In Depth Articles

Trash Landings
Report

The U.S. airline industry discards enough aluminum cans each year to build 58 Boeing 747 airplanes, along with thousands of tons of plastics, magazines and newspapers. All of this waste represents unrealized potential for airlines and airports to save money, reduce global warming pollution and improve efficiency. The December 2006 report Trash Landings: How Airlines and Airports Can Clean Up Their Recycling Programs presents the findings from NRDC's yearlong study of the airline industry and outlines clear steps that airlines and airports -- and other large municipal operations -- can take to put effective recycling initiatives into place.

Recycling Returns: Ten Reforms for Making New York City's Recycling Program More Cost-Effective
Report

After suspending glass and plastic recycling in the summer of 2002 due to record budget deficits, New York City has restored its full recycling program. This April 2004 NRDC report, shaped by a steering committee of representatives from 10 environmental and consumer groups, recommends strategies to make recycling more economically stable, while helping to expand New York's recycling program.

Too Good To Throw Away: Recycling's Proven Record
Report

A report detailing the environmental benefits of recycling and addressing the claims of a small but vocal chorus of special interests that have tried to cast doubt on its value.

See the NRDC Policy Solutions section for more expert analysis of environmental issues. You may also wish to view the working materials in the NRDC Document Bank