Published

2 years ago

January 24, 2024

Alice Rush

Whale watching is a popular pastime and a great way to get outdoors, but not everyone knows the best places and times of year to see the largest mammals on Earth. Here’s a quick guide to some of the best places to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures in the United States.

San Juan Islands, Washington

Washington State — and the entire West Coast — has ample opportunities for whale watching. Specifically, the San Juan Islands off the Washington Coast is a great place to look for orcas, humpbacks, gray whales and minkes.

While some orcas, humpbacks and gray whales can be found year-round off the Washington Coast, the best time of year to see them is usually during the summer months. Southern resident orcas — who live in three pods, referred to as the J, K and L — typically make their way through the San Juans from May to October.

The picturesque archipelago is on the Whale Trail — a series of more than 100 sites with resources for watching whales and other marine life — like harbor seals, sea lions, marine birds and porpoises — from the shores of British Columbia down to Southern California.

“I used to go to summer camp in the San Juan Islands and sometimes we would go on boat trips. On one of these trips, one of my fellow campers yelled out, ‘Orcas!’ We all raced to the side of the boat to see a pod traveling besides us. The dark spears of their fins stood out against the gray waves and sky. We watched them arc up and down out of the water until our paths diverged. I was thrilled to see them; it felt like a gift from the universe. I felt honored that they chose to travel beside us,” Olivia Rosane, who is also the opinion editor for Common Dreams, told EcoWatch.

Seward, Alaska

*A humpback whale jumps out of the water in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, near a tourboat on a sunny afternoon. R Lolli Morrow / iStock / Getty Images Plus*

Alaska is one of the best places in the world for wildlife viewing of any kind, including whales. Every year, more than 22,000 gray whales travel along the longest mammal migration route in the world — roughly 10,000 to 14,000 miles round-trip — from Baja, Mexico, north to where they feed in the Chukchi and Bering Seas. Gray whales migrate during the months of late February to May and generally stay near the coast, making them easier to spot — noninvasively — from shore.

During the warmer months — from May to August — you may also see humpback whales near Seward, as they return from their Hawaiian winter feeding grounds.

The best times to catch a glimpse of orcas in and around Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park — where fin, minke and grays are also known to gather — is in May and June, though they are around all year.

“Orca whales don’t follow a migration pattern, and instead can be found where there is food, socialization, and ice coverage. Orcas, or killer whales, are the largest member of the dolphin family and have three main classifications: resident, transient, and offshore. We often spot resident orcas near Seward, as they feed on fish. Transient orcas can be spotted, but are less likely since they feed on marine mammals like seals,” Seward.com said.

After blue whales, fin whales are the largest mammals on Earth and are most often seen in Alaska from May to September, generally traveling by themselves or in smaller pods.

When you’re lucky enough to spot them, minke whales can also be seen from May to September, traveling in small, slow-moving pods.

Maui, Hawaii

*A humpback whale seen from a whale watching boat in Maui. KonArt / iStock / Getty Images Plus*

The beautiful black and white humpback whale is one of the most majestic creatures on Earth. The weathered-looking cetacean can grow up to 60 feet in length and weigh as much as 80 thousand pounds. Most humpback populations were decimated by more than 95 percent before a final commercial whaling moratorium was imposed in 1985. There are now estimated to be approximately 84,000 mature humpback whales on Earth.

The powerful marine mammals — who live in all the world’s oceans — are increasing in much of their range, but are still threatened by entanglement in fishing gear, underwater noise pollution, vessel strikes and harassment from humans.

Humpback whale populations migrate along different routes. Hawaii’s Kohola — or Central North Pacific humpback whale population — travel back and forth from the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska.

The winter migration brings these gentle whales to Hawaii and the North Pacific Ocean from November to May each year, when more than 12,000 humpbacks come to the warmer waters to breed.

“We went to Maui in February about 7 years ago. When we got there we were told that it was prime whale watching time there on the island, so we booked a whale watching boat tour through the hotel. It was a small, modest boat with about 10 other people on it. We were all excited but skeptical about just how many whales we’d see since everyone knows that a lot of times whales can be elusive and unpredictable,” North Carolina resident Anna Moore Groome told EcoWatch. “It was a gorgeous sunny day and right from the beginning of the trip, we began seeing several whales. They were jumping and rolling, splashing their tails and fins and getting super close to our boat and snorting water all over us! We must have been right in the middle of a pod because there were large whales and small whales all around us. We stuck a microphone down in the water and heard what seemed like a million conversations going on under the surface. It was one of the most magical days of my life.”

*Passengers on a whale watching boat out of Lahaina, Maui, get a close up look at the tail of a humpback whale. David Fleetham / VW PICS / Universal Images Group via Getty Images*

Bar Harbor, Maine

^{A humpback whale in Bar Harbor, Maine. Patrick Hawks / CC BY-SA 2.0}

The picturesque town of Bar Harbor, Maine, on Mount Desert Island is known as the gateway to Acadia National Park with its mountains, rocky cliffs, white sand beaches and sea views. Some of the wildlife living in Acadia National Park include bobcats, moose, porcupines, barred owls, beavers and American black bears.

Located along Frenchman Bay, the area offers wonderful opportunities for wildlife viewing and whale watching. The Shore Path begins at the town’s pier and meanders along the bay with views of the area’s islands.

The best time to see humpback whales, minkes and finbacks around Bar Harbor is from April to October, when the whales come to feed on krill, squid and fish in the Gulf of Maine.

“Our whale watching cruise from Bar Harbor was an adventurous way to rest between more strenuous hike days. We dressed in extra layers of clothing and brought warm hats and gloves, knowing the temperatures would drop once we ventured away from shore,” Michigan author Cynthia Birk told EcoWatch. “Although it took a little while to reach the area where the humpback whales were visible, we were entertained along the way with glimpses of dolphins racing alongside our boat. We also met majestic tall-masted schooners cruising in the opposite direction through the Gulf of Maine. It was too late in the season for us to see any puffins, but as we passed Mount Desert Rock, it looked as if every harbor seal in the area had decided to stop there to soak up the sun near the famous lighthouse. Our boat kept a respectful distance from the whales we encountered, but it was still close enough to see a thrilling show. We enjoyed observing their spouting and breaching behaviors and caught several slaps of tail flukes as the giant creatures dove into the ocean. It was a marvelous experience.”

The post 4 of the Best Whale Watching Spots in the U.S. appeared first on EcoWatch.

https://www.ecowatch.com/best-whale-watching-spots-us.html

Green Living

Earth911 Inspiration: There’s No Free Lunch in Nature

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

Alice Rush

Earth911 inspirations. Print them, post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day.

Editor’s Note: This poster was originally published on May 10, 2019. Yes, we recycle good ideas!

The post Earth911 Inspiration: There’s No Free Lunch in Nature appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/living-well-being/earth911-inspiration-no-free-lunch-in-nature/

Green Living

Guest Idea: 7 Solutions to Give Your Old Sunglasses a Second Life

Published

3 days ago

January 29, 2026

Alice Rush

In recent years, many of us have learned that “recyclable” isn’t as simple as we once thought. The single-use coffee cup is the classic example: its paper shell is fused with a thin plastic liner, rendering it un-recyclable in most facilities. It’s a “composite material,” a mix of things that are too difficult to separate.

A surprisingly similar, and often-overlooked, challenge is sitting in our homes: old sunglasses.

Just like that coffee cup, eyewear is a complex fusion of materials. Metal hinges are screwed into polymer frames, which hold chemically-coated lenses. This mix of metals, plastics, and coatings means standard sorting machines cannot process them. As a result, they are rejected as contamination and sent directly to landfills, where they contribute to non-biodegradable waste. Unlike a disposable paper cup, however, a pair of sunglasses is built for durability. Its high-quality components make it a perfect candidate for repair, reuse, or reinvention.

This guide provides 7 actionable alternatives to the landfill, designed to turn this difficult-to-recycle item into a valuable, circular resource.

1. The Most Impactful Fix: Replace the Lenses

For the most common issue—scratched or damaged lenses—the most sustainable answer is also the simplest. The frame, which is the most resource-intensive part to produce, is often in perfect condition. By focusing on a “repair, don’t replace” model, you can save an entire item from the landfill.

Action: This process is now easier than ever. Specialist companies like mine, The Sunglass Fix, allow you to order high-quality, precision-cut replacement lenses for thousands of models online. You can effectively restore your sunglasses to brand-new condition for a fraction of the cost—and with significantly less waste.

Swapping out scratched lenses is a simple, DIY repair that instantly restores your frames to like-new condition, extending their lifespan by years. Image Credit: The Sunglass Fix.

2. The Charitable Solution: Donate for Global Reuse

If your sunglasses are still in good shape, don’t let them go to waste. Just because you don’t wear them anymore doesn’t mean they are finished. By donating them, you give them a second life. There are millions of people who need eye protection but can’t easily buy it. Your old pair could end up helping someone see better and protect their eyes every day.”

Action: There are great groups ready to take them:

Lions Clubs International: The most famous option. Look for their yellow collection boxes in libraries and local vision centers.
OneSight: They run clinics to bring eyewear directly to communities that need it most.
ReSpectacle: An easy website that matches your specific glasses to a person who needs them.

3. The DIY Solution: Simple Home Maintenance

Before giving up on a pair, inspect it closely. Many “broken” sunglasses are merely suffering from minor, fixable issues. A wobbly arm or a missing nose pad might seem like a fatal flaw, but a simple home repair can often make them perfectly wearable again, saving you money and preventing waste.

Action: Most common issues can be solved with a basic eyeglass repair kit.

Tighten Loose Screws: This is the most common issue. Using a precision screwdriver, gently tighten the hinge screws until the arms feel secure again. If a screw is lost, most repair kits come with standard replacements.
Adjust Bent Frames: If your glasses sit crooked on your face, place them on a flat table to see which side is lifted. Metal frames can be gently bent back into shape with your fingers. Plastic frames should be warmed slightly (with warm water) before you gently twist them back to alignment.
Replace Old Nose Pads: If the pads are yellowing, uncomfortable, or missing, don’t toss the glasses. You can buy standard silicone replacements online. They either snap in or screw in, instantly making the glasses feel cleaner and more comfortable.
Fix Stiff Hinges: If the arms are hard to open or make a grinding sound, the hinge is likely clogged with dirt. Wash the frame with warm soapy water to flush out the grit. Once dry, a tiny drop of baby oil or lubricant on the hinge will make it move smoothly again.
Restore Faded Plastic: If your plastic frames have turned white or cloudy, they aren’t ruined; they are just oxidized. You can buff this white layer off using a soft microfiber cloth and a little friction (or a tiny dab of non-abrasive car wax) to reveal the shiny, fresh plastic underneath.

4. The Upcycling Solution: Create Unique Decor

Even when lenses are damaged beyond repair or frames are no longer wearable, the components themselves can be valuable materials for DIY home décor. Instead of sitting in a landfill for centuries, these plastic and metal parts can be upcycled into unique art pieces, giving new purpose to materials that would otherwise decompose.

Action: Re-frame your perspective and use the components for home decor. Multiple pairs can be combined to create a unique mirror frame, a 3D collage, or other decorative wall art, as highlighted by various home design blogs.

5. The Craft Solution: Fashion Custom Jewelry

The trend of upcycling fashion accessories is growing, and sunglasses offer endless possibilities. The colorful or mirrored lenses, in particular, can be transformed into new items. This craft-based approach turns a waste product into a one-of-a-kind wearable statement of sustainability.

Action: Gently pop the lenses out of the frames. They can be incorporated into unique DIY projects. Craft blogs demonstrate how to fashion them into pendants or one-of-a-kind earrings, completely upcycling the component.

6. The Garden Solution: Repurpose Components Outdoors

Even the most shattered parts can find a new purpose outdoors. The sturdy plastic or metal arms of a frame, for example, make surprisingly durable and waterproof plant markers for a garden or herb pot. Other broken pieces can be used for mosaics or small sculptures, offering a quirky way to bring sustainability to your backyard.

Action: Remove the sturdy plastic or metal arms from the frame. By writing on them with a permanent marker, you can create durable, waterproof, and quirky plant markers for an herb garden or seed-starting trays.

7. The Final Step: Responsible Material Separation

If the sunglasses are beyond saving and none of the above methods apply, you must handle the final disposal process manually. Recycling plants are designed to handle simple items like bottles or cans, not complex “mixed material” objects like eyewear. If you throw a whole pair of sunglasses into the mix, it is treated as contamination and sent to the landfill. If you want the materials to live on, you have to do the separation work that the machines can’t.

Action: Break the frame down into these four categories to ensure they get recycled:

Pop the Lenses Out: Press firmly on the back of the lens to snap it out of the frame. Even if the lens itself cannot be recycled locally, removing it is the essential first step to preparing the rest of the frame.
Strip the Hardware: Use a precision screwdriver to remove the arms, hinges, and any nose pads. You need to fully separate every piece of metal from the plastic components.
Consolidate the Metal: The tiny screws and hinges are valuable scrap, but they are too small for machines to catch. Place them inside a larger steel food can (like a soup can) and pinch the top closed so they are trapped inside and can be processed safely.
Mail the Frames: The stripped plastic frames are now ready for a specialist. Since standard curbside trucks typically reject rigid eyewear plastics, mail these specific parts to dedicated programs like Terracycle or Banish that can shred and repurpose them.

Redefining “Waste” in Your Wardrobe

A single-use coffee cup is a symbol of a disposable mindset—a product designed for a single use. In contrast, an old pair of sunglasses, once destined for the landfill, is a collection of durable materials and untapped potential.

By shifting how we view worn or damaged items, we can begin to see them not as waste, but as resources waiting for renewal. Moving beyond the linear “take-make-waste” model unlocks that value. Whether you choose to remanufacture your favorite frames, donate them, or upcycle them into a new project, each action contributes to a more sustainable future.

Small changes, repeated by millions, can make a measurable difference. Just as we’ve learned to carry a reusable mug, we can learn to repair our most-loved items. The next time you reach for that scratched pair, remember—repairing or reimagining them isn’t just creative; it’s part of building a more circular world.

About the Author

This sponsored article was contributed by Craig Anderson, founder of The Sunglass Fix. A problem-solver by nature, he left his corporate IT career after discovering the immense scale of waste in the eyewear industry. He is now a passionate advocate for the circular economy and a pioneer in the “remanufacturing” space, building a business dedicated to the simple, sustainable idea: repair, don’t replace.

The post Guest Idea: 7 Solutions to Give Your Old Sunglasses a Second Life appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/how-to-recycle/guest-idea-7-solutions-to-give-your-old-sunglasses-a-second-life/

Green Living

Best of SIYE: Culligan CEO Scott Clawson Maps The Future Of Water

Published

4 days ago

January 28, 2026

Alice Rush

Read a transcript of this episode. Subscribe to receive transcripts.

Turn on any faucet in America, and chances are the water meets federal safety standards. Yet Americans buy 50 billion single-use plastic water bottles annually—enough to circle the Earth 200 times if laid end to end. The bottles take 450 years to decompose, and recent research found that a single liter of bottled water can shed up to 240,000 pieces of microplastic that we ultimately consume. Meanwhile, 37% of global drinking water remains contaminated, with PFAS “forever chemicals” and lead appearing even in neighboring homes on the same street. Meet Scott Clawson, Chairman and CEO of Culligan International, the nearly 90-year-old company that’s become the global leader in water services by making filtered water more accessible than single-use plastic. Under Clawson’s leadership, Culligan serves 170 million people worldwide, and the company’s filtration systems have helped avoid the use of 45 billion plastic bottles annually.

Scott Clawson, CEO of Culligan International, is our guest on *Sustainability In Your Ear*.

The company has set ambitious targets: achieving net positive water impact by 2050 and cutting scope one and two emissions intensity by 40% before 2035. After completing WAVE water stewardship verification, Culligan discovered that even testing filtration equipment was wasteful, leading the company to develop dry-testing methods that eliminate water waste before machines reach consumers. The company has electrified 25% of its fleet and donated 9 million liters of water to communities in need in 2024 alone. Clawson’s approach to sustainability isn’t just operational—it’s personal. A decade ago, while vacationing in the Bahamas, he encountered a beach covered in plastic waste. “That’s when my inner balance was sparked to make sure we do more than just use our planet to make money, but let’s use our planet to help it be a better place to live,” he recalls. As water scarcity intensifies globally, Clawson believes the consumer holds the power: “Every time you pick something up off the shelf, you are voting. You’re sending a signal to a company.” His message is clear—test your water, understand what’s in it, and invest in point-of-use filtration rather than contributing to the plastic crisis. You can learn more about Culligan International at culliganinternational.com.