Reduction In Motion

10/16/2026

Food waste reduction starts before anything reaches the compost bin.

This , look upstream.

Are production levels aligned with actual demand? Can you adjust your meal plan to utilize product in new menu options rather that writing it off as "waste"? Is surplus edible food being donated? Are food scraps separated correctly? And do you have data showing where and why food is being wasted?

Composting can be an important part of the solution, but prevention comes first. Measure what’s being wasted. Understand why. Then build the right recovery and diversion systems around what remains.

10/16/2026

Happy National Boss’s Day to our Head Trash Talker!

With nearly 40 years in the waste industry, Bill knows a thing or two about turning challenges into opportunities. Whether he’s talking trash, cheering on his favorite teams, bringing people together, or firing up the BBQ, he knows that great results come down to teamwork. And he’s never one to sit on the sidelines. Bill is always ready to dive in, get his hands dirty, and lead by example.

In waste management, lasting improvement takes more than the right bins and ambitious goals. It takes leadership that supports its people, removes roadblocks, and brings everyone to the table to make change happen.

Here’s to the leaders who show up for their teams, celebrate the wins, and know that the best results happen when everyone works together!

10/16/2026

Recycling right takes more than good intentions.

Before you watch, take a guess — Can you recycle this? ♻️

Every week, we break down everyday items that cause confusion at the bin. Whether you’re sorting at home, at work, or somewhere in between, we’re here to help you make the right call.

👉 Not sure about the answer? You’re not alone, and that’s why we’re doing this. Follow along each week as we unpack the dos and don’ts of recycling, one item at a time.

10/15/2026

This October we welcomed AASHE 2026 to our hometown, and connected with higher education professionals working to make campus operations more sustainable.

From move-out and sporting events to food waste, reusable containers, and stagnant diversion rates, the challenges are similar across campuses, but that doesn't mean they aren't complex. One issue kept coming up: limited access to accurate, reliable waste data.

Our biggest takeaway? There's no one-size-fits-all solution. Effective waste management requires ongoing assessment, engaged campus teams, and strategies that adapt as operations change.

Sustainability isn't always something you can see, but waste is. Sometimes, the most visible opportunity for improvement starts at the trash and recycling bin.

We're sharing our takeaways from AASHE 2026, including what campuses can do to take a fresh look at their waste programs.

👉 Read the full blog: https://reductioninmotion.com/conferences-and-events/takeaways-from-aashe-2026/

10/14/2026

Small electronics can create a big waste problem.

This International E-Waste Day, take a closer look at the “Fast Tech” accumulating across your organization (and home): cables, chargers, headphones, small devices, accessories, and other electronics that are easily replaced and easily forgotten in drawers and storage rooms.

Start by identifying where e-waste is generated, establish centralized collection points, and confirm where those materials go after collection.

E-waste management isn’t just about having a recycling option. It’s about having a reliable process.

10/14/2026

Who says waste training has to be boring? Not us.

At a local hospital, we got face-to-face with the EVS team for an interactive in-service focused on real-world waste handling. We talked through procedures, answered questions, reinforced best practices... and added a little candy incentive to keep things sweet. 😉🍬

Because the best training isn’t just about checking a box. It’s about creating a conversation, making the information stick, and giving teams the confidence to put it into practice.

A little learning, a little interaction, and a little sugar? We're on!

10/13/2026

Food waste lives within a system of connected challenges.

That was one of our biggest takeaways from MDE’s 2026 Maryland Food Summit, “Everyone at the Table.”

Rather than a traditional conference format, roughly 200 attendees worked across 20 groups focused on specific challenges and opportunities within Maryland’s food system. Our team helped facilitate the “Spirulina Squad,” focused on food rescue, source reduction, emissions reductions and the data needed to track progress.

Here's what stood out: The challenges in food waste are significant because it sits at the intersection of infrastructure, economics, transportation, policy, behavior and access.

Thankfully, the opportunity is significant, too.
→ Mapping resources like cold storage capacity could help connect surplus food with the infrastructure needed to keep it usable.
→ Food production, storage, transportation, rescue and end markets work better when organizations can find and connect with the right partners.
→ Clearing up confusion around date labels and food donation liability protections can help organizations to better utilize food that may have otherwise been discarded.
→ Food scraps still contain nutrients and organic matter. Recovery helps put that value back to work as compost rather than treating it simply as waste.

You can read more about these takeaways here: https://reductioninmotion.com/conferences-and-events/everyone-at-the-table-takeaways-from-marylands-2026-food-summit/

Thank you to the Maryland Department of the Environment and everyone who came ready to participate, share and work toward practical solutions.

10/12/2026

Health care waste is complicated, and that’s exactly why specialized recycling infrastructure matters.

Earlier this year we had the opportunity to tour Caracal Products & Services’ Baltimore site and see their work firsthand. Now, we’re excited to see them expand with a new Charlotte location designed to support PPE, cold chain, and other health care recycling needs for hospitals and health care centers.

For health care facilities, expanding diversion isn’t as simple as adding another recycling bin. Programs have to account for material types, collection logistics, contamination, infection-control requirements, staff engagement, and downstream outlets.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀.

Read more 👉 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caracal-expands-health-care-recycling-services-with-new-charlotte-location-302854241.html

10/09/2026

Think you’ve got this recycling thing down? Take your guess.

Before you watch, take a guess — Can you recycle this? ♻️

Every week, we break down everyday items that cause confusion at the bin. Whether you’re sorting at home, at work, or somewhere in between, we’re here to help you make the right call.

👉 Not sure about the answer? You’re not alone, and that’s why we’re doing this. Follow along each week as we unpack the dos and don’ts of recycling, one item at a time.

10/07/2026

A major change is coming to medical waste disposal in Maryland and beyond.

Curtis Bay Energy’s South Baltimore facility will end medical waste incineration operations under a new settlement with the state. For hospitals and healthcare systems, that raises important questions about what comes next.

Where will affected waste streams go? Will transportation routes change? How could treatment capacity and disposal costs be impacted?

The answers aren’t clear yet, but the situation reinforces something we tell healthcare organizations often: know where your waste goes.

Waste doesn’t disappear when it leaves your loading dock. Understanding your waste streams, treatment methods, vendors, and final disposal destinations helps your organization prepare when infrastructure or markets change.

Read more on our blog 👉 https://reductioninmotion.com/hospital-waste-management/a-major-shift-for-medical-waste-disposal-in-maryland/

A key medical waste disposal facility in Maryland is stopping operations. Learn more about how this will impact medical waste streams.