In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jenny Lawson sits down with Maury Wolfe, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Social Impact at Cox Enterprises, to discuss their award-winning initiatives in corporate volunteerism and environmental sustainability.

Together, they discuss Cox Enterprises' impressive achievements, including the award-winning initiatives that have driven over 200,000 volunteer hours through their Cox Impact platform and the ambitious goals of their 34 by 34 initiative.

Maury shares fascinating insights into how Cox has become a zero waste-to-landfill company, the importance of employee engagement, and their ongoing collaborations with environmental organizations like Keep America Beautiful.

Stay tuned to learn how you can get involved in transformative initiatives to help create cleaner, greener spaces in your own community.

Show Links:

COX Enterprises: www.coxenterprises.com

34 by 34 Initiative: www.coxenterprises.com/our-impact/social-goal-34-by-34

Keep America Beautiful: kab.org

Greatest American Cleanup: kab.org/greatest

Show Notes:

00:00 Cox Enterprises: Promoting volunteerism for environmental impact.

03:43 Selling sustainability's ROI changed environmental perspectives.

09:00 Cox legacy: prioritize employees, community, and environment.

11:47 Training employees and circular economy efforts innovate.

13:54 Employee-driven innovation through purpose and community connection.

18:09 Earth Month 2024: Impactful local and national efforts.

20:42 Empower 34 million people by 2034 goal.

24:30 Keep Oklahoma Beautiful: effective disaster recovery efforts.

27:15 Join America's cleanup for a beautiful future.

In this episode of Do Beautiful Things, host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, dives into an often-overlooked aspect of recycling: mattress recycling.

Joining us is Mike O'Donnell, Chief Operating Officer of the Mattress Recycling Council, who brings over 30 years of expertise in managing solid and hazardous waste collection programs. Mike gives a compelling look into the world of mattress recycling, highlighting the innovative programs in states like California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island that recycle nearly 2 million mattresses a year. We’ll also explore the significant environmental impact of these efforts, from reducing illegal dumping to rescuing half a billion pounds of materials from landfills.

You'll gain insights into the Bye Bye Mattress program, learn about the components of a mattress and where they go after recycling, and discover the future of mattress recycling as it seeks to expand into new states and develop new markets for recycled materials. Whether you’re a homeowner wondering what to do with your old mattress, or a sustainability advocate interested in the broader challenges and solutions in recycling, this episode offers valuable information and practical tips.

Join us in transforming recycling anxiety into action and help make a sustainable future possible.

Show Links:

Bye Bye Mattress: byebyemattress.com

Mattress Recycling Council: mattressrecyclingcouncil.org

Keep America Beautiful: kab.org

Greatest American Cleanup: kab.org/greatest

Show Notes:

00:00 Mattress recycling mandated by laws in 2013.

04:25 Return old mattress to retailer for recycling.

09:21 Mattress recycling involves manual and automated methods.

10:00 Material: 20% carpet padding, 50% steel recycling.

13:13 Understanding resource impact, smarter reuse, developing recycling markets.

18:59 Learn how and where to recycle mattresses.

20:08 Visit kab.org for more information.

In this episode of "Do Beautiful Things," host Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, dives into the critical role of recycling in sustainable living and explores the intricacies of the recycling process.

Our special guest, Jeff Snyder, Senior Vice President of Recycling and Sustainability at Rumpke Waste and Recycling, brings over 30 years of industry expertise to the table. Together, they delve into the exceptional capabilities of Rumpke's state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Columbus, Ohio, highlighting the sophisticated technologies and methods used to sort and recycle materials efficiently.

Jeff sheds light on the common challenges faced in the recycling industry and emphasizes the importance of clean and well-sorted materials to create new products. With a focus on improving recycling rates and debunking myths, the conversation provides essential insights into the future of recycling, including the promising role of AI technology.

Listeners will learn about industry demands for recycled resin from major companies, and the need for transparency to build trust in recycling processes. Tune in to discover how your participation and mindful recycling habits can make a significant impact.

Join us in our mission to make our communities cleaner, greener, and more beautiful.

Show Notes:

00:00 Exploring recycling process at Rumpke's Columbus MRF.

06:05 Only 30% consumer plastics are actually recycled.

08:28 Lack of trust, care, and high costs deter.

12:40 Adopt ABCs for recycling: simple and effective.

15:29 Demand for post-consumer resin packaging increasing.

18:17 Initial step: Size material, remove glass.

20:50 Ballistic separators sort paper and containers.

25:48 Promoting recycling transparency builds trust and participation.

28:56 Recycling leads to a healthier, sustainable future.