Billie Eilish is perhaps the most talented artist of our generation…and I don’t throw that around lightly. At only 13, Eilish wrote “Ocean Eyes” alongside her brother Finneas and launched her prolific career. And at the fair age of 22, Eilish has 24 GRAMMY Award nominations and nine wins, two Oscars, two Golden Globes, and countless other accolades.
Beyond that, she recently announced her third album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, to be released May 17, 2024. She spent the days leading up to the announcement building excitement by adding all of her Instagram followers to her “Close Friends” list. Eilish had the most Instagram followers in 48 hours…with her count increasing by 7 million followers total.
While her debut album, when we all fall asleep…where do we go?, was a chart-topper in its own right, it landed Billie every GRAMMY it was nominated for at the ripe age of 18…Eilish has solidified herself as one of the most revered and sought-after popstars in the world.
Eilish recently caught media attention for quietly revealing her sexuality. In an interview with Variety, she states that she’s always liked girls…and assumed people always knew that. In a viral snippet from her new song, LUNCH, she details a love affair with a girl.
But people don’t only adore Billie for her catchy tracks that consistently top the charts. It’s not just her songwriting ability and unique vocals that keep us hooked. People love her because she’s unafraid to speak her mind.
Whether it be complaining about too many influencers being at an awards show, or calling out other artists for using unsustainable practices…Billie does not hold back.
Billie Eilish On Sustainability
Eilish home
rethinkingthefuture.com
The Eilish home is iconic for many reasons: it’s where Billie and Finneas recorded her debut album, countless other songs, and EPs, in an effort to conserve water there’s no grass, and the roof is covered in solar panels. And being environmentally conscious extends beyond the four walls of their home.
When the hottest young talent is discovered at such an early age like Eilish, record labels are chomping at the bit to sign them. It’s like when a D1 athlete is ready to commit to college…you have your pick.
But what Eilish and her mom, Maggie Baird, were looking for wasn’t about money or label-perks…they were seeking a solid sustainability program. And while that may seem like standard practice, most labels didn’t bring up environmental policies during these meetings at all.
After signing to The Darkroom via Interscope Records, the struggle didn’t stop there. Billie Eilish and her family have been consistent contributors to the fight against climate change.
Maggie Baird has since started Support + Feed, which focuses on the climate crisis and food insecurity. Support + Feed helped Eilish’s 2022 Happier Than Ever tour save 8.8 million gallons of water through plant-based meal service for the artist and crew members.
During Billie’s 2023 Lollapalooza performance, she aided the launch and funding of REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project – which guaranteed all battery systems used during her set were solar powered. The MCD’s overall mission is to lower – and eventually eliminate –the music industry’s carbon emissions.
But more recently, Billie Eilish called out other artists for releasing multiple versions of vinyls in order to boost vinyl sales. In an interview with Billboard, she says,
“We live in this day and age where, for some reason, it’s very important to some artists to make all sorts of different vinyl and packaging … which ups the sales and ups the numbers and gets them more money and gets them more…”
Artists convince fans to buy different versions of their albums by offering exclusive features on each vinyl. Take Taylor Swift, for example, who released five separate vinyl versions of Midnights, each with a different deluxe “Vault” track.
While Billie may not have been trying to shade one artist in particular, the point is that she’s fed up. After being the rare artist in the industry who go out of their way to remain environmentally conscious, Eilish sets the bar high.
How Eilish’s New Album Is Sustainable
Billie for "Hit Me Hard and Soft"
William Drumm
Social media users were quick to claim Eilish was hypocritical by announcing that HIT ME HARD AND SOFT will have eight vinyl variations. However, each vinyl is made from recycled materials – either 100% recycled black vinyl or BioVinyl, which replaces petroleum used during manufacturing with recycled cooking oil.
This just illustrates that Eilish wasn’t directing criticism towards other artists for using vinyl variants to gain album sales…but she does think there are better ways to do it that benefit the environment without hurting their sales.
How to Recycle Correctly in New York City
If you aren't recycling the right way, then you might as well not be recycling.
Everyone knows recycling is important, but how much of the waste in your recycling bin truly ends up being recycled?
Unfortunately, New York City only recycles about one-fifth of its garbage: around 8 percent of trash from homes and about 25 percent from businesses, according to the city's Department of Sanitation. While those numbers are discouraging, this makes it all the more important to correctly recycle the things that actually get recycled. If you've always been a person who just throws anything you think may vaguely be made of paper and plastic into the recycling bin, it's time to step it up.
The below information on recycling correctly is taken from NYC.gov.
Paper and Corrugated Cardboard
"Rules for Recycling Paper
Place mixed paper, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and phone books out for recycling collection using any one of the following methods:
- Tie with twine into bundles no taller than 18 inches
- Place in clear, untinted plastic bags between 13 and 55 gallons
- Place in bins 32 gallons or less with green labels on both sides and the lid.
The bag or container must weigh no more than 60 pounds when placed out for collection. Bins must be secured with a tight-fitting lid.
The City does not give away green recycling bins.
Rules for Recycling Corrugated Cardboard
Only corrugated cardboard boxes may be recycled as corrugated cardboard. Heavily soiled or greasy cardboard should be disposed of with regular trash.
Corrugated cardboard must be flattened and tied with sturdy twine into bundles 18 inches tall or smaller. Bundles must not be placed in containers or clear bags unless broken into small pieces.
In buildings with mechanized collection, cardboard must be collapsed and placed into designated dumpsters.
Key Takeaways:
- You need to tie your cardboard into bundles.
- Greasy or food-covered cardboard or paper should go in the regular trash.
- Paper needs to be put in a clear bag or tied together with twine.
- Always fold up your cardboard
Plastic
"Rules for Recycling Plastic
- Rinse plastic containers, beverage cartons, and drink boxes before recycling
- Plastic can be mixed with metal and glass recyclables, but never with paper recyclables.
- Place plastic items in clear, untinted bags or blue-labeled recycling bins with a tight-fitting lid.
- Clear, untinted bags must be between 13 and 55 gallons in size and weigh no more than 60 pounds when placed out for collection.
- Containers must be 32 gallons or less and have blue labels on both sides and the lid. Containers must weigh no more than 60 pounds when placed out for collection.
To dispose of a plastic recycling or trash container, all receptacles should be clearly labeled as trash and put at the curb on the proper recycling collection day so that the Department of Sanitation will know that they should be collected.
Plastic Items That Can Be Recycled
- Plastic bottles, cups, jars, and jugs
- Beverage cartons and drink boxes (juice cartons, juice boxes)
- Milk cartons
- Plastic cutlery (spoons, forks, knives)
- Plastic plates
- Plastic hangers
- Rigid plastic caps and lids
- Rigid plastic food containers (Tupperware, yogurt, deli, hummus, dairy tubs, cookie tray inserts, "clamshell" containers, and other plastic takeout containers)
- Rigid plastic nonfood containers
- Rigid plastic packaging ("Blisterpak" and "clamshell" consumer packaging, acetate boxes)
- Rigid plastic housewares (flower pots, mixing bowls, plastic appliances, etc.)
- Bulk plastic (crates, buckets, pails, furniture, large toys, large appliances, etc.)
- Plastic appliances
- CDs, DVDs, disks, vinyl records, CD and DVD cases
- Satellite dishes
- Telephones
Plastic Items That Can't Be Recycled
- Styrofoam/plastic foam items (foam cups, foam egg cartons, foam trays, foam packing peanuts, foam sporting equipment, etc.)
- Plastic bags, wrappers, shower curtains, and all kinds of plastic "film"
- Plastic rings from soda and beer cans
- Cell phones
- Cassettes, VHS tapes
- Sports balls (basketballs, bowling balls, soccer balls, footballs, yoga balls, etc.)
- Plastic tubes (toothpaste, lotion, cosmetics, etc.)
- Single-serve food and drink squeezable pouches (juice pouches, baby food squeeze pouches, yogurt-to-go pouches, etc.)
- Garden hoses
- PVC pipes (must be no longer than 4 feet and placed out as bulk trash)
- Containers that held dangerous or corrosive chemicals
- Pens and markers
- 3-ring binders (if separate, the metal rings can be recycled)
- Umbrellas
- Lighters
- Luggage"
- Plastic food containers must be rinsed well
- Plastic must be separated from paper recyclables, though it can be mixed with glass
- Use a blue bin for plastics
Metal
"Rules for Recycling Metal
- Metal can be mixed with plastic and glass recyclables, but never with paper recyclables.
- Place metal items in clear, untinted bags or blue-labeled recycling bins with a tight-fitting lid.
- Clear, untinted bags must be between 13 and 55 gallons in size and weigh no more than 60 pounds when placed out for collection.
- Containers must be 32 gallons or less and have blue labels on both sides and the lid. Containers must weigh no more than 60 pounds when placed out for collection.
Large metal items, such as appliances, must be placed at curbside next to the recycling container. For appliances containing CFC gas, a CFC and Freon Removal appointment must be made prior to disposal.
To dispose of a metal recycling or trash container, all receptacles should be clearly labeled as refuse and put at the curb on the proper recycling collection day so that the Department of Sanitation will know that they should be collected.
Metal Items That Can Be Recycled
- Aerosol cans (empty)
- Aluminum foil wrap and trays
- Clean metallic car parts
- Dried-out paint cans (metal lids may be recycled separately)
- Faucets
- Food cans (empty and clean)
- Household metal (wire hangers with paper removed)
- Irons
- Knife blades (Blades of sharp metal knives (such as carving or chef's knives) should be wrapped in cardboard, taped, labeled "CAUTION: SHARP" and placed out with metal/glass/plastic recyclables)
- Lighting fixtures
- Nuts and bolts
- Metal utensils (including forks, spoons, and knives)
- Metal caps
- Pots and pans
- Satellite dish
- Small appliances that are mostly metal"
- Do not mix your metal recyclables with paper recyclables.
- Clearly mark large metal items you intend to recycle.
Bulky Metal Items
Large items that are all metal or mostly metal are recyclable as bulk items. If an item exceeds the listed weight, height, or amount requirements, you must hire a private carter for disposal.
Large items that are all metal or mostly metal and are recyclable as bulk items include:
- Air conditioners
- Auto parts (containing no hazardous materials or chemicals)
- Aluminum lawn furniture with plastic webbing
- Barbecue grills
- Bedsprings/Metal bed frames
- Bicycles
- Boilers
- Cabinets and appliances
- Clothes dryers
- Dishwashers
- Furniture
- Generators (less than 100 pounds)
- Lawnmower (empty fuel or bring to SAFE disposal event)
- Ovens
- Pipes (no longer than 4 feet)
- Porcelain-coated metal bathtubs and sinks
- Radiators
- Snow blowers (less than 100 pounds)
- Washing machines
- Water heaters (50 gallons or less)
Metal Compressed Gas Tanks
You can put fire extinguishers and helium tanks out for collection or take them back to where you bought them.
If you put them out, first empty them and remove the head. To empty an extinguisher, spray it into a damp paper bag.
Sanitation does not collect used compressed gas tanks such as propane, oxygen, and acetylene because they can explode in the garbage truck. You must take these tanks back to where you bought them.
Glass
Rules for Recycling Glass
- Only glass bottles and jars may be recycled as glass.
- Rinse the glass before you recycle it.
- Glass can be mixed with metal and plastic recyclables, but never with paper recyclables.
- Place glass in clear, untinted bags or blue-labeled recycling bins secured with a tight-fitting lid.
- Clear, untinted bags must be between 13 and 55 gallons in size and weigh no more than 60 pounds when placed out for collection.
- Containers must be 32 gallons or less and have blue labels on both sides and the lid. Containers must weigh no more than 60 pounds when placed out for collection.
Glass Items That Can't Be Recycled
- Drinking glasses and glassware
- Eyeglasses
- Glass tables
- Glass windows
- Light bulbs
- Mirrors
Broken Glass
To avoid bag punctures, broken glass should be placed into a cardboard box labeled "broken glass." The box should be sealed with tape and placed into a trash can or securely tied trash bag. Small containers of broken glass may be placed directly into a trash can or bag.
Larger, properly sealed, and labeled cardboard boxes that contain broken glass can be placed out for collection next to regular refuse containers/bags.
The broken ends of smaller single pieces of broken glass can sometimes be protected with several pages of newspaper taped around the broken end before being placed into a trash can or bag."
Key Takeaways:
- Only glass bottles and jars may be recycled as glass
- Rinse all glass recyclables
- If recycling broken glass mark it clearly
- Do not mix glass recyclables with paper recyclables
Here’s How cleancult Is Cleaning Up The Industry
Did you know that 91% of plastic isn't recycled? And the chemicals we use to clean our home and clothes contribute to a lot of that waste. A lot of store-bought green cleaners claim to be good for the environment and free of toxins, but they often come in plastic containers that will end up lying in landfills for years to come.
Luckily, cleancult is changing the green cleaning game for good. The line of natural household products includes everything from laundry & dishwasher tablets, all-purpose cleaner, to hand and dish soap. All products are made with only natural ingredients and aim to reduce your plastic waste by sending you the products in "milk carton" refills. You can use these to fill up your own bottles at home, or they sell zero waste glass starter bottles that you can reuse forever. Here are four reasons why people are raving about the only true green cleaning company.
cleancult sends you glass starter kit bottles that you can keep and reuse forever. From then, they send you refills in milk carton containers which save up to 90% plastic. These refills are recyclable, meaning zero waste.
Generic cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that can cause serious health conditions, like cancer. cleancult products are free of parabens and sulfates & blended with essential oils, making them perfect for those with sensitive skin.
All products are pet friendly and cruelty free.
They actually clean! The plant based formulas are tough on dirt but kind to the earth. Neat-freak approved, we promise!
It's affordable! The refills start from just $6.95 and can be delivered as little or often as you like.
cleancult products are gentle on your skin and kind to the earth. Their convenient refill plan can be delivered every one, two or three months, so you never have to worry about running out. Taking care of you, your home and the environment has never been easier!
UPDATE: Our friends at cleancult are offering readers a special discount. Follow this link to get 15% off your first order!
Here’s How cleancult Is Cleaning Up The Industry
The Green Cleaners That Actually Work
There has never been a more important time to act on improving the state of our environment. Did you know that 91% of plastic isn't recycled? That's just the tip of the iceberg.
The chemicals we use to clean our homes have catastrophic consequences on our habitat. A lot of store-bought green cleaners claim to be free of toxins, but they often come in plastic containers that will end up lying in landfills for years to come.
cleancultis changing the green cleaning game for good.
The line of natural household products includes everything from laundry & dishwasher tablets, to all-purpose cleaner, to hand and dish soap. After you take a quick quiz outlining your cleaning habits, cleancult will recommend the products you need.
When you decide which ones you want (you can customize their recommendations), they send you one-off glass containers filled with their products, so you can stop buying disposable plastic. For good. After that, they send you refills in biodegradable "milk cartons" to pour into the glass bottles.
Here's why people are raving about the only true green cleaning company.
Save up to 90% plastic. cleancult sends you reusable glass starter kit bottles, pre-filled with their products. From there, they send you refills in recyclable milk carton containers.
All products are free of toxic parabens & sulfates that can cause serious health conditions.
All products are pet-friendly & cruelty-free, and blended with essential oils, making them perfect for those with sensitive skin.
They actually clean! The plant-based formulas are tough on dirt but kind to the earth.
It's affordable! The refills start from just $6.95 and can be delivered as little or often as you like.
cleancult products are gentle on your skin and kind to the earth. Once you sign up for your first order, you can specify if you want your products delivered every one, two or three months, so you never have to worry about running out. Taking care of you, your home, and the environment has never been easier!