The city of Detroit and Bank of America have teamed up to solve three problems at once: By enticing cops to live in urban neighborhoods, offering them refurbished homes and low cost loans, houses standing empty will be inhabited, rather than vandalized, communities will feel more secure with law enforcement nearby, and urban property values and the city's tax base will be bolstered.
Tom Frankenburg wants to give away a holiday trip for two to Malta. He booked the $1,600 trip before he and his girlfriend split, and is now hoping to pay it forward.
When many states have cut their wellness and education programs for inmates, citing cost and political pressure, some wardens looking for a low-cost, low-risk way for inmates to reflect on their crimes, improve their fitness and cope with the stress of overcrowded prison life are turning toward yoga.
Hoping to persuade children not to make the same mistake he made, a reformed al-Qaida-linked terrorist has become a comic book sensation in a series that chronicles his transformation from villain to invaluable ally in the fight against terrorism.
The wayward emperor penguin that was found on a New Zealand beach June 20, far from his Antarctic feeding grounds and moved to the zoo after he became ill from eating sand that he likely mistook for snow, has since regained weight and been cleared to be returned to the wild.
They were once adversaries. These days, though, the president of the Humane Society and the president of the United Egg Producers, are allies, walking shoulder to shoulder into offices on Capitol Hill, asking Congress to approve new rules for egg farmers.
More than $1 billion is headed to consumers and employers this summer from their insurance companies thanks to a part of the federal health law that requires a rebate from plans that don't spend at least 4 of every 5 premium dollars on medical care.
The British branch of PepsiCo, the umbrella corporation that makes Tropicana, Quaker Oats, chips and soda, has made an ambitious promise to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2023. They're also shooting for zero landfill waste; packaging that is entirely renewable, recyclable, or compostable; and zero water intake at their main manufacturing sites.
Would you bike to work or recycle more often if it meant you got free stuff at stores? Recyclebank offers rewards for recycling, and gives London commuters fresh incentives to walk or ride. Recyclebank has reached millions of people with its environmental social platform, awarding points that can be exchanged for deals and discounts at nearby stores.
You probably know already that you should recycle your old mobile phones, for a bunch of environmental reasons. But those phones stored in the back of your drawers or cupboards are actually worth cash money to you. Some phones can net you a few hundred bucks. Even older models can fetch $20 or so. Check out how to easily trade your phone for cash.
The Freecycle Network at Freecycle.org is a grassroots gifting network that — thanks to the sour economy and a growing commitment to the environment — has transformed into a global movement of millions who are offering and taking all manner of stuff.
An powerhouse alternative energy start-up is transforming the way North America manages organic materials, turning food and animal waste into renewable energy and other useful products at its plants in British Columbia, Ontario, California and throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Northeastern states.
This week the Ford Motor Company announced impressive results in efforts to cut waste produced in its factories. Since 2007, the car company has slashed by 44 percent its global waste output -- a total of 100 million pounds. Expanding on the success, Ford plans to further reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfills by 10% per vehicle by the end of the year.
When two college students in Oakland discovered they could grow mushrooms in used coffee grounds, they started a company to recycle the waste from local cafes. Each morning the Back to the Roots team picks up 8,000 pounds of grounds in the back of a van and are on track this year to divert 3.5 million pounds of coffee grounds from landfills.
It's been almost three years since a grand experiment began in a dog park in Ithaca, N.Y., and the results are finally in. Dog dung poses public health risks if left on the streets, hurts the environment when left near trails and takes centuries to decompose in plastic garbage bags that end up in landfills. Now, the poop is being composted along with yard waste to produce valuable soil.
Everyone in the UK is being asked to clear out their drawers, wardrobes and cupboards - and take their excess clothing and accessories to the clothing retail chain TK Maxx anytime in April, to contribute towards the fight against kids' cancer. Since 2004, the annual campaign, Give up Clothes for Good, has raised a whopping £10 million, with hopes this year to raise an additional £2.5 million for Cancer Research UK.
Looking at a warehouse full of discontinued door knobs, the folks at Union Hardware in Maryland wondered what they could possibly do to put all those products to better use. So, in 2011 the third-generation, family-owned business began a project to bring to life Vincent Van Gogh's masterpiece Starry Night using the tools of the hardware trade -- door knobs, levers and plates.
German sportswear company Puma announced a range of biodegradable shoes and clothes on Monday, seeking to lead in protecting the environment as it tries to catch up with rivals Nike and Adidas in sales.
At the ripe old age of 12, Sam Klein is a dedicated CEO of his own recycling business. He collects empty printer ink cartridges from local businesses, keeping them from the landfills, while earning hundreds of dollars by sending them back to manufacturers. Even more impressive, Sam has given more than $1,000 to charity.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to take place at thousands of sites around the U.S. today. During the third Drug Take-Back Day in 2011, Americans turned in more than 188.5 tons of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal. The 5,327 drop off locations were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
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