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Insect numbers are plummeting, with the recent The Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey finding that bug splatters in the United Kingdom have fallen 63 percent since 2021.

There are things you can do to help with the bug crisis, and when you support insects they will help your garden thrive by pollinating your plants and flowers, devouring pests, improving soil health and attracting songbirds.

Here are some easy ways you can help protect beneficial insects around your home and garden.

Turn Off Unnecessary Lights at Night

Artificial light is detrimental to insects, interfering with their navigation, reproduction and feeding. If you’ve ever watched a moth flying around your porch light or lamp in the window, you have witnessed their disorientation while trying to navigate using the moon and stars. Researchers have estimated that a third of insects trapped orbiting artificial light sources will perish, reported The Guardian. Consider what lights you’re using and if they’re really necessary. Turning them off, putting them on a timer or shading windows are options to reduce your share of light pollution.

A spider’s web hangs from a bridge under a neon tube at a fish market in Hamburg, Germany on Sept. 7, 2021. Hamburg participates in ‘Earth Night’ to draw attention to persistent light pollution at night. Bodo Marks / picture alliance via Getty Images

Let the Leaves Lie and the Grass Grow

Decomposing leaves make perfect habitat for beetles, spiders, bees, moths, butterflies and many other insects, so leaving them undisturbed is a great way to help out the beneficial bugs in your garden. On the other hand, raking leaves can reduce spider numbers by as much as 67 percent, butterflies by 45 percent and beetles by 24 percent, according to research.

Allowing fallen branches, logs and dead trees to rot and fungi and microorganisms to move in also provides food and shelter for insects. Likewise, having a shagging lawn of uninterrupted grass, especially one peppered with wildflowers, can boost insect populations with little to no effort.

Plant Pollinator Flowers Using the ‘3 x 3 x 3’ Method

Planting for pollinators can be as easy as one-two-three! Choose three native flowering plant species for each of the three — spring, summer and fall — growing seasons. Then plant three of each in their own area of the garden. They will give pollinating insects the food and habitat they need all year round. Adding some rocks to your garden also makes great habitat for bees.

When choosing which plants to add to your garden, keep in mind that certain plants are keystone species that many pollinators need to survive, particularly when they are in the caterpillar stage. In fact, 90 percent of North American caterpillar species depend upon just 14 percent of native plants. The National Wildlife Federation provides a regional list of keystone plants on its website.

Water Is Life

Soaring global temperatures and drought conditions are tough on insects. Providing water sources — whether it’s a basin, bowl or pond — can help, but be mindful of bees’ inability to swim and make sure they have a rim or an island they can drink from. The water doesn’t have to be absolutely clean, however, as research has shown that “dirty” water containing algae or leaves can provide bees with important nutrients.

Start a Compost Habitat

Creating a compost pile is a great way to help insects while improving soil health. Composting provides food and a safe habitat for garden insects that can help get them through tough times like drought and cold winters by providing moisture and shelter.

A compost pile in a home vegetable garden in the Netherlands. zenaphoto / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Support Organic Regenerative Farming Practices

The collapse of insect populations across the globe has been linked to the use of toxic pesticides and intensive agricultural practices. Buying organic foods supports farmers who are growing fruits and vegetables without synthetic pesticides, giving insects the healthy habitats they need to recover and thrive.

Use Less Plastic

According to a recent report, microplastics are the second biggest emerging threat to insects, reducing their health and lifespan. Synthetic fabrics like nylon, spandex, polyester and acrylic are made of plastics and shed millions of tiny particles as they are worn and washed, contributing to microplastic pollution. On the other hand, natural fibers like wool, linen and organic cotton do not shed these insidious plastics or pesticide and insecticide residue. Reducing the use of plastic bags, bottles and packaging also helps contribute to a plastic free world, protecting insects and other animals, including humans.

Pull Weeds by Hand Instead of Relying on Herbicides

One of the most beneficial things you can do for your health is to get out into nature, even if it’s just working in your own garden. Chemicals like glyphosate — one of the most common herbicides in the world — have been proven to damage the immune systems of insects. Gardening and weeding by hand not only avoids the use of these deadly toxins, but has been shown to lower anxiety and depression while increasing physical health.

Taking a moment to step outside, survey your home and garden and make small changes can have a big impact on the insects who make up the foundation of our ecosystems.

The post Insect Numbers Are Plummeting: Here Are Eight Easy Ways to Help appeared first on EcoWatch.

https://www.ecowatch.com/helping-beneficial-insects-tips-ecowatch.html

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Green Living

Pizza Boxes Are More Recyclable Than Ever

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22 hours ago

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February 5, 2026

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Back in 2020, the Recycling Partnership and WestRock released a scientific study demonstrating that used pizza boxes are recyclable, even when greasy and contaminated with cheese. Since that research was published, the findings have driven significant improvements in recycling program acceptance nationwide.

The basic results are clearly favorable for greater acceptance of pizza boxes for recycling. The typical pizza box has 1% to 2% grease content by weight, which is about one-tenth the acceptable level for cardboard (corrugated paperboard) recycling. The study looked at the impact of greasy boxes on mixed recycling loads that include 8% greasy pizza boxes with varying levels of greasy contamination from between 3% and 40%. The recycled materials produced were still viable for packaging use, well within the tensile strength required for packaging.

Recycling Acceptance Has Expanded

Since the study was released, pizza box recycling acceptance has grown substantially. According to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), 82% of Americans now have access to a community recycling program that accepts pizza boxes—up from 73% in 2020. AF&PA member company mills representing 94% of old corrugated container consumption now accept pizza boxes with no observed impacts to operations or finished product quality.

The AF&PA’s guidance is unambiguous: “Corrugated pizza boxes are successfully recycled every day at paper mills throughout the country. Our industry wants these boxes back to recycle.”

Since about 3 billion pizza boxes are used in the U.S. each year, the improved recycling processes can capture roughly 600,000 tons of cardboard annually that could be turned into new boxes, paper towels, toilet paper, and other paper products.

What To Do Do With Your Next Pizza Box?

Our guidance is based on the research and current program acceptance:

For most Americans: Your recycling program likely accepts pizza boxes. Remove any leftover pizza, flatten the box, and place it in your recycling bin. Light grease stains are acceptable; the science confirms they don’t affect the recycling process.

If your box has a waxed paper liner, remove it before recycling: The box itself can be recycled as normal cardboard.

If your program prohibits pizza boxes: Don’t send materials your program won’t accept. Instead, check the composting options below or contact your local recycling coordinator to share the Recycling Partnership’s toolkit and AF&PA research. Citizen requests carry a lot of weight at local departments of sanitation.

If your box is heavily saturated with grease: Consider composting instead of recycling. While typical grease levels are fine for recycling, boxes that are completely soaked may be better suited for composting programs.

The Recycling Partnership tested a variety of grease- and cheese-contaminated pizza boxes. Only the box on the right approached unacceptable recycling results.

What About The Cheese?

You might ask, “Isn’t cheese a barrier to successful recycling?” Cheese tends to solidify and get screened out during the pulping process,” according to the 2020 report. The researchers tested sending boxes heavily contaminated with cheese through a recycling process and found that it did not significantly reduce the resulting paper fiber’s viability for reuse. Paper mills have become increasingly adept at screening out chunks of cheese during processing.

Composting: A Great Alternative

When recycling isn’t available, or your pizza box is heavily soiled, composting provides an excellent alternative that keeps cardboard out of landfills while creating nutrient-rich soil. Many cities now accept pizza boxes in curbside organics programs:

New York City requires all residents to separate food scraps and food-soiled paper from trash as of April 2025. Pizza boxes are explicitly accepted in the brown bin program.

California jurisdictions statewide must provide organics collection under SB 1383. Food-soiled pizza boxes can go in compostables carts.

Portland, Oregon updated its guidelines under the state’s Recycling Modernization Act. As of July 2025, empty pizza boxes with minimal grease are recyclable, while greasier boxes can go in yard waste bins.

King County, Washington accepts pizza boxes in composting, noting that food-soiled paper can be composted, though clean cardboard is better recycled.

For home composting, tear greasy cardboard into small pieces to speed up decomposition. The cardboard provides essential carbon to balance nitrogen-rich food scraps, improving compost quality.

How to Check Your Local Guidelines

Domino’s partnered with WestRock to launch Recycle My Pizza Box, which lets you enter your ZIP code to find specific recycling guidance for your area. The site also provides template language you can share with local recycling programs that haven’t yet updated their guidelines.

Advocate for Change

If your municipality still lists pizza boxes in the “no” pile, you can help drive change:

The progress since 2020 shows that advocacy works. Communities from Anchorage to New York have updated their programs based on this research.

Eat happily—that box can become the next pizza box you receive, or any number of other paper products that keep valuable fiber in circulation.

Learn More

Editor’s Note: Originally published on July 28, 2020, this article was substantially updated in February 2026.

The post Pizza Boxes Are More Recyclable Than Ever appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/how-to-recycle/yes-pizza-boxes-are-recyclable/

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Green Living

Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: REC Solar and Trinchero Family Estates Electrify Winemaking

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2 days ago

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February 4, 2026

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Energy is required at every step of the food and beverage industry supply chain, from growing grapes to bottling and delivery, making it a significant source of emissions and a prime target for climate innovation. On this episode of Earth911’s Sustainability in Your Ear, we explore how wineries and other producers are turning to clean, renewable energy to cut costs, reduce emissions, and future-proof their operations. We’re joined by James Presta, Business Development Manager at REC Solar, and Mario Trinchero of Trinchero Family Estates, a storied family-run winery in California’s Sonoma County. REC Solar and Trinchero teamed up to bring solar energy to one of the country’s largest winery operations, showing how collaboration between energy experts and agricultural producers can drive meaningful progress toward a carbon-neutral future.

James Presta, Business Development Manager at REC Solar, joined Mario Trinchero of winemaker Trinchero Family Estates on Sustainability In Your Ear.

James explains that a decentralized electric grid is emerging—powered by modular solar installations and guided by power purchase agreements (PPAs) that lock in long-term energy prices. When networked together, these individual installations can form a resilient web of renewable power. Solar, wind, and geothermal systems will provide flexibility and stability in a world of climate extremes—if we act quickly enough to scale them. Mario reflects on the motivations behind his family’s move to solar: sustainability is not just good business, it’s essential to preserving the land and legacy that define the brand. By using solar energy in its winemaking process, Trinchero has cut emissions and operating costs while strengthening its commitment to environmental stewardship. We also delve into the mechanics of PPAs—a modern-day version of the 1930s rural electrification initiative that brought power to American farms. But now, companies like REC Solar—not government agencies—extend the grid through private partnerships. These agreements offer fixed pricing, shared risk, and maintenance contracts, but it’s critical to understand the provider’s long-term plans. A strong PPA can unlock the potential to electrify entire supply chains, eliminate dependence on diesel generators, and drive innovations where wires have never reached. And the potential for abundant, clean power is growing. What could we build if we end up with more energy than we need? As James and Mario suggest, the answer may be anything we can imagine with the right infrastructure—without the pollution that defined the last century. Learn more about REC Solar at recsolar.com and about Trinchero Family Estates at tfewines.com.

Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on May 26, 2025.

The post Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: REC Solar and Trinchero Family Estates Electrify Winemaking appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/podcast/earth911-podcast-rec-solar-and-trinchero-family-estates-electrify-winemaking/

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Green Living

Sustainability In Your Ear: Milwaukee’s Kevin Shafer on Circular Thinking in Wastewater Management

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4 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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Every gallon of wastewater flowing through a municipal sewer contains recoverable energy, nutrients, and water—assets that the linear “flush and forget” model has long treated as problems to dispose of rather than value to recapture. Meet Kevin Shafer, who has spent more than two decades proving otherwise. As executive director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) since 2002, he’s transformed an agency once mocked as a symbol of government waste into a national model for sustainable infrastructure, and last year, Veolia designated it as America’s first “eco factory.”
Kevin Shafer, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, is our guest on Sustainability In Your Ear.

Milwaukee’s circular approach actually predates the term by nearly a century. In 1926, the district began producing Milorganite—Milwaukee organic nitrogen—a fertilizer made from dried biosolids that most utilities simply spread on fields or incinerate. Today, that product returns $11 to $12 million annually to the city’s budget while keeping waste out of landfills. Kevin explains that this foundational commitment to doing the right thing has shaped MMSD’s culture ever since: ‘We just always look at those type of approaches. It’s foundational to the district.’

The district’s eight digesters at its South Shore plant now generate 80 to 85% of the facility’s electricity from biosolids, with enough material left over to continue making Milorganite. Kevin calls it Cradle to Cradle in action, referring to the philosophy pioneered by architect William McDonough, who visited MMSD in 2006 and was intrigued by work that predated his framework by decades. The district is also partnering with regional breweries and food processors, accepting their organic waste streams for co-digestion. This reduces disposal costs for industry partners while increasing energy production—a synergy that Kevin sees as the future of utility operations.

Looking ahead, Kevin’s 2035 vision targets 100% renewable energy and a 90% carbon reduction compared to 2005. He argues that utilities should see themselves as anchor institutions with generational responsibilities: ‘I won’t be here 50 years from now, but MMSD will be.’ That long view has attracted new partners. ‘All of a sudden they say, oh, here’s someone that’s thinking a little bit differently about something, and maybe we can help them, or they can help us.’ The key barrier to scaling the circular economy, he believes, isn’t technology—it’s institutional culture and a narrow focus on regulatory compliance rather than systems thinking.

You can learn more about the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District at mmsd.com.

The post Sustainability In Your Ear: Milwaukee’s Kevin Shafer on Circular Thinking in Wastewater Management appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/podcast/sustainability-in-your-ear-milwaukees-kevin-shafer-on-circular-thinking-in-wastewater-management/

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