ZeroTrash® Revolution Blog Blog
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How Geekdom sparked early wins in soft plastic ...
Geekdom is a cornerstone of San Antonio’s startup and innovation ecosystem. Spread across four floors in a prominent downtown building, it houses approximately 40 startups and plays host to a...
How Geekdom sparked early wins in soft plastic recovery with the Clear Drop's SPC
Geekdom is a cornerstone of San Antonio’s startup and innovation ecosystem. Spread across four floors in a prominent downtown building, it houses approximately 40 startups and plays host to a steady calendar of events: game jams, hackathons, seminars, and tech conferences. It’s the epicenter of the city’s entrepreneurial and venture community. Like many innovation hubs, Geekdom grapples with high volumes of everyday office & food packaging waste. Prior to the pilot, there was no structured process to recover or reduce this plastic waste stream. Pilot goals: Understand employee interest and engagement around soft plastic recycling Measure volume and speed of soft plastic accumulation Evaluate SPC’s role in supporting Geekdom’s broader sustainability and community values Approach Geekdom saw potential in the SPC’s ability to foster a shared community action around sustainability. The device was installed in a common area used by many different startup teams throughout the day, encouraging collaborative stewardship. The pilot was supported by custom signage near the kitchen/break room, table tents on community tables, and direct email outreach to all staff and tenants coordinated with Geekdom’s operations team. Geekdom staff even made their own signage :) Metrics: 1 SPC deployed 2 full soft plastic blocks created in under 2 months Employee participation was tracked qualitatively through conversations and visual observation Improvements are now in the works after receiving awesome critical feedback from staff on signage and the device’s instant recognizability as a recycling device. Materials inserted: Mailers and plastic wrappers from startup equipment Grocery bags, sandwich wrappers, and snack packaging from shared lunches Miscellaneous soft film plastics found around events “As someone who loves to recycle I want this in my home! It’s so easy to use, and gives me a way to recycle what is normally trash” - Julez Perez. Summary Geekdom views the SPC not just as a waste solution but as a community-building tool. In just two weeks, tenants filled a full block with soft plastics, demonstrating both engagement and the real waste footprint of a single floor. The operations team is now in deeper conversations with ClearDrop to potentially expand the pilot to multiple floors. Their slow-roll strategy allows for organic feedback and culture-based insights, helping refine messaging and product design while reinforcing Geekdom’s mission to lead in innovation and sustainability.
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
From soft plastic to microplastic: what to know
Soft plastic packaging surrounds almost every product we buy — bags, wrappers, film, shipping packaging. But when we throw it away, the story doesn’t end. Most soft plastics are not...
From soft plastic to microplastic: what to know
Soft plastic packaging surrounds almost every product we buy — bags, wrappers, film, shipping packaging. But when we throw it away, the story doesn’t end. Most soft plastics are not accepted in curbside recycling, so they break apart into invisible microplastics that move into air, soil, water — and even into the human body. This guide explains how everyday soft plastics turn into microplastics and how compacting soft plastics at home can reduce this fragmentation and support proper recycling. How soft plastics turn into microplastics Soft plastics can break down due to a combination of UV radiation, abrasion, and weathering. These processes cause the polymer chains in plastics to degrade. UV Radiation Sunlight, particularly ultraviolet (UV) radiation, “can break down the chemical bonds within the plastic”, causing it to become brittle and crack. This process, known as photodegradation, can discolor the plastic and reduce its mechanical strength. What is more interesting is that scientists from the UK and the University of Cape Town in South Africa used complementary studies to show that “plastics of the same composition degrade at different rates depending on the colour”. The findings demonstrate that black, white, and silver colourants protect the plastic from damaging UV radiation, whereas other pigments do not. Abrasion Physical processes like wave action, wind, walking on plastic packaging and contact with rough surfaces “can cause plastic to wear down and break into smaller pieces”. This is especially evident in marine environments. Weathering Weathering encompasses UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, and environmental factors. It accelerates degradation and makes plastics more susceptible to fragmentation. Why is this knowledge important The impact of these small particles is more drastic than could be imagined. Toxic effects on the environment are investigated in soil, marine systems, and air. Compacting soft plastics before disposal helps slow fragmentation into microplastics. When stored as a dense block, plastics are less exposed to physical abrasion, sunlight, and breakdown, buying more time before recycling and protecting the environment. Air pollution Nearly a dozen studies have shown airborne microplastic concentrations around the world, meaning we breathe microplastics every day. “Airborne microplastics” include fibers, films, fragments, foam, granules, and spheres. Soft plastic particles “may even influence cloud formation”, contributing to climate change. Marine system pollution Microplastics enter oceans from wastewater, weathering, fragmentation, and fishing. They act as vectors for pollutants “by adsorbing or releasing contaminants”, which then harm marine organisms through inflammation, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and reproductive decline. Soil pollution Agricultural soils now hold “23 times more microplastics than oceans”. Plastics in soil may contain up to 10,000 chemical additives, often unregulated, affecting soil health, plants, microbiota, and eventually human health. Health risks backed by research Microplastics have been found in human blood, brain, lungs, placenta, and more “according to recent studies”. They can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, immune disruption, and cardiovascular risks. The digestive system is directly impacted: microplastics can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and disrupt the microbiome, leading to bloating, pain, and bowel habit changes. Microplastics were recently found in “human testicles”, potentially linked to declining sperm counts. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in plastics — such as phthalates, BPA/BPS, and PFAS — are “associated with hormone disruption and reproductive harm”. Because soft plastics degrade faster into smaller particles, reducing their exposure and fragmentation at home is one of the most direct prevention steps available today. Compacting soft plastics into secure blocks and sending them for proper recycling reduces the number of particles entering ecosystems and human bodies. What can you do to lessen the amount of microplastics created from flexible plastics You can’t eliminate soft plastic overnight. But you can decrease the volume of microplastics created from the packaging you use. Collect soft plastics separately Don’t toss soft plastics into general trash. Once mixed and compacted with other waste, they often end up in landfills or incineration — and eventually become microplastic pollution. Educate your circle Share facts, not fear. Encourage separate collection at home or at your workplace. Avoid soft plastic when you can Refill, reuse, or choose rigid or paper packaging — these materials are more recyclable and less likely to fragment. Don’t burn or shred it Burning releases toxins; shredding accelerates microplastic formation. Use a compaction system (like Soft Plastic Compactor) Compacting soft plastics reduces surface exposure and prevents early fragmentation. Clear Drop provides a full-cycle solution with real downstream recycling through partnered facilities. As awareness grows, so does responsibility and the ability to act. The journey from soft plastics to microplastics begins with everyday choices — and in those moments, prevention is possible. Make Soft Plastic Disposal Safer for the Planet Compacting soft plastics reduces surface exposure and prevents microplastics from forming during storage, handling, and transportation. Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) turns bulky packaging into dense 12×8×4-inch blocks that are easier to store and properly recycle. Learn more about the Soft Plastic Compactor Frequently Asked Questions Do soft plastics become microplastics faster than rigid plastics? Yes. Thin and flexible plastics break down more quickly under UV exposure, friction, and environmental stress. If microplastics are so small, why does compaction help? Compaction protects plastics from sunlight and abrasion, slowing early fragmentation and buying more time before proper recycling. Can recycling soft plastics reduce microplastic pollution? Yes. When soft plastics are properly compacted and recycled into durable products, far fewer microplastics enter the environment. What if there is no soft plastic recycling where I live? Compact and store soft plastics until drop-offs or mail-in programs are available. Clear Drop SPC enables direct shipping into our certified partner network.
Survey reveals trash sparks more fights than ch...
Trash duties are the most underestimated part of modern household life—yet they’re one of the biggest sources of conflict. According to a Clear Drop survey of 800 U.S. adults living...
Survey reveals trash sparks more fights than childcare, and why recycling Is at the heart of It
Trash duties are the most underestimated part of modern household life—yet they’re one of the biggest sources of conflict. According to a Clear Drop survey of 800 U.S. adults living with partners, 1 in 2 couples argue about trash and recycling more often than childcare decisions. This article explores how waste management affects relationships, why soft plastic recycling is especially stressful, and what practical home tools can help restore fairness and reduce guilt while improving sustainability. Trash duties spark more fights than childcare — 1 in 2 couples admit to arguing about trash, survey finds While big parenting decisions or figuring out what's for dinner can stir up conflict, the real flashpoint in modern relationships might be taking out the trash. According to a Clear Drop survey, 52% of couples have argued about trash duties — more than about childcare. While 30% of respondents said they don't argue about chores at all, the rest named garbage as one of the top 4 conflict triggers, right after cleaning, cooking, and laundry. Why waste management gets no recognition One reason for such contention? Trash and recycling are 6x less appreciated than cooking. We celebrate a home-cooked meal, but barely notice where the scraps go. We unwrap gifts with joy, then immediately forget about the packaging. Dealing with our trash is the final act of everything we consume, yet 72% of Americans say waste management doesn't feel like a valued task. Better systems reduce not only landfill waste but also stress at home. Gender roles in waste and recycling tasks According to the survey, 52% of respondents said the man usually takes out the trash — a rather visible chore. But behind that single action are numerous tedious tasks. At-home recycling involves sorting, rinsing, decoding triangle symbols, deciphering which plastics are accepted, which takeout containers are not, and whether a lid needs to come off a bottle. Key findings on household waste division: 52% of men typically handle trash removal 54% of women handle recycling sorting and preparation Women perform 1.5x more invisible waste management tasks In this way, recycling has become a mirror of domestic inequality: the visible gestures skew masculine, while the invisible tasks are seen as more feminine. Clear Drop solutions help rebalance invisible labor by simplifying preparation and recycling steps. Why women feel more recycling guilt than men The emotional weight of sustainability isn't shared equally, either. When asked if they'd ever felt guilty for throwing plastic in the trash without sorting it, 63% of respondents said yes. But the guilt also skewed sharply by gender: women are 1.5 times more likely than men to feel guilty about not recycling properly. This emotional burden is particularly heavy when it comes to soft plastic recycling, where clear disposal options are often unavailable through traditional curbside programs. Most people don't trust the recycling system Even for those who do the sorting, they don't have much faith in the system. Over half of Americans (58%) say they're not confident their recycling actually gets recycled. Women are even more skeptical: 62% of women doubt their recycling efforts make it through the system 54% of men share similar doubts It's a telling contradiction: The people doing more of the emotional and invisible labor are also the ones least convinced it matters. Their doubt has merit — in the U.S., only about 5% of plastic is successfully recycled. That’s why Clear Drop develops real soft plastic recycling solutions that connect household effort with proven downstream processing. Why soft plastics are a hidden source of household stress When asked which type of waste feels hardest to manage at home, hazardous items like batteries and electronics topped the list, accounting for nearly 25% of all answers. Food waste came close behind at 24% — both categories stood out as the most frequently mentioned trouble spots across households. Glass ranked third, with 17% of all answers. It's technically recyclable, but many cities have specific rules. People often wonder if they need to remove labels or if broken glass can be recycled or not. For 13% of respondents, soft plastics (including wrappers, bags, mailers, and film packaging) were most difficult to manage. Since most of these materials aren’t accepted by curbside programs or specialty drop-offs, they often end up in the trash. With no clear path for disposal, soft plastics have become one of the biggest blind spots in household waste. Clear Drop’s soft plastic compactor is designed to remove this blind spot by turning tricky-to-recycle packaging into dense blocks ready for real recycling. Paper and cardboard accounted for nearly 12% of answers, while cans and metal made up about 9.5%. In short, no category felt entirely frictionless, but hazardous and organic waste were flagged most often. Less arguing, more efficient recycling We live in homes that produce waste daily, yet most of us don’t know how to properly handle it, don’t believe our systems work, and don’t fully recognize the people who do the work anyway. While sustainability often feels like a personal responsibility, it’s also deeply social. It’s often shaped by how couples talk (or don’t talk) about fairness, trust, and what counts as “real work.” Talking openly about waste — who handles it, who gets thanked, and what happens after it leaves our hands — is a first step toward shifting both habits and norms. It also means being honest about the gaps in the system: how confusing rules, broken infrastructure, and low transparency erode trust. Clearer guidance, better tools, and public solutions that match the effort people already put into recycling are the missing pieces. Make Recycling a Source of Peace, Not Conflict Clear Drop’s home solutions simplify waste management and reduce invisible labor. Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) compresses soft plastics into clean, compact 12×8×4-inch blocks that can be recycled through Clear Drop partners. Organics Collector keeps food scraps odor-free and ready for proper composting. See how Clear Drop creates a cleaner home and a cleaner world: https://onecleardrop.com/pages/for-business Frequently Asked Questions Why is household waste such a common conflict source? It’s daily, necessary, and rarely appreciated. When the work is invisible or unbalanced, tension builds quickly. Why are soft plastics so frustrating to recycle? Most curbside systems can’t handle them. They require extra steps—sorting, storing, mailing, or drop-off—which often fall on one person. How does the SPC reduce household stress? It eliminates sorting uncertainty and reduces storage volume up to 90%, making recycling simpler and more efficient. Does Clear Drop ensure plastics are truly recycled? Yes. Soft plastic blocks are sent directly to certified recycling partners and turned into new durable products.
How one office building pilot became a model fo...
Commercial buildings generate a large share of soft plastic waste — from deliveries, shipments, food packaging, and office supplies — most of which ends up in landfills. This case study...
How one office building pilot became a model for smarter soft plastic waste reduction
Commercial buildings generate a large share of soft plastic waste — from deliveries, shipments, food packaging, and office supplies — most of which ends up in landfills. This case study shows how one multi-tenant office building piloted the Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) and proved that even a small shift in workplace waste handling can significantly reduce volume, improve recycling rates, and elevate ESG performance. In the heart of a major U.S. city, San Antonio, a 10-story commercial office building with up to 30 tenant companies took a step toward smarter sustainability. The building’s management sought an effective, hands-on solution to deal with soft plastic waste generated by significant traffic, regular deliveries, and daily office activity. Until recently, the entire building's soft plastic went straight into general waste bins and, inevitably, landfills. Recognizing this recycling gap, the management team agreed to test a new sustainable approach by piloting the Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC), a first-of-its-kind device designed specifically to deal with flexible plastics at the point of disposal. The goal: reducing waste and changing behavior Unlike other recycling efforts, soft plastics — such as mailers, wrappers, and packaging — are often overlooked. They’re lightweight, shapeless, and notoriously hard to recycle. Most commercial buildings lack the infrastructure to separate or reallocate these materials. This pilot focused not only on waste reduction but also on behavioral change — testing how a shared, high-traffic environment would respond to a new sustainability intervention. The experience also helped identify how to better communicate and position the Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) within a commercial setting. “It’s great to finally see a solution targeting the soft plastic waste we all know ends up in the trash. It's sparked some good conversations among tenants already.” — Tenant feedback, Week 1 The plan: installing an SPC The SPC was installed in a central public area frequented by employees and service staff. Clear signage explained what the device was, what types of plastics it accepts, and why it mattered. There were no lengthy training sessions — the UX was intuitive enough for immediate adoption. Initial reactions and feedback Within days, the building began to see early signs of success. Staff and tenants engaged with the machine organically and showed increased curiosity about soft plastic waste, sustainability, and recycling behavior. Some initial user feedback helped identify opportunities for improvement — such as screen readability and UX ergonomics — which will inform updates for future pilots. “We didn’t know what to expect, but people started asking about the machine almost immediately. It feels like something new is possible here.” — Building staff comment SPC’s immediate impact The SPC became a learning lab for the building’s management and Clear Drop. The team tracked how tenants used the machine, what signage worked best, and what kinds of plastics were being collected. From day one, tenants fed a variety of flexible plastics into the SPC, including: Food wrappers and grocery bags Shipping mailers and packaging film Bubble wrap and soft protective materials With the SPC positioned in a central high-traffic area, the team also evaluated responsibility and workflow — such as who should empty the device and how often, and what internal infrastructure a multi-tenant building needs for successful adoption. Results: SPC minimized plastic waste and spotlighted sustainability innovation The pilot demonstrated that even modest behavioral shifts can drive meaningful sustainability gains in shared office environments. The SPC reduced soft plastic waste volume, improved recyclability, and sparked visible tenant engagement. Management now views the SPC as a valuable sustainability amenity — a practical way to demonstrate commitment to environmental responsibility, innovation, and accountability. The building’s team is evaluating future SPC expansions as part of broader ESG initiatives and corporate sustainability improvements. Why SPC Works for Offices and Multi-Tenant Buildings Decentralized soft plastic disposal at the point of waste generation Clear signage and simple UX encourage employee engagement Reduces plastic waste volume by up to 90% Enables real recycling through Clear Drop partner network Strengthens visible sustainability commitments to tenants and clients Make Your Office Sustainability Visible and Actionable The Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) transforms flexible plastic waste into compact 12×8×4-inch blocks — easy to store, ship, and recycle through our partners. Learn more about SPC for business: https://onecleardrop.com/pages/for-business Frequently Asked Questions How does the SPC improve recycling for commercial buildings? It prepares flexible plastics for real recycling by compacting them into dense, shape-preserving blocks that can be collected and processed by Clear Drop partners. How often does the SPC need to be emptied? Typically once per month in an office environment, depending on the volume of plastic collected. What types of plastics can the SPC handle? Most flexible plastics including shipping mailers, garment bags, bubble wrap, and soft packaging film. PVC and polystyrene are not accepted. What sustainability benefits does the SPC provide businesses? The SPC reduces waste volume by up to 90%, decreases landfill contribution, improves ESG alignment, and boosts tenant or employee engagement in sustainability.
