The city that defied McDonald’s and dumped to-go waste

Tonic for tumultuous times.

Single-use packaging has more than doubled in Germany since 1994, so the city of Tübingen decided to take matters into its own hands. Despite fierce opposition from a fast-food franchise, it implemented a groundbreaking policy that has quadrupled the city’s use of reusable containers. Read on for the take-away.

The German City That Defied McDonald’s and Dumped ‘To-Go’ Waste
By: Michaela Haas

Tübingen’s hard-won crusade is a lesson in how to deflect single-use packaging from landfills — and life itself.

The DIY Solar Revolution Is Coming to U.S. Balconies
By: Alison F. Takemura

As utility bills climb, a growing number of states are adopting “balcony solar” — portable, affordable kits that can knock up to 20 percent off energy bills.

Founded by Pulitzer Finalist, Alexandra Vassilaros, the Make Meaning Workshop has helped hundreds of participants develop a writing practice to initiate growth, resilience and a vital way forward. No writing experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. Learn more.

The Spiritual Movement Saving a Gentle Giant
By: Geetanjali Krishna

In India, whale shark worshippers are cultivating a form of conservation as powerful and sublime as the species itself.

Moldova’s Secret Mosaic Masterpieces
By: Peter Yeung

From rural bus stops to city banks, digital activists are racing to document and save the country’s disappearing Soviet-era treasures.