After a lot of consideration, we are canceling the Students Vs. Trash awards presentation and event on Friday, November 9. New York is dealing with an overwhelming amount of devastation after Hurricane Sandy.  EPA Region 2 Headquarters where the event is scheduled to take place just recently regained power, however many systems, including heating, are still down. Given the current transportation emergency, gas shortages, and the situation being faced by NYC residents, we do not want to add to the chaos or subject you or our staff to any unsafe or troubling situations.

We apologize for the late notice, but I’m sure you all will understand based on how the situation has been unfolding there. We will look into rescheduling the event if it is possible for all of the various parties involved.

Hundreds of life-size statues made of garbage from The City Bin Co.
"The garbage statues are created by German artist H.A. Schult. The Trash People, or Schrottarmee, are human figures made of different kinds of trash."

In Spring 2013, Levi's will introduce their Waste<Less jeans made from at least 20 percent cost-consumer materials. These jeans are made by grinding used PET water bottles, brown beer bottles, green soda bottles, and black food trays into flakes and then a polyester fiber. This polyester fiber is combined with cotton fiber to make the jeans.

Each pair of jeans will be made from eight to 12 20-oz water bottles, "which give the product unique undertones and sheen," the company says. "The Waste<Less collection is scheduled to launch in time for Spring 2013 and will be available in all classic Levi’s cuts, with each piece retailing for anywhere between $50 and $200." Visit earth911.com for the full story.

What's not to love about cardboard? Check out these masterpieces of cardboard design from Environmental Graffiti.

Who doesn't love Pinterest?! Check out this amazing Halloween Reuse Pinterest made by EcoBuilding Bargains for lots of Halloween decoration ideas.

Today- October 24- is Campus Sustainability Day! Organized by the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC), Campus Sustainability Day is a day of focus – on what has been accomplished and what is needed to keep momentum. This year’s theme involves connecting new campus groups, highlighting student stories and integrating related planning efforts.

Tune into the Keynote Broadcast “Preparing Students for a Changing Climate” from 2 to 3:30 pm EST. Find out how you can join in a conservation in your region. Or visit the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium to learn more!

Creative upcycling or a waste? A Brooklyn based artist transformed his small 90 square foot apartment into an artistic masterpiece, by covering his walls with 25,000 gray and white ping pong balls. The project took two weeks to complete and cost the man about $100 per square foot. Check out inthralld for more pictures.

Calling all designers:
Submissions are due this Monday (October 22) for the 2012 RecycleMania Poster Competition! Click here for more details and your chance to win $500!

Food for thought: According to everydaytrash.com, New York City has reduced the number of trash cans on subway platforms in order to speed up late night operations. Will we throw away less because we have no where to put it? Or will this just encourage people to litter?

In 2008 Students at Virginia Tech removed trays from their cafeteria to see if that would reduce food waste. Results show food waste was reduced by 29 percent! Will this same thing happen for trash in NYC subways?