The U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund is urging Google to allow Chromebook owners a right to repair the devices and extend their life span, reducing e-waste and saving money for schools in Georgia and across the country.

With 31.8 million Chromebooks sold in 2020, many of which were distributed to schools during the pandemic, many of the devices are approaching expiration and will soon stop receiving updates.

Lucas Gutterman, Designed to Last campaign director for the group, said to prevent the loss of working devices, they are calling on Google to double the life expectancy of Chromebooks, an effort which could save Georgia schools millions of dollars.

"Our report actually found that doubling the life of Chromebook from four to eight years could save schools in Georgia $63 million and cut carbon emission equivalent to taking 32,000 cars off the road a year," Gutterman explained.

Gutterman warned as operating system expiration dates approach, Chromebooks will become a dangerous form of e-waste. Studies have shown e-waste accounts for more than 70% of toxic material in our waste stream, causing cancer, fertility problems, developmental delays and other health risks.

According to a survey conducted last year by the National Consortium for School Networking in 2022, many schools have implemented a one-to-one program, providing each student with their own device.

However, Gutterman highlighted the potential loss of security access for the laptops could result in schools losing access to critical sites.

"Chromebooks have an expiration date after that date has passed," Gutterman pointed out. "Even though the laptop might be working perfectly fine, you can't access state testing websites, other secure websites and, for a lot of schools, that laptop is not really going to meet their needs."

In addition to saving schools money, the report estimated across the 48.1 million K-12 public school students in the U.S., doubling the life span of Chromebooks could result in $1.8 billion dollars in savings for taxpayers, assuming no additional maintenance costs.


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California companies making compostable packaging materials said their products could make a huge dent in the problem of plastic pollution but only with changes to state and federal policy.

California passed Senate Bill 54 in 2022. It requires single-use packaging and plastic foodware to be either recyclable or compostable by 2032. The issue is with a companion bill, Assembly Bill 1201, which said compostable materials must be certified organic.

John Felts, cofounder and CEO of Santa Cruz-based Cruz Foam, which makes compostable packaging foam from food waste, said the requirement is a tall order.

"The idea that all compostable packaging would have to comply, would effectively remove compostable packaging from being viable," Felts explained. "The cost, the tracking, making a fully certified organic packaging material is nearly impossible."

The organic requirement is set to go into effect Jan. 1, but negotiations are underway in Sacramento to delay implementation, a move also supported by the plastics industry. Environmental advocates said plastic waste is choking the planet, disrupting marine ecosystems, and endangering human health, so recycling, reusable containers and compostable packaging are key.

It is estimated 40% of plastic produced today is used to make packaging, much of which is used once.

Julia Marsh, cofounder and CEO of San Leandro-based Sway, which uses seaweed to make flexible packaging, said plastic use is only increasing.

"About 5 trillion bags, wrappers and pouches are produced every year; 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year," Marsh pointed out. "That number is expected to triple by 2040, if production rates continue as is."

Advocates would also like the National Organic Program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to broaden the term "organic" to include certified compostable materials.


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A lot of households might have junk piles on their kitchen counter or an overflowing storage room. A North Dakota expert says to avoid stress that comes with clutter, there are skills to gain in tidying up.

According to AARP, a more organized and simplified living space can reduce stress, improve mental clarity and create a safer environment.

Deb Mathern is a volunteer with AARP North Dakota who offers guidance as part of the group's Speakers Bureau. She said she subscribes to an "equal-in, equal-out" theory.

"When you're out shopping, your house doesn't grow," said Mathern. "So, when you bring home that carload of stuff that you just purchased, it might be time to take out a couple things."

She said she understands it can be difficult to let go of things because people work hard to buy them.

Cherished family treasures can be kept in a box or specific area. Otherwise, she suggested donating items you really don't wear or use anymore.

For older populations who haven't downsized yet, she warned that extra piles create tripping hazards.

Mathern said when out shopping, it's OK to occasionally buy something that might bring you excitement and joy. But she recommends thinking first about how long you might keep it, and avoid falling into an unwanted pattern of loading up your cart.

"I think it fills an emotional void for a lot of people," said Mathern, "and that's the wrong reason to be buying."

As for older residents planning to move into a smaller space, she recommends measuring the size of bigger household items to figure out if they'll fit in the new home. She said if they won't, you might save on moving costs by leaving them behind if they won't be used much.

Lastly, she suggests not renting storage spaces for too long, because most of the contents just collect dust without being pulled out.

Designers and stylists will showcase their "upcycled" garments as models hit the runway for what is being dubbed a "trashion show" at the Waste EXPO in Las Vegas next month.

It is estimated the average American household spends around $1,500 a year on clothing.

Sonja Salmon, associate professor of textiles at North Carolina State University, said whether the items wear thin or go out of style, only a small fraction of them are actually recycled. She noted the industry is realizing more must be done to reuse materials.

"Textile fibers are really amazing materials," Salmon pointed out. "We wear them, they're on our bodies, they feel good, they make us happy. They're also a resource. They have chemistry in them, they have materials in them that deserve to be recycled and reused."

Salmon stressed millions of tons of textile waste end up in U.S. landfills each year. It not only takes a long time to break down but is a lost opportunity for reuse. She added companies have started to incentivize buyback programs, a step in the right direction. The Waste EXPO is May 5-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Salmon emphasized the Waste360 "trashion" runway will get people thinking differently about the use of fabrics. She explained today's clothes are primarily made up of synthetic fibers like polyester and natural fibers like cotton. Blended pieces are good for durability and comfort but are challenging to break down.

They have to be separated before recycling, so she pointed to the need for better collection and sorting technologies.

"So that large amounts of those materials can go to recycling processes," Salmon added. "I'm actually excited because Goodwill, an organization that we associate with clothing donation, is actually starting to think about its own role in helping the recycling process, in terms of collection and sorting."

Salmon encouraged shoppers to look to Goodwill and other thrift stores to purchase used clothing and participate in take-back programs to help sort materials for recycling. Consumers can also consider renting special-occasion clothing instead of buying.


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