled using the Clear Drop SPC. Environmental impact When food ends up in landfills, it decomposes and generates methane, a gas that is 28x more potent than CO₂ (EPA, 2024). Wasted food also wastes: 21% of all U.S. freshwater used in agriculture (WWF, 2023) 18% of U.S. cropland (Feeding America, 2023) Billions of units of packaging materials Significant transport and refrigeration energy Why this matters Food waste is not just about uneaten groceries. It also means wasted water, wasted land, wasted energy, and extra packaging that often ends up discarded with the food itself. There are two easy ways you can lower your food waste footprint: Clear Drop's OC allows you to cleanly collect food scraps so they don't end up in landfills. Clear Drop's SPC allows you to effectively recycle soft-plastic packaging to be repurposed instead of tossed out. Common reasons food gets wasted at home A lack of planning and preparation often leads to extra food and packaging waste. Cause Practical solution Overbuying and poor planning Create weekly meal plans and shop with a list. Expiration date confusion Understand “best by,” “use by,” and “sell by” labels (EPA Food Labeling Education). Improper storage Use airtight containers and humidity-controlled fridge drawers to keep food fresher longer. Forgotten leftovers Store leftovers in clear containers and rotate regularly. Packaging accumulation Rinse, dry, and compact food-related soft plastics using the SPC. Why reducing food waste matters Reducing food waste has wide-reaching benefits. Lowers emissions Less food in landfills means less methane released and a measurable climate benefit. Decreases packaging waste When you toss out food, you're also tossing out its packaging, such as: Produce bags Bread bags Shrink wrap Snack wrappers Frozen-food bags Cling film When you have an SPC, you can reduce this extra waste by easily compacting and recycling it. Supports sustainable living Clear Drop's mission is to help households reduce waste in all forms, starting with food scraps and soft plastics. Read more about our mission and products in our educational guides. Simple ways to reduce food waste Build meal plans and shopping listsPrevent overbuying before it starts. Store food properlyUse the right containers and fridge zones to extend freshness. Learn date-label meaningsDo not throw food away too early because of label confusion. Freeze leftoversSave food before it spoils. Reuse vegetable scrapsOr collect them for further composting via the Organics Collector. Keep products visibleUse clear labeling in your fridge and cabinets. Recycle soft-plastic food packagingUse the SPC for bread bags, snack wrappers, produce bags, and more. How Clear Drop supports sustainable living Clear Drop provides practical tools for reducing household waste, including: Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) With the SPC, bread bags, produce bags, snack wrappers, cling film, cereal liners, and frozen-food bags can be properly compacted for recycling. Organics Collector (OC) With the OC, collect your food scraps without the fuss, mess, or smells. Clear Drop Blog With the Clear Drop Blog, learn more about reducing food and plastic waste and building a cleaner, more sustainable lifestyle. Be a leader in better waste management Reduce food waste, recycle smarter, and build a sustainable home with Clear Drop's: Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) to reduce soft-plastic waste Organics Collector (OC) to compost cleanly and effectively Educational Blog to learn more about how to live a ZeroTrash lifestyle Explore the full Clear Drop system From food-scrap collection to soft-plastic recycling, Clear Drop helps households reduce waste with practical tools and education. Visit Clear Drop
10 Soft Plastics You Didn’t Know You Could Recy...
Key Takeaways Only 1% of U.S. households have access to curbside film recycling. Home devices like the Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) fill that gap. Soft plastics make up...
10 Soft Plastics You Didn’t Know You Could Recycle at Home
Key Takeaways Only 1% of U.S. households have access to curbside film recycling. Home devices like the Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) fill that gap. Soft plastics make up ≈ 21% of the U.S. packaging market, yet only about 13% of all plastic packaging gets recycled nationally. Recycling soft films can reduce GHG emissions by 8%–23% compared to virgin plastic. Every ton of recycled plastics saves ≈ 5,800 kWh of energy and 1.7 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. No matter how diligent you are with recycling, most plastics labeled "recyclable" still end up in landfills. Curbside systems in the U.S. aren't designed for soft films and flexible packaging — meaning these materials often get rejected at the facility. Only 1% of U.S. households can currently recycle film plastics through local collection (The Recycling Partnership, 2021). The Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) fills that gap — letting you collect and compact soft plastics at home so they can be properly recycled through certified partners. Why Soft Plastic Recycling Matters 21% of U.S. packaging sales are soft plastics — a $41.5 billion market with a recycling rate near zero 13.3% national plastic packaging recycling rate — soft plastics represent only a fraction of that 3.1B lbs of film plastic must be recovered annually just to reach a 30% recycling rate 8–23% reduction in GHG emissions when recycling flexible plastics vs. producing virgin material Clearly, there's plenty of room for improvement — and it can start one home at a time with the Clear Drop SPC. 10 Surprising Soft Plastics You Can Recycle All of the following items are often rejected by curbside systems but can be accepted by the Clear Drop SPC, once cleaned and dried: 1. Ziplock bags Rinse, dry, and add to the SPC. 2. Bread bags (typically LDPE #4) Empty, shake out crumbs, and dry completely before compacting. 3. Cereal box liners Separate the inner film liner, dry it, and add to your SPC. 4. Frozen food bags After use, defrost, rinse off residue, dry, and add to the SPC. 5. Bubble mailers Plastic-only mailers (without paper layers) can be deflated and compacted. 6. Snack wrappers Single-layer poly wrappers (e.g., granola bars) are fine — just avoid any with metallic film. 7. Produce wrap Most cling film from fruit and veggie trays is LDPE — rinse, dry, and compact. 8. Pet food bags Clean out oily residue from PP (polypropylene) bags, dry, and compact. 9. Dry cleaning bags Remove tags or tape, dry, and feed into the SPC. 10. Packaging air pillows Deflate, flatten, and compact these LDPE shipping cushions. When compacted, all of the above films become part of your SPC block — a dense, clean unit ready for recycling. How to Prepare Soft Plastics for SPC Recycling Clean: Rinse off all food or oil. Dry: Air-dry thoroughly. Compact: Insert the plastic into your SPC. Ship or Drop Off: Send your full soft-plastic block to a Clear Drop partner. Do's and don'ts Do: Rinse and dry plastics, remove labels, keep items light.Don't: Include wet, dirty, or foil-lined film. What Happens After Collection: The SPC Recycling Process From your home to a new product SPC blocks go to certified U.S. recycling partners like Frankfort Plastics in Indiana — where plastics are sorted, shredded, cleaned, and pelletized into new resin used for outdoor furniture, decking, and composite pallets. Transport & Inspection: SPC blocks go to certified U.S. partners, such as Frankfort Plastics in Indiana. Sorting & Shredding: Plastics are sorted and granulated. Cleaning & Pelletizing: Flakes are washed and melted into new resin. Reuse: Resin becomes new durable construction products — outdoor furniture, decking, composite pallets. The energy impact According to the EPA, recycling one ton of plastics saves ≈ 5,800 kWh of energy and prevents 1.7 metric tons of CO₂ emissions (EPA 2024). By using the SPC, you help turn hard-to-recycle films into feedstock for new products — closing the loop. The Clear Drop SPC in Numbers Metric U.S. Statistic Source Soft-plastic share of packaging ≈ 21% ($41.5 billion market) Packaging Digest 2023 National plastic-packaging recycling rate 13.3% US Plastics Pact 2024 Households with film recycling access ≈ 1% The Recycling Partnership 2021 Goal for 30% film recycling 3.1 billion pounds needed annually The Recycling Partnership 2021 GHG savings from film recycling 8%–23% Plastic Film Recycling Org Plastic recycled in North America (2025) 4.2 million tons (≈ 13% of PE/PET/PP) Sustainable Packaging Coalition 2025 Be a leader in better recycling Recycle more than you thought possible with the Clear Drop SPC — and cleanly collect food scraps with the Organics Collector. Explore Clear Drop Solutions →
How Clear Drop’s Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) R...
At Clear Drop, we're redefining what responsible soft plastic recycling looks like. Our Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) ensures that your household soft plastics don't just get collected, they get truly...
How Clear Drop’s Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) Recycling System Works | Clear Drop
At Clear Drop, we're redefining what responsible soft plastic recycling looks like. Our Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) ensures that your household soft plastics don't just get collected, they get truly recycled into new, long-lasting materials through certified U.S. partners. Key Takeaways The Clear Drop SPC compacts household soft plastics into dense blocks ready for certified recycling. Compacted blocks are shipped via USPS prepaid labels to Frankfort Plastics (Indiana), a verified U.S. recycling partner. Recycled material becomes durable goods: construction products, outdoor furniture, and composite panels. The system is fully traceable, so you know exactly where your plastic goes and what it becomes. Use the ClearDrop Recycling Scanner to identify which soft plastics can go in the SPC. Where the waste goes after the SPC Every SPC block you send represents real impact. Once compacted, your soft plastics are shipped to verified recycling partners like Frankfort Plastics (Indiana), specialists in processing post-consumer soft plastics into high-quality, reusable raw materials. Transparency is at the core of Clear Drop's mission. You deserve to know where your waste goes and what it becomes after leaving your home. ~9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. Most ends up in landfills or the environment. 100% of SPC blocks are shipped to verified U.S. recycling partners, with no guessing where your plastic goes. 3 prepaid mailers are included each quarter. Drop them at USPS or schedule a pickup from home. 0 soft plastics are accepted by most curbside programs. The SPC helps fill that gap. How Clear Drop recycling system works Our process is simple, traceable, and circular, designed for convenience and accountability. Receive your mailers.Each quarter, you'll receive a set of three prepaid SPC mailers with shipping labels. Send your compacted block.Once your block is full, place it in a mailer, attach the prepaid label, and seal it. Drop it off or schedule pickup.Leave your package for USPS pickup or drop it at any nearby post office. We take it from there.Your block is delivered to a certified facility, where it's sorted, shredded, and transformed into recycled soft plastic for new products. Watch the full ClearDrop SPC recycling process on YouTube to see how your soft plastics are compacted, shipped, and transformed into new materials. What the waste becomes after it's recycled Your compacted plastics begin a new, sustainable life. After processing, the recycled SPC material is used in: End Product Category Composite decking and outdoor furniture Construction & outdoor Composite panels Industrial components Durable construction materials Building & infrastructure Each block you send helps reduce landfill waste, prevent microplastic pollution, and support circular manufacturing. How Clear Drop compares to other soft plastic recycling options Clear Drop SPC Store Drop-Off Curbside Recycling Accepts soft plastics ✅ Yes ✅ Limited ❌ No Verified end destination ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No Works from home ✅ Yes ❌ No ✅ Yes Traceable recycling chain ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No Prepaid shipping included ✅ Yes ❌ No N/A Material becomes new products ✅ Verified ⚠️ Unverified ❌ No Our recycling partners We carefully select and audit our U.S. partners to ensure full accountability and compliance with national recycling standards. Current verified partner: Frankfort Plastics — Indiana, USA (post-consumer soft plastic recycling) We're expanding our network with additional regional facilities planned for 2026, ensuring shorter logistics chains and a lower carbon footprint. Why Clear Drop matters for sustainable waste management Most soft plastics never get recycled. Instead, they break down into microplastics and contaminate soil, water, and air. Did you know? Soft plastics wrap around sorting machinery at recycling facilities, causing shutdowns and contaminating other materials. That is why curbside programs usually reject them. Compacting soft plastics reduces their volume by up to 50x, making transport dramatically more efficient and cost-effective for recyclers. Recycled soft plastic becomes long-lasting materials like composite decking and construction panels, not single-use products. Why this matters When soft plastics aren't properly recycled, they fragment into microplastics that contaminate soil, waterways, and the food chain. The SPC closes this loop by ensuring your plastics reach a verified facility, not a landfill. With Clear Drop's SPC system, you're helping: Prevent plastic fragmentation and microplastic pollution Cut greenhouse gas emissions from landfill decomposition Promote transparent, traceable recycling across the U.S. Together, we're building a clear, closed-loop recycling model, one SPC block at a time. 1 year of using SPC Ready to start recycling soft plastics from home? The SPC handles collection, compaction, and shipping to verified U.S. recyclers, all in one system. Pre-order the SPC
How Trinity University advanced soft plastic re...
Flexible plastic waste is one of the most persistent challenges on college campuses. From snack wrappers to shipping film used in media facilities, most soft plastics end up in landfills....
How Trinity University advanced soft plastic recycling with the SPC
Flexible plastic waste is one of the most persistent challenges on college campuses. From snack wrappers to shipping film used in media facilities, most soft plastics end up in landfills. Trinity University partnered with Clear Drop to pilot the Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) inside the Richardson Communications Center — a space connecting academics, student media, and public programming — to test how a simple visibility shift could spark real sustainability participation. Trinity University, a nationally ranked liberal arts institution in San Antonio, Texas, enrolls approximately 2,600 students and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of roughly 8:1. The university is known for its academic rigor, outstanding alumni outcomes, and architecturally significant campus. Trinity consistently ranks among the top liberal arts colleges in the country and holds the distinction of being the number one liberal arts university in Texas. Within the Dorothy A. and James W. Laurie Auditorium complex lies the Richardson Communications Center, home to the university’s Department of Communication and KRTU-FM (Jazz 91.7). KRTU is a premier jazz and alternative radio station serving the greater Southwest — a campus and community hub where media production, learning, and cultural programming intersect. Laurie Auditorium itself is a 2,700-seat venue that hosts a wide range of events, from academic lectures and commencement ceremonies to public performances, community discussions, and special guest visits. Its high visibility and diverse audience made it an ideal site to explore a new sustainability initiative. Project goals The goal of this pilot was to understand how the SPC performs in a high-traffic environment that brings together: Students in media and communication programs Faculty and staff working daily in shared spaces KRTU-FM hosts, volunteers, and production teams Visitors and community members attending events Guest speakers and partners engaged in cultural programming This allowed Trinity to evaluate not only the waste reduction impact but also communication strategies that make sustainability efforts feel accessible and rewarding. Soft Plastic Compactor solution The SPC was installed in the Communication Department break room — a location integrated into daily student and staff routines within the Laurie Auditorium complex. Clear, friendly instructions helped everyone quickly understand what types of plastics belong in the device and why this matters for recycling outcomes. Instead of soft plastics piling up in bins or heading to landfill, the SPC turned them into compact blocks ready for recycling through Clear Drop’s partner network. The device became a conversation starter, reinforcing that taking part in sustainability can be practical, fast, and even satisfying. “Seeing wrappers and film compact in seconds is cathartic — it normalizes sustainable behavior.” — Dr. Althea Delwiche, Professor & Dept. Chair SPC use case Primary location Shared Communication Department break room within the Laurie Auditorium complex. Key user groups Communication faculty and administrative staff Students and student media workers KRTU DJs, station employees, and volunteers Event guests and visiting speakers Common soft plastic inputs Snack wrappers and drink packaging Film wrap from studio and tech deliveries Mailers and protective packaging for radio operations Plastics from hospitality support for events This variety of inputs revealed the types of soft plastic generated in an interdisciplinary learning and production environment, while also showing how easily different user groups could adopt the SPC as part of their daily routines. Early outcomes Increased awareness of soft plastic recycling among students and staff Higher engagement from users who had never recycled soft plastics before More visible sustainability action in a shared, high-traffic space Successful testing of messaging and signage formats for wider roll-out The pilot showed how placing the SPC where people naturally interact — not hidden behind facility doors — drives adoption from day one. Findings and new collaboration perspectives This pilot demonstrated that the SPC can thrive in educational environments where media production, learning, and public interaction overlap. Trinity University continues evaluating broader expansion across campus departments. Clear Drop is exploring additional installations to support sustainability goals tied to student engagement, waste reduction, and campus innovation. Colleges play a key role in shaping habits that last a lifetime. By making soft plastic recycling easy and visible, Trinity is helping build those habits now — right at the source of waste generation. Bring Soft Plastic Recycling to Your Campus Clear Drop® partners with universities to reduce flexible plastic waste in student and staff spaces with measurable results. Contact our team to start a pilot at your campus: https://onecleardrop.com/pages/for-business
