AZFamily.com: Fireworks: Fun for You, Frightening for Fido

Filed under: Pets 911 - June 30, 2008

By Catherine Holland

While people all over the country are looking forward to the traditional Fourth of July fireworks show, it’s important to remember that what’s fun and entertaining to us can be terrifying to our pets.

Frightened by the explosions and bright flashes of light, it’s not uncommon for frightened animals to dig under or jump over fences. Even the best-behaved and most well-trained animals run when they’re scared. And once they’re out of familiar territory, they get lost.

Personnel at animal shelters throughout the Valley, including Maricopa County Animal Care and Control and Arizona Humane Society facilities, say that July 5, is usually their busiest day of the year because so many animals get loose during Fourth of July fireworks.

Summer is an especially dangerous time for an animal to be lost and on its own. Without water, animals can easily suffer heat exhaustion or dehydration. Roaming streets and sidewalks that have been baking in the Arizona sun often lead to burned paws.

Both Animal Care and Control and the AHS have some simple suggestions to help pet owners keep their animals safe this holiday.

First, keep your pets indoors. If you are hosting a party, be sure to watch for open doors and gates. Pets are quick and can slip away before you know it. If you do have to take your animal outside, make sure it is securely on a leash.

If you can, confine your pet to a single room where it will feel safe. Make sure it has plenty of food and water (but don’t overfeed) and lots of toys to play with. You might also consider turning on a radio or television to drown out the noise of the fireworks. Also be sure to pet-proof the room, removing anything that could hurt your pet if chewed or swallowed.

Whatever you do, do not take your animal to an event featuring fireworks. Between the noise of the show and the bustling crowd, chances are good your pet could get away from you.

Finally, make sure your animal has current identification. Make sure to include your name and at least two phone numbers on the tag. If your pet does run away, that will increase the chances your getting it back safely.

If your pet does run away, visit the AHS Sunnyslope facility, as well as the Maricopa County facilities.

People who lose pets, as well as those that find them, should report it online at Pets 911.

Be aware that the law only requires shelters to hold animals for 72 hours before putting them up for adoption. What’s more, pet suffering irreparable injuries or failing health and temperament exams may be euthanized after that 72-hour period.

Payson Roundup: Hope For Animals Who Endure Cruelty

Filed under: Pets 911 - June 30, 2008

By Lisa Boyle

It was just another afternoon at Payson Humane Society. Lots of work to do. Lots of hungry mouths to feed. Lots of laundry. Lots of bacteria, parasites and germs to kill.

Payson Animal Control backed in. As much as we like the folks who are “Animal Control,” it’s rarely a good thing to see them show up.

On this particular afternoon, the officer showed up with nine dogs. Seven of them were tiny puppies who had already perished at the hands of the cruel human who had been in charge of their well-being. The remaining two were the mother and sole surviving pup of this litter of eight. The mother came with a name, Roxie. We named the surviving pup Junior.

Some animals that have experienced brutality are permanently damaged. But, amazingly, some are not—they strive to move forward. This Mommy dog was one of those not damaged. She, from the very moment she was handed food, water and blankets, realized things were looking up.

There’s a lot to be learned from these animals. The first lesson that comes to mind—there is never a time to give up. The second lesson—look for the good things life offers.

We see so many wonderful animals at Payson Humane Society. It never fails to puzzle us how someone could turn their back on such beautiful souls. But they do, and we are there waiting to open our doors and hearts to the forsaken, and to do our best to see that they find a loving, forever home.

Once they are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped for identification, we know they at least have a better chance than when they came to us.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

For a limited time, we are offering a voucher program for a free spay or neuter surgery for your pet. Donations are appreciated and needed, but if you can’t afford a donation, we will still try and help as long as the grant money is available.

If you’d like to learn more about this program or our feral cat and TNR program, both of which will dramatically reduce the number of animals who reach a sad end, call or visit us on the Web.

To learn more about Payson Humane Society and the many loving animals who live there, call (928) 474-5590 or visit www.PaysonHumaneSociety.com, www.petfinders.com, www. pets911.com or www.dogsindanger.com. You are also encouraged to visit us in person at 812 S. McLane Road and let us show you around. We can provide tours on a scheduled basis.

Please also consider volunteering, donating or fostering as this time of year we are desperately overcrowded with animals that have been misplaced or turned over. You never know, you may find the friend of a lifetime!

One more way you can help the precious critters at the Payson Humane Society—donate your unwanted/junk vehicles. PHS will receive $50 to $100 for each vehicle. For information on pick-up, call (928) 474-6174.

Pet ID tags for $5 are available locally. All money will be donated to Payson Humane Society. Get yours at Elder’s Creations, 107 W. Wade Lane, Ste. 1 or call (928)474-6174.

In & Out Magazine: Pets Hate 4th of July

Filed under: Pets 911 - June 29, 2008

Some pets hate fireworks.

Since you can’t predict how yours might react to the celebrations, some tips from the Maricopa County Animal Control Centers:

Do not leave your pets outside, even if you normally do. The noise could cause a pet to try and escape. He may try to dig under the fence or even jump over it when frightened. If you normally keep your dog tied up, he could strangle himself trying to get away.

Keep pets inside the house in a safe, secure room. Turn on a fan, the radio or even the television to drown out any unusual noises. A room without windows is smart. Some animals can become destructive when frightened and you don’t want them trying to go through the window.

If you know your pet gets anxious, consult with your vet about other options that may be available.

Do not take your pet with you to a fireworks display, not even if you are going to leave her in the car. Not only can the noise and lights unnerve her and make her try to escape, a car in summer in Arizona is too hot.

Your dog should have his dog license attached to the collar and your cat should have an id tag attached with your information on it. If your pet does get lost, visit both of MCACC’s Animal Care Centers every couple of days. Post your pet’s information around the neighborhood and online at www.pets911.com as well.

The Daily Breeze: Beverage Container Recycling

Filed under: Earth 911 - June 25, 2008

Q: Where in south Torrance or Hollywood Riviera, besides the Albertsons at Pacific Coast Highway and Avenue H, is there a recycling center for plastic and returnable glass bottles?

—KAY WHITE, Redondo Beach

We found a couple of options for locating recycling centers that take plastic and glass bottles with a CRV.

One is through the state Department of Conservation. The department has a toll-free beverage container recycling information line, 800-RECYCLE, and Web site, www.bottlesandcans.com. Both use ZIP codes to locate CRV redemption sites for beverage containers.

The other is through Earth 911’s toll-free phone number 800-CLEANUP and Web site, earth911.org. It also uses ZIP codes and type of item to find recycling locations.

Earth 911 compiles recycling information from a number of sources. Because hours and items collected are subject to change, you may want to call the location before dropping off recyclables.

—Stephanie Walton

Carson Times: Minden Resident Starts Valley Curbside Recycling Program

Filed under: Earth 911 - June 23, 2008

By Roseann Keegan

When promoting the importance of recycling, Amber Emery likes to use a quote from Helen Keller: “I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but I still can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”

For Emery, that something is a new recycling service for the Carson Valley. Her company, Carson Valley Recycling, fills the current gap in curbside recycling programs in Douglas County.

The first official pick-up was June 2, with about 50 households on the roster. Emery, who lives in Minden, said the client list continues to grow each day.

“We’re hoping for a few thousand customers, within our long projections,” she said. “A base of 30 percent of residents in the valley should participate.”

Emery said data on the Web site Earth 911, www.earth911.org, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency show that in 2006, including composting, 82 million tons of material was diverted from landfills and incinerators. In 1990, that number was only 34 million tons.

Carson Valley Recycling service is available to residents living within the Douglas Disposal service area through a cooperative agreement with the company. Emery said she hopes to expand to areas serviced by the towns of Gardnerville and Minden, and she encourages residents to notify town officials.

The cost is $10 per month, billed quarterly. Twice a month, either Amber Emery or her husband, Wes, retrieve the recyclables on the scheduled day that Douglas Disposal serves the area. Customers don’t have to subscribe to Douglas Disposal to receive the service, but they do have to live within the service area.

One of Emery’s favorite sources for learning to live “greener” is “Big Green Purse” by Diane MacEachern, a book that encourages female consumers, who spend 85 cents of every dollar in the marketplace, to buy less, read labels, support sustainable standards, look for third-party verification, choose fewer ingredients, pick less packaging and buy local.

“It’s that saying from Helen Keller, why not do something?” she said. “If you’re able to do it, do it.”

St. Cloud Times: Aren’t You Going to Recycle That?

Filed under: Earth 911 - June 20, 2008

Load up your e-waste —such as DVD players, VCRs and appliances— and get rid of most of it for free from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Televisions and computer monitors are not accepted.

Richard Swenson, a supervisor at Wal-Mart, set up the event in collaboration with Grant’s Recycling in Baxter.

“We’re trying to find different ways to help people out and help the environment,” Swenson said.

The program is not a Wal-Mart company event. Swenson was inspired to organize the free recycling collection through the company’s Personal Sustainability Practice program that helps associates live healthier lives and raise public awareness.

Swenson said the program sparked something in him to want to help the environment.

“When I realized how much can be done just by recycling, it was an eye-opening experience,” Swenson said.

Setting up the collection event was a matter of looking for available resources around him.

Grant’s Recycling is supplying the collection trailers and will handle the recycling. Wal-Mart is allowing use of the lot for the one-day event.

“Anybody can do it. You just have to contact the right people,” he said.

Local programs—Where to bring waste, broken or not

Broken

Still working

Toxic trash

Besides e-waste, plenty of other toxic household materials require special disposal. At earth911.org, you can enter the type of trash and your zip code to find places nearby that either recycle or dispose of it safely.

Hazardous waste can include:

Cell phone

Trash stat: More than 130 million phones enter the U.S. waste stream every year, where they have the potential to leak mercury, cadmium, arsenic and more into water streams. These compounds may also enter the air when municipalities burn the phones. Can you hear me now?

Recycling

Charity

Computers, peripherals

Trash stat: In the past 10 years, more than 500 million personal computers became obsolete.

Recycling

Charity

iPods and MP3 players

Waste stream: In April 2007, Apple announced the 100 millionth sale of its iPod, which hit the market in 2001.

Recycling

Charity

For profit

Recycling

Charity

Munster Times: Economy Fuels Full Animal Shelters

Filed under: Pets 911 - June 17, 2008

By Jean Starr

Home foreclosures and the inability to pay veterinary bills have driven many residents in the region to give up their pets.

Shelters throughout the area are feeling the pinch of the tight economy.

Emily Gruszka, executive director of the South Suburban Humane Society in Chicago Heights, said in the past month she has seen a huge increase in the number of pets surrendered by owners because they can’t afford veterinary care.

“We’re completely full,” Gruszka said. “Our adoptions are good, but I have to believe adoptions are going to slow down, too, because people are going to start making the decision that they can’t afford to bring a pet into their household.”

Jane Bernard, director of animal control in LaPorte County, said workers there definitely are seeing more animals coming into the shelter and can only surmise that the economy is playing a part. Adoptions seem a little slow, she said.

“We are not at capacity at this moment, but that could change tomorrow,” she said Monday. “We’ve seen one confirmed foreclosure where we took in several animals.”

Valparaiso-based Petite Paws Rescue Angels, which pulls adoptable dogs from high kill shelters and transports them to foster or adoptive homes, has reached the number of dogs it had taken in at the end of July last year.

Petite Paws volunteer Fran Ranger, of Portage, said it is harder to get people to do transports because of the high gas prices.

“I transported one from Lafayette (Ind.) to Hillcrest (Ill.) and it cost $75 in gas,” she said. “We have bigger vehicles because we often have to transport several dogs at a time.”

Humane Society of Northwest Indiana Director Betty Clayton said the shelter is extremely full and foreclosures are part of the reason.

“Donations are down, even donations of litter and food,” Clayton said. “And when the economy is down, adoptions are down.”

Compared with last year, the Humane Society of Hobart is up about 200 animals. “We’ve taken in more than 2,000 since the first of the year,” desk manager Connie Hollar said. The shelter has contracts to take in strays from Lake Station, Portage, Merrillville and Hobart.

“We’re getting more adult dogs and started getting overrun by kittens in May,” she said. The shelter now has more than 125 animals, which is over capacity. Nearly 100 are cats and kittens.

“We ask owners to hang onto their animals if they can until there is space,” Hollar said. “We have to take the strays off the street first.”

Hobart isn’t the only shelter asking owners to hold onto their pets for as long as possible. Most of the local shelters are asking callers who want to relinquish a pet if they can wait until there is room.

“We are extremely full right now, and we ask if they can wait a week,” Clayton said. “If they cannot, of course, we will take them.”

The South Suburban Humane Society distributes free pet food and cat litter on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Last month, doors opened to a line of 10 people waiting for the donations.

But sometimes, as Gruszka knows, food donations aren’t enough.

“When every shelter is full, where do these animals go?” she said. “It’s really, really hard to stand there when someone is bringing in a 9-year-old dog with tremendous health problems and the person asks, ‘You can adopt him, can’t you?’ The chances are very slim.”

KEEPING PET COSTS DOWN
Having a pet in the family is expensive. The average yearly cost of owning a dog is $1,571, according to the 2005-06 American Pet Products Manufacturers Association national pet owners survey. Here are some tips to reduce the strain on your pocketbook. These only are suggestions. Every pet is different, so consulting with your veterinarian before making changes to your pet’s medical treatment, feeding or medications is essential.

KGO-TV: State Tries to Create CFL Recycle Plan

Filed under: Earth 911 - June 16, 2008

By Michael Finney

Everyone is urged to use compact fluorescent light bulbs, but once they burn out, it’s hard to get rid of them. Compact fluorescents contain mercury and a state law forbids tossing them out in the trash, like a standard bulb. Despite that law, the state hasn’t yet taken responsibility for recycling CFL bulbs.

California consumers are taking to the compact fluorescent bulbs called CFLs. Sales are up and PG&E is even giving away the bulbs for free. They’ve given away more than a million so far. That helps with reducing energy use, but what about recycling? What are you suppose to do with them?

“Is that a big secret?” said a consumer.

Actually it is not a secret, but the state doesn’t have a plan.

Instead, local governments are working with retailers and environmental groups to take back and recycle the bulbs. It’s a piecemeal approach, a task force is supposed to take on and change.

Looking to increase the recycling rate, the task force doesn’t know how much it will cost to collect and recycle the bulbs.

“We don’t know what we have. We’re trying to develop the metrics, but we know with the millions sold, the 20 million sold in California in the net five years, these things are going to be coming back,” said Robinson.

So the problem is acknowledged, but a solution is not in sight.

The task force is running out of time. It must complete its recommendations to the legislature by September 1st. The legislature may then use those recommendations to implement new CFL recycling standards.

There are two things consumers need to remember. First, throwing the CFLs into the trash or landfills is bad for the environment and is illegal. Second, the state is not a major player on this issue, or at least not yet.

Click on the link below to see where you can recycle CFL’s, batteries, and other items.
www.Earth911.org

Windows & Net Magazine: Best Buy, Astaro Hop on E-Waste Bandwagon

Filed under: Earth 911 - June 5, 2008

By Karen Bemowski

I was two months too early. In April, I decided to get rid of a broken TV and a really old TV that no one would want, even for free. (I bought it back when cable-ready TVs weren’t even a gleam in the inventor’s eyes.) Like computers and their peripherals, TVs contain a lot of hazardous materials that shouldn’t be in landfills, so I wanted to dispose of them properly. So, after a lot of research, a 40-mile roadtrip, and a check for $24, I was able to have my TVs recycled in an environmentally sound way.

However, had I know that Best Buy was going to start testing an electronics recycling program this week, I would have waited. On June 1, more than 100 Best Buy stores started letting customers bring in up to two electronic items per day for recycling at no charge. The devices can include televisions and monitors up to 32 inches; computers and their peripherals; phones; and cameras. The 117 participating stores are located in California, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington DC, and Wisconsin. For a list of the stores, go to the “Best Buy locations participating in free electronics recycling program test” Web page. Best Buy will later evaluate the success of the test and determine options for expanding the recycling program.

Fortunately, Best Buy isn’t the only company to recently hop on the electronic waste (e-waste) bandwagon. Astaro, a vendor of security appliances, is also hopping on—sort of. Astaro announced this week that it will be working with Go Green Global Recycling to recycle all Cisco PIX appliances received through the Upgrade Your PIX Trade-in Program. In this program, Astaro is giving PIX users a 20 percent discount on Astaro Security Gateway appliances in exchange for their PIX firewall appliances. Admittedly, this is more of an attempt to get people to buy Astaro Security Gateway appliances instead of Cisco’s ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances (the replacement for PIX, which will soon reach its end-of-sales date—see the “End of Sale Q&A for Cisco PIX Products”), but at least the old PIX products will be properly recycled by Go Green Global Recycling. “Astaro wants to do its part to reduce the physical waste and environmental toxins produced through the disposal of electronics that have been end-of-lifed,” according to Astaro CEO Jan Hichert. For more information about Astaro’s program, go to the “Upgrade Your Pix Trade-in Program” Web page.

No matter whether you want to get rid of your old computer and other electronics at home or at work, be aware that cities and states are beginning to pass laws prohibiting e-waste in landfills. Thirteen states (California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia) and one city (New York City) have already passed laws that mandate the recycling of discarded electronics. The Electronics TakeBack Coalition’s “State Legislation on E-Waste” Web page gives a comprehensive rundown on the e-waste legislation passed and under consideration in various states.

So, if you want to recycle your computers, peripherals, and other electronic products because you’re required to by law or by your conscience, you’ll want to keep abreast of recycling programs offered by manufacturers like Astaro and retailers such as Best Buy. The “National Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC’s) What To Do About E-Waste” Web site includes a lot of helpful information about and links to manufacturer take-back programs and retailer recycling programs. There are also lots of other e-waste recycling Web sites you can look at. Some of the more notable sites include myGreenElectronics and Earth 911.

Annapolis Capital: Dog’s World: Consider Adopting a Cat

Filed under: Pets 911 - June 4, 2008

By Peggy Johnson

Today is cat day! Kathy Rude of Rude Ranch Animal Rescue wrote to remind me:

“I’ve been following one reader’s comments about setting up a network/hotline for missing and lost pets. There is a Web site, www.pets911.com or www.myspace.com/pets911 for Myspacers, that does offer a lost and found service. Although I don’t know all the ins and outs, they do send out regional lost pet alerts to shelters and rescues. We get one or two a week from areas as far away as Richmond, Va. Also, if you can, microchip your pet. Although it might be expensive, this is a sure way to uniquely identify your pet.

“Almost all registered rescues, shelters and vet clinics have universal scanners now, so if you find a pet any of these groups should be able to check for a microchip for you.

“I also wanted to let you know that June is once again National Adopt a Shelter Cat Month. The goal of National Adopt a Shelter Cat Month is to increase awareness of the vast number of healthy, adoptable cats and kittens in animal shelters nationwide.

”Unfortunately, June is always one of our busiest months in terms of cat and kitten intake. In addition to the moms and kittens that usually arrive in June, many older cats are now in need of homes due to the massive numbers of home foreclosures in the area. If you’ve been thinking about adding a new furry member to your family, now is the time to go do it. Not only will you have a lifelong companion, but you will be saving a life.

“There are many advantages to adopting a cat. The cat will be more than happy to point out the best/softest chair in the house; cats love smaller spaces, and are perfectly happy in an apartment; most cats are not afraid to skid out and look goofy while chasing a toy; and most importantly, a cat will never eat the last slice of cheesecake that you were looking forward to eating all day … however, ice cream is another matter all together.”

Ah, friends, is there anything cuter than a little kitten playing with a string, ball or feather? Do think about adopting one this year, which will give you years of pleasure, I know.

***

The Canine Training Association will be starting a new 10-week basic beginner dog obedience class at the SPCA in Annapolis at 7 p.m. June 12. Now is the time to get that puppy, which has been giving you a bit of trouble, into a class where he will learn to behave, and make you proud. These are good classes, friends, and are conducted by experienced trainers.

These classes are tailored to the new dog owner with a puppy or young adult dog that has had little or no training, but older dogs are welcome, too. Upon completion of the 10-week class, your dog will be able to walk well on a leash, without pulling, maintain a one-minute sit-stay, and a two-minute down-stay, with other dogs around, too. Stand on command, come on command while on a leash, and be accepting to friendly strangers. This 10-week basic class will teach you better communication skills with your dog and teach your dog self control and how to be a terrific member of your family.

After successful completion of the class, you and your dog are ready to continue on to take the Canine Good Citizen test, or continue training in AKC obedience agility, flyball, rally, tracking and many more fun activities. Dog obedience builds up a rapport between you and your dog, which you haven’t noticed before. It is such fun for both of you, and you also meet new doggie friends.

I have taken my dogs to these classes, and do recommend them, so get ready for a fun time.

The cost is $600 for the 10-week course. Classes will be held at the Annapolis SPCA at 1815 Bay Ridge Ave., between Hilltop Lane and Timber Creek Drive. Call Ken Nagler at 410-573-6556 for more information, or to register.

Now, have you hugged your dog today?

Myrtle Beach Sun News: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Lose Sheen But Still Outshine Alternative

Filed under: Earth 911 - June 4, 2008

By Stacy Downs

A first simple step to living greener is using compact fluorescent bulbs, you hear repeatedly. After all, they last for years, saving money and energy.

But making the switch to CFLs isn’t so easy.

“Customers complain about how they forked over $10 apiece for CFLs a few years ago and then the bulbs didn’t last as long as they (the manufacturers) claimed,” says Clint Poteete, national sales director of Light Bulbs Etc., a worldwide lighting supplier based in Lenexa, Kan. “The first generation of CFLs did have major problems, but they have improved and they do last.”

Newer CFLs do work better, agrees Bob Markovich, home and yard editor of Consumer Reports magazine, which ranked CFLs in the May issue.

“They once had a humming noise, but they don’t now,” he says. “Still, like other green solutions, they’re not perfect.”

RECYCLING. CFLs contain small amounts of mercury, which means you can’t just toss them in the trash as you can incandescent bulbs. Some people say you can dispose of them in sealed, doubled plastic bags. But that’s not a green solution.

Recycling is the best option. However, there aren’t many recycling centers available. At some county hazardous waste collection sites you have to pay about $1 per bulb to recycle CFLs.

CLEANUP. If a CFL breaks, you can’t clean it up as you would an incandescent because of its mercury. According to instructions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, you should open windows and doors and walk out of the room for 15 minutes. Don’t vacuum. On hardwood floors, wear disposable rubber gloves and use cardboard or stiff paper to scoop up debris. Then clean the area with a damp paper towel. For rugs, use sticky tape to pick up any compact fluorescent bulb fragments and powder. Place the debris and cleanup materials in sealed, doubled plastic bags. Recycle if possible.

After vacuuming the spot, remove the vacuum bag and seal it. Put that bag in a plastic bag, seal it and throw it away. Wash hands.

COLOR. The bluish light of some CFLs makes you feel like you’re in a science lab. For more natural lighting, choose bulbs that are 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin, says Bob Black, owner of Light Bulbs Etc. They mimic the warm, yellowish light of incandescent bulbs.

WARM-UP TIME. CFLs can take more than a minute to achieve full brightness.

Interior designer Barbara Bishop of Kansas City uses a CFL in her dressing room. While the light is warming up, she makes her bed. “The light is usually ready for me by then,” she says.

Because of the warm-up time, CFLs are not recommended for safety applications such as stairways, or security lighting such as motion sensors.

However, CFLs are good for front porch lights that stay on all the time.

QUALITY VARIES. Brands matter with CFLs, Markovich says. In Consumer Reports’ recent rankings of Energy Star-qualified CFLs, the Feit Ecobulb ESL13T ($2.25) failed much earlier than others, at 3,300 to 3,900 hours. That’s much less than the average 8,000 hours it claims on the package. However, that Feit CFL still lasts three times longer than the average incandescent, saving about $13 during a 3,300-hour bulb life.

GETTING DIMMER. CFLs can be dimmed using special dimmable bulbs that cost three to four times more than the average CFL. Even then, they don’t dim as consistently as incandescent bulbs, Black says. And you might need to have an electrician update your dimmer system.

Not a perfect fit. Sometimes CFLs don’t fit lamps. Try a Sylvania micro-mini spiral or a harp extender. The harp is the wire device on a lamp that holds the shade. They sell for about $2 at lighting stores.

CFLs come in configurations beyond spirals, including globes and flame tips for chandeliers. Reflector CFLs are best for recessed cans. However, CFLs don’t project enough for spot lighting like halogens, which are also energy-efficient.

RESOURCES

www.consumerreports.org (search CFL)

www.energystar.gov (search CFL)

—

Find residential recycling centers for CFLs:

www.lightbulbsdirect.com

www.earth911.org

www.lamprecycle.org

800-CLEAN-UP (800-253-2687)

www.sylvania.com (Pay $15 for a 15-bulb recycling kit. Once the slots are filled, mail it for recycling, postage paid.)

Light Bulbs Etc. of Lenexa charges 50 cents to recycle a bulb; fee is waived if replacement bulbs are purchased.

COMPACT FLUORESCENTS vs. INCANDESCENT BULBS

Average price: $2.50 vs. 50 cents

Average lifespan: 6,000 hours vs. 1,000 hours

Average electrical bill savings per CFL: $30 over its lifetime

The next step: Light emitting diodes, or LEDs, last longer than CFLs and don’t contain mercury. However, the technology still is years away from being truly mainstream. LEDs are currently used mostly as accent lighting in homes.

Austin-American Statesman: Paper or Plastic: Which Has Better Recycling “Payoff”?

Filed under: Earth 911 - June 2, 2008

By Peter Mongillo

I’ve seen several notes in the paper recently from people so frustrated with the recycling process in Austin that they have quit trying. Perhaps what would help is a rank ordering of what is most important to recycle (biggest payoff for the environment, most cost-effective). I assume that aluminum cans would come first. What would be second, third, etc.? —T.K.

It depends on your definition of “payoff for the environment.” There are many issues to consider, including use of non-renewable resources, landfill space and the energy that goes into both the production of new materials as well as the recycling process.

I posed this question to a couple of different sources: Jill Mayfield, spokeswoman for the City of Austin Solid Waste Services, and the knowledgeable folks at Earth911.org, a Web site dedicated to providing information on recycling and other environmental issues. Both agreed that aluminum recycling is the most efficient when it comes to preserving a natural resource, saving energy and cost: A recycled beer can can become a new beer can in a very short amount of time, and making new aluminum cans from recycled cans uses 95 percent less energy than making cans from virgin ore, according to Earth911. Sale of used aluminum is also extremely profitable relative to the other items in your blue bin.

Two other items we leave on the curb, paper and glass, yield good results, but not as good as aluminum and other metal. Glass containers are completely recyclable, so glass that is recycled represents an equal amount of raw materials that are not used to make new glass, and recycled glass requires less energy to produce. Recycled paper reduces some of the raw materials used in producing paper, and paper mills producing recycled paper use 40 percent less energy than when using fresh lumber, according to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.

In contrast, the environmental benefits of recycling plastic bottles (water, juice and sports drinks), are not as great. Recycled plastic bottles typically do not become new bottles, but they do become low-grade durable plastic used in things like carpet and clothing, according to Austin recycling firm Cycled Plastics. So though the plastic is reused, recycling is not going to stop new bottles from being made. It takes 1.5 million barrels of oil to produce a year’s supply of bottles for water, according to Earth911. Based on this, there is more environmental benefit from giving up bottled water than there is from recycling the bottles. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t recycle, as it will keep the bottles out of landfills. In a recent article, the American-Statesman’s Pamela LeBlanc pointed out that “about 15 percent of custom plastic bottles, which include water, juice, tea and sports drinks (not soda, which is counted differently), are recycled, according to the Container Recycling Institute. The rest —an estimated 45 billion plastic bottles a year— go into landfills or become litter. That’s almost 160 plastic bottles trashed per person per year, according to the institute.”

E Magazine: Burned-Out Bulbs

Filed under: Earth 911 - June 1, 2008

By Matthew Weafer

As green living goes mainstream, compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs burn brightly in millions of homes. And there lies the problem: CFLs require mercury to produce light. On average, 25-watt CFLs contain five milligrams (mg) of mercury, an amount that would fit on the tip of a pen.

When the glass breaks in landfills, the mercury escapes, and, over time, leaches into topsoil and ground water, eventually winding up in streams, ponds and lakes. And long-term exposure to mercury poses severe health risks.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association says that 200 million CFL bulbs were sold in 2007. And the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that double that number are being improperly landfilled each year. The responsible alternative is to seek out an appropriate disposal site or EPA-certified recycling center. And some retailers, including IKEA, have begun accepting spent CFLs. But disposal options are not meeting demand.

Online, the site Earth911.com can provide the addresses and contact information of the nearest recycling centers. Although many disposal sites are limited to area residents, some centers accept CFLs by mail.

Lanny Thompson, owner of Maintenance Solutions in Campbellsville, Kentucky, collects fluorescent bulbs from Kentucky-area residents and delivers them to an EPA-certified recycling facility. Unlike a transfer station or city dump, these facilities reuse every part of the CFL.

Thompson said he receives an average of 10 phone calls a day from Kentucky residents seeking disposal sites. Unlike fluorescent tubes, he says CFLs must be dismantled by hand.

Despite the mercury content, CFLs are much more environmentally friendly than incandescent lights because of the greater amounts of mercury emitted during coal burning, which powers more than half of the U.S. According to NEMA, incandescents still emit 150 percent more mercury overall.