USA Today: Old TVs Cause New Problems

Filed under: Earth911 - January 26, 2009

By Elizabeth Weise

EL CERRITO, Calif.—When the hatch popped open on Louis Cornelius’ SUV, there were four TVs piled up in the back, all destined for recycling. “My wife wanted to be up to date on the electronics,” he says.

Sumiko Flodin’s 35-year-old TV “still works,” but she bought a new 19-inch set at Best Buy and wanted to empty out her living room. “I don’t like the idea of having all this stuff hanging around.”

When Virginia Ritchie decided to clear out her old TVs, she loaded up the big one that didn’t work anymore, “and then I found three TVs in the basement to get rid of.”

For each of them, and most of the 300 or so people who came to an “electronic waste recycling event” on a chilly Saturday here, the motivation was simple: cleaning up. But for the Environmental Protection Agency and activists worried about soil, water and air pollution, it’s more complicated.

Televisions carelessly disposed of can be toxic to the environment. A huge backlog of unused old ones (99.1 million, the EPA says) is sitting around in people’s homes.

And later this year —either on Feb. 17 or on June 12 if Congress passes a delay— the USA will switch from analog to digital TV transmission. The number of unwanted TVs will go even higher as consumers upgrade to sets capable of receiving high-definition broadcasts.

Though a TV set is benign in the living room, it’s not when it is broken up to reach the reusable materials inside. There’s a lot of lead, a bit of barium, cadmium, chromium, traces of gold and even mercury in the lamps on some flat screens.

The best way to deal with them is not to throw them away at all but to keep using them, says John Cross of EPA’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. Buying a converter box or getting cable or satellite TV will keep a TV useful for years. But if TVs are discarded, the federal agency wants to make sure the materials in them are recycled.

The problem, according to a Government Accountability Office report last year, is that the EPA’s “enforcement is lacking.” That has left most of the regulatory work up to the states, only some of which license and audit recycling companies.

The GAO report found that although some electronics are handled responsibly, “a substantial quantity ends up in countries where disposal practices are unsafe to workers and dangerous to the environment.” Barbara Kyle of the San Francisco-based Electronics TakeBack Coalition puts that quantity at close to 90 percent.

EPA environmental scientist Robert Tonetti says it’s not that bad: “There are hundreds of honorable recyclers in the United States, and some scoundrels.”

Taking the set apart

Under EPA rules, cathode-ray tube TVs —anything that’s not flat screen— aren’t supposed to be put into landfills, but households are exempt. It’s also illegal to export them for recycling unless the destination country agrees and the EPA has been notified. But the GAO found that recycling companies routinely circumvent the rule.

Six states have passed laws making it illegal to throw a TV away, and another five are expected to do so in 2010, Kyle says. Eighteen states, as well as New York City, have ordered electronic recycling programs. But “not all the laws include televisions, which in the year of digital conversion is unfortunate,” Kyle says.

Jacob Cherry, a third-generation recycler and CEO of Universal Waste Management, the Oakland company that organized the collection event, says he has seen “people just putting their television in a big black plastic bag so they wouldn’t get caught.”

At the El Cerrito event, collection coordinator Enrique Aparicio had a crew of seven lined up in the parking lot, ready to swarm over each car, truck and SUV as it passed from sign-in station to drop-off point.

At the company’s warehouse in Oakland, Cherry’s staff dismantles everything down to its constituent pieces for shipping to processors. Cesar Garcia, a dismantler, lines them up on a long metal table. He first uses an electric screwdriver to unfasten the plastic housing. Sometimes it takes a few whacks with a hammer to loosen the really old ones.

Next he pulls out a pair of wire snips and clips all the cords, which go into a waiting bin to be relieved of their copper later. Now comes the fun part: breaking the vacuum seal on the cathode ray tube. “If you don’t, when you drop one of these, it goes off like a bomb,” Cherry says.

Garcia takes an awl and a hammer and carefully positions it in the hole left when the air was sucked out of the tube when it was made. A quick tap releases the vacuum. The back portion of the tube, called the funnel, has a thick layer of lead paint, about five to seven pounds worth. It and the screen go to Mexico, where they are crushed, the lead recovered and the glass melted down for reuse in new cathode-ray tubes.

The yoke at the back is pulled out and the copper wire recovered. Then comes the “big bad guy” in the industry, the TV’s circuit board. “This has some valuable materials in it, and also some that can be toxic,” Cherry says. Here’s where recycling can get less than green.

Recycling can be done quick and dirty to get the valuable metals. That’s what happens when companies refine “the old-fashioned way,” in Cherry’s words.

“You throw it in a big vat of acid, and it effectively melts all of the different materials and you’re left with metals and sludge.” The metals are sold, the sludge is waste. “Oftentimes, when that vat of acid is spent, it’s literally dumped,” soaking into the ground and polluting the water table, Cherry says.

‘Toxic Fog’

“The old-fashioned way” is frequently how workshops in developing nations recover resalable materials in TVs and computers. According to the Basel Convention, an outgrowth of the United Nations’ environmental program, when old TVs and electronics are shipped to China, India and Africa, their precious and recyclable metals are recovered in ways that are environmentally hazardous, poisoning workers, the air and the land. Environmentalists and activists want Congress to make exporting such e-waste illegal.

“In a place like China, the recycling of copper wire is to douse it with kerosene and burn the vinyl off. You create a tremendously toxic fog when you do that,” says Robert Houghton, president of the Columbus, Ohio, recycling company Redemtech.

EPA’s Cross says it’s important to understand that most markets for reused and recycled electronics are outside the USA. “Reuse markets are mainly in less-developed countries,” he says. And though there are certainly “some unscrupulous recyclers and export brokers, these actually handle a small minority of materials.”

Materials often end up in developing countries, where labor costs are lower, because recycling doesn’t pay for itself here. Redemtech says the cost of recycling the parts of a 19-inch TV set outweighs the benefit by about $6. States with recycling laws make up some of the difference by requiring electronics producers to run recycling programs or charging electronics producers or buyers a fee to fund them.

Unified Waste Management’s Cherry makes money because California pays collectors by the pound for recycled electronics. His materials go to California-certified Xstrata in San Jose, a former copper smelter that now focuses on recycling. But, he notes, “We have buyers that hit us up literally daily. They’re from Southeast Asia or African nations like Nigeria, and they offer better prices than we’re getting.”

Recycle it Right

Activists would be just as happy if Americans would keep their old TVs as plant stands for a few years until better recycling programs are in place. But what if the garage is full and the closets are stuffed? Ask whether the store where you bought a new TV will take the old one. Many do for free, others for a small fee. Or find a nearby recycling program:

“The rule of thumb is: It’s nasty stuff, don’t smash it, don’t break it and don’t dispose of it at the curb,” says Robert Houghton of Redemtech.

Yahoo! Green: Get Ready for the Digital TV Transition

Filed under: Earth911 - January 26, 2009

By Lori Bongiorno

Confused about what the upcoming transition to digital TV means for you? Armed with the right information you can make smart choices that are light on your wallet and the planet.

The cheapest, greenest, and easiest options are all the same: Keep the television you already own. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of affordable and sustainable choices if you are shopping for a new TV.

Read on for answers to common questions, plus money and energy-saving tips.

Do I need a new TV?

No, but depending on what your set-up is, you may need to make some adjustments. Here are the various scenarios:

Are all digital converter boxes the same?

There are several models to choose from. Learn the basics before you buy:

What should I look for when buying a new television?

There’s no one definition of a “green” TV, but shoppers looking to make sustainable purchases can consider several factors.

How can I save money and energy if I buy a new TV?

How you set up your TV can make a difference:

What should I do with my old TV?

Don’t send it to the landfill. Old televisions contain significant amounts of lead and other toxic chemicals that can leach into soil and ground water. Plus, the sheer number of potentially obsolete TVs (approximately 22 million if owners decide to upgrade to new TVs) could overwhelm landfills. Here are some better options:

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green’s users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.

New Jersey Courier-Post: Eight Steps to a Greener You

Filed under: Earth911 - January 25, 2009

By Tara Nurin

In 2006, Hassen Saker was a consultant without a cause. Having wrapped up her duties for her final client, the professional organizer from Woodlynne was seeking a new career path.

In November of that year, she got it: She would offer environmentally conscious home cleaning services and personal “greening” consultations to transform clients’ houses and lives into models of eco-friendly living.

In the two years since, Saker’s company, Organic Home LLC, has received awards for sustainably cleaning, organizing, redesigning and detoxifying rooms, closets, yards, offices and behaviors for clients across South Jersey.

We asked her to provide some relatively simple and inexpensive tips on how to “green” our own lives, and we’ve expanded on her suggestions with some advice from professionals across various industries who are incorporating environmental practices into their own businesses.

As inspiration, Saker reminds us, “Being green is about being mindful, positive and generous; thinking outside yourself; seeing that nobody lives in a bubble and that what we do affects those around us, and vice versa. Being green is more about the Golden Rule as it is applied to all living creatures. It’s about being authentic and feeling good. You could say that “being green’ is being golden.”

1. Home Decorating

Accenting your home with eco-friendly decor might be one of the most fun and beautiful ways to go green. These days, it’s not hard to find a boutique or home furnishings retailer that sells rich towels, linens and bedding manufactured with organic fabric and non-toxic dyes. In addition, Saker recommends purchasing shower curtains made of washable cotton or hemp (versus landfill-clogging plastic) and perfuming your home by burning soy or beeswax candles scented with essential oils, rather than polluting the air with plasticizers like artificially fragranced room sprays, plug-ins and candles. Saker says a good rule of thumb to follow in home decor and all aspects of our lives is to “avoid plastics and synthetics whenever you can,” because they generally create harmful pollutants in their manufacture, usage and disposal.

2. Kitchen

When you green your kitchen, you’re eliminating poisonous chemicals that end up in your body, says Martine Marcus, owner of burdenfree FOODS, a sustainable catering company in Morristown, Morris County.

“Stay away from Teflon coatings,” she warns. “The non-stick surface is PFOA, a synthetic chemical that breaks down at high temperatures and leaches into the air and your food.”

Instead, she says, try cast iron.

“It lasts forever and is easy to ’season’ and make non-stick.”

In addition, she says, switch to cellulose “pop-up” sponges or loofahs, both of which are biodegradable. And consider spending $5 to $20 on a faucet aerator, a small attachment for the kitchen sink. The system works by forcing air into your water, leading to a savings of up to 50 percent on kitchen water use and heating.

3. Electronics

If you’re wondering what to do with your family’s old TVs, laptops and iPods rendered obsolete by the recent holiday gift-giving season, the first thing to know is not to throw them away!

“Electronics can be a nightmare in landfills,” says Trey Granger, of the non-profit group Earth 911, “because they contain heavy metals like lead and mercury.”

Instead, he says, chains like Best Buy, Staples and Office Depot often accept working items as a trade-in for credit toward a new purchase. If you can’t trade in your old electronics, donate them to a school or local charity (Verizon stores and various agencies collect old cell phones to give to people in need). If the product no longer works, find a qualified local recycler —some of whom make house calls— on www.earth911.com.

4. Clothes Closet

Leehe Fai, owner of an eponymous clothing boutique in Philadelphia’s posh Rittenhouse Square, has some surprising eco-fabulous fabric trends to announce to fashionistas:

“Bamboo. (It) offers a built-in temperature control, which makes it great for cold winter days (and) bamboo is also as luxe as cashmere, breathable and does not hold odor.”

She also extols the virtues of soy, which she says is “super soft and also great for winter, much easier to care for than cashmere,” and tencel, “made out of wood pulp, very soft and NOT very expensive; great way to replace T-shirts.”

The materials, Fai says, are made without chemicals and are biodegradable.

5. Pets

“Because pets are a part of your family, they shouldn’t be restricted from your eco-friendly activities,” says Earth 911’s Granger. “Pick up after your pet, because otherwise the bacteria from droppings will wash into storm drains when it rains and directly into the ocean.”

Go further by scooping that poop with biodegradable litter bags, for sale at Cutter’s Mill Pet Store in Cherry Hill. Cutter’s Mill and other local pet stores also sell long-lasting chew toys that don’t contain toxic dyes, plastics or chemicals; all-natural, organic pet foods, shampoos and medicines; and perhaps most unusually, dog beds stuffed with recycled bottles.

“Each bed has a tag on it that tells you how many bottles were kept out of landfills by putting them into that bed. People really love that,” raves Susan Parker, executive vice president and COO of Norristown, Pa.-based Cutter’s Mill.

6. Landscaping

There’s probably a sarcastic joke or two that can be made about the concept of “greening” your grass, but for Barry Draycott, president of the Tech-Terra Organics landscaping firm in Mt. Laurel, maintaining a yard that’s in harmony with nature is very serious business.

For Draycott, the No. 1 way a homeowner can cultivate a healthy lawn is by reducing the chemical pesticides and fertilizers used in its care. To accomplish this, it’s important to choose the proper plants for a particular environment. County extension agents and local nurseries can recommend native species that will grow well in your type of soil, climate and sunlight, thus eliminating the need for aggressive management. Water deeply and infrequently instead of shallowly and often to increase plant vigor, which keeps insects at bay.

7. Entertaining

If anyone should know the best practices involved in throwing a green party, it’s Joe Palombo, sustainable food advocate and owner of Mirabella’s Cafe in Cherry Hill and its new offshoot, the eco-focused Mirabella Caterers.

“Stay away from Styrofoam,” he cautions. In its place, opt for recycled paper supplies and biodegradable plates, cups and garbage bags, beginning to show up on the shelves of party supply stores, or use non-disposables and simply wash them after the party.

Adorn with plants and flowers instead of tossable decorations, and serve earth-friendly foods like organic coffee and tea, free-range meat, locally-grown produce, and fish from sustainable fisheries.

8. Cleaning

As with most anything, cleaning products that harm the environment typically harm our health, and vice versa. For years, chemical-laden, synthetic cleaners have been the norm but now the desire to keep our bodies and our planet free of toxins is leading eco-aware consumers straight back to the basics. “Hot, soapy water is the best way to clean most anything,” says Saker. “If you must disinfect, use vinegar and tea tree or thyme oil, or straight lemon juice.”

While it would require a book-length article to explain the various combinations of said ingredients required for cleaning particular items, Saker says, “For most purposes, a mixture of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water is perfect for wiping glass and most surfaces. For something more powerful, you can add a little borax and/or castile soap or add essential oil to scent.”

EarthTalk: Which Plastic is Safer and Greener, #5 or #2?

Filed under: Earth911 - January 24, 2009

EarthTalk is a Q&A column from E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: It seems like more products are being packaged in #5 rather than #2 plastic today, and my local recycling agency won’t take #5. I’ve also heard that #5 plastics are more toxic. Which plastic is the better choice? —Janice Shaffer, Chillicothe, MO

Polypropylene, which is marked with #5 inside the “chasing arrows” symbols on the bottom of plastic containers, is a lighter-weight plastic resin commonly used in dairy and deli packaging. Some companies have chosen this lighter plastic because it has a lower environmental impact to produce and transport.

High density polyethylene (HDPE), which is marked with #2, is a stiffer resin used to package cleaning products and also some dairy products. The most widely used resin type for consumer food products is polyethylene terephthalate, or PETE, which is marked with #1 and used for soda and water bottles.

According to Consumers Union’s Greener Choices website, all three of these plastics are considered safe for their original use, though any of them can leak toxins when reused repeatedly. And all three can be recycled, though a lagging market leads some recycling locations to limit what they’ll accept. There is also concern that widespread plastics recycling encourages more use of plastics, and that efforts would be better spent getting consumers to buy fewer plastic-encased products. Some even criticize the chasing-arrow labeling system for implying a higher level of recyclability than is presently available.

Why is a lighter-weight plastic better? According to natural dairy company Stonyfield Farm, their #5 one-quart yogurt container uses 30 percent less plastic than a #2 cup. Since it takes less material to make a thinner container, it reduces the amount of resin that needs to be manufactured. Stonyfield estimates that the use of #5 over #2 prevents the manufacture and disposal of more than 100 tons of plastic per year.

But savings comes from more than manufacturing. The heavier #2 plastics require more energy to transport. It’s not only getting the yogurt from Stonyfield’s plants to your store, but also getting the containers from the plastics manufacturer to their dairies. In fact, the company cites a packaging study by the Boston-based Tellus Institute that found that 95 percent of the environmental costs of packaging lie in production and less than five percent are associated with disposal.

According to the website Earth 911, a national directory of recycling outlets, the best thing consumers can do is to choose items with less packaging and buy in bulk when possible. So the next time you reach into the dairy case, grab the quart or gallon-size yogurt instead of the single-serving cups. Then, make sure you recycle only the allowable plastics so you don’t contaminate the lot. While recycling is important, it may be okay to landfill a product’s packaging if it was created with an environmentally responsible plan.

Besides seeking alternatives to plastic packaging, consumers can affect overall plastic use by supporting legislation that would require manufacturers to take back their plastic packaging, which would encourage “cradle-to-grave” practices. Further, you can support legislation that mandates more use of recycled plastic content, which would reduce the overall amount of virgin plastic produced in the first place.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it here or via e-mail. Read past columns here.

Philippine Daily Inquirer: E-waste Need Not Be All Bad

Filed under: Earth911 - January 21, 2009

By Linda Bolido

Earth 911 says the total annual global volume of e-waste is estimated to reach about 40 million metric tons. E-waste includes your computers, mobile phones, iPods, digital video disc players, digital cameras and the like.

The nongovernmental environment advocacy group pointed out in an online report prepared by its staff, “Each day, various types of consumer electronics are constantly being upgraded or completely scrapped in favor of technological advancements. In the process, scores of old VCRs (video cassette recorders, remember them?), Walkman cassette decks and bulky video cameras become what is known as ‘e-waste’ or electronic waste.”

You may have noticed that mobile-phone manufacturers alone launch new models about every three months. With all the new add-ons to mobile phones, pretty soon they will probably have models very close to the Swiss knife.

The monster-like computers of old science-fiction movies are now museum pieces. Computers, both desktop and laptop, are getting thinner, sleeker, and faster. Laptops even come in color now, so you can probably get your favorite hue. The laptop may even become the ultimate fashion accessory of the true trendsetter, just as some mobile phone makers see their products as more than just tools but items to complete your look.

Earth 911 said, “Unfortunately, improper disposal of e-waste creates a significant burden on landfills because toxic substances can leach into the soil and groundwater.”

“In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that we generated 1.5 billion pounds of all kinds of e-waste in 2006. This includes an estimated 44 million computers and televisions.”

Heavy Metal Risk

“This amount is likely to increase because e-waste is growing at three times the rate of other municipal waste. Although e-waste accounts for only one to four percent of municipal waste, it may be responsible for as much as 70 percent of the heavy metals in landfills, including 40 percent of all lead.”

The situation may not look as bad in the Philippines but that should be seen as an opportunity, not an excuse to do nothing. We have the huge advantage of being able to start taking steps now to prevent the e-waste problem here from developing into a major disaster.

Earth 911 warns that certain items from e-products are particularly harmful.

“For instance, CRT-based computer and television monitors contain on average four to eight pounds of lead, a highly toxic heavy metal.” (CRT stands for cathode-ray tube, which helps create images.)

However, the 3Rs —reuse, reduce, recycle— that environmentalists chant regularly can prevent our being buried under tons of not just waste, but highly poisonous waste.

Dirty Air

Ria Bianca D. Valeroso wants to call the attention of whichever government agency is supposed to ensure that motor vehicles are in good working condition about these three smoke belchers: TYJ 350 Cher Transport, TXR 999 Mersan and TXR 321.

Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail lbolido@inquirer.com.ph

DeKalb MidWeek News: Hampshire Approves Tax Abatements

Filed under: Earth911 - January 20, 2009

By Katie Royal

Hampshire village board members approved several tax abatement ordinances for the year at their latest meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15.

For the second year, the village abated its portion of its property taxes up to $160,000 on the Elgiloy Specialty Metals facility property.

Tax abatements were approved for bonds issued to fund the construction of a water tower and related improvements in the Old Mill Manor subdivision, as well as other improvements in the village.

These bonds will be refunded through an alternative revenue source, utility taxes rather than property taxes, according to the new abatement ordinance.

In addition, village officials passed an ordinance stating that the construction of a sanitary sewer force main and related improvements in Special Service Area (SSA) 5 will be funded through sales tax revenue generated by the village.

An announcement was also made regarding the end of Police Chief Tom Atchison’s career with the Hampshire Police Department. He recently announced his retirement, effective Jan. 30, 2009.

The village will host an open house for anyone interested in wishing him farewell. People are welcome to take part in refreshments and well wishes from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30 at the village hall, 234 S. State St.

Finally, Village elections are coming up this April, and all those who are interested in being put on the ballot must have their election packet paperwork turned in at the Village Hall by 5 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 23 in order to be considered. In addition to personal paperwork, candidate hopefuls must also turn in a petition with enough signatures to be considered for election. For more information, please call Linda Vasquez at the Village Hall, 847-683-2181, or stop by at 234 S. State Street in Hampshire.

Election Deadline, etc.

Baltimore Sun: 12 Things You Thought You Couldn’t Recycle

Filed under: Earth911 - January 19, 2009

Wait! Before you ditch it, consider whether that item can be recycled, reused by someone else or repurposed. Here are some things you probably never thought of recycling—and suggestions to get you started.

Christmas Tree

If you purchased a potted Christmas tree from your local nursery or garden center, replanting it on your property or giving it away to a neighbor or parks department can keep it out of a landfill. If you bought a cut tree, you can repurpose it. Real Christmas trees can be turned into mulch and used in gardening and landscaping or chipped and used on hiking trails, paths and walkways. Christmas trees can also been used for erosion control, soil stabilization and shoreline maintenance, stabilizing the soil and providing habitats for fish, birds, ambhibians and mammals. In some areas, community groups like the Boy Scouts will collect trees curbside for a small donation and take them to the nearest recycling center for you. To learn more about treecycling, visit www.earth911.com.

BONUS: Send your old Christmas lights to www.holidayleds.com, they’ll recycle them for you and give you a coupon for 15% off the purchase of new, energy-efficient LED lights.

Running Sneakers

Each year, millions of pairs of athletic shoes get tossed into landfills. But sneakers contain valuable materials that could be re-used. In 1990, Nike launched the Reuse-A-Shoe program, which collects worn-out athletic shoes of any brand from drop-off sites at Nike stores and elsewhere and turns them into playground flooring. Since its inception, the program has recycled more than 21 million pairs of athletic shoes to create more than 265 sport surfaces providing safe playgrounds for kids as part of Nike’s Let Me Play global community investment program. For drop off sites in your area or to find out more about Nike’s recycling programs, visit www.nikebiz.com.

Tires

According to the EPA, you may be able to return surplus tires to either a tire retailer or a local recycling facility. Be sure to confirm that the facility accepts tires for recycling and check for quantity and size limitations. Some local municipalities will also periodically conduct “tire amnesty days” when residents can bring a limited number of tires to a drop-off site free of charge. Scrap tires may be cut, punched, and stamped into various rubber products after removal of the steel bead. Products include floor mats, belts, gaskets, shoe soles, highway crash barriers, and boat bumpers on marine docks. For more information, contact your local solid waste management agency.

Eyeglasses

New Eyes For The Needy purchases new eyeglasses for poor children and adults in the United States and recycles donated glasses for distribution to indigent people in developing nations worldwide. Eyeglasses in good condition are also sent to medical missions and international charitable organizations for distribution to the poor in developing nations. Details: www.NewEyesForTheNeedy.org.

Computers

Thousands of computers are taken out of service every year when consumers opt for new and improved models. Many of these are still perfectly usable and could be passed along to nonprofit organizations, schools, and used by people with disabilities. For information on how and where to donate your used computer, visit www.sharetechnology.org.

The Radio Shack Online Trade-In Program allows customers to exchange used portable electronics for a Radio Shack gift card. Check with your local Radio Shack retailer or visit the Radio Shack website for terms and conditions.

Many computer retailers like Apple, DELL, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Panasonic and SONY offer recycling and trade-in incentives toward the purchase of new computers. Visit www.mygreenelectronics.org for a summary of some of the most popular recycling programs offered by the biggest manufacturers.

Prom Dress

Created in 2002, Operation Fairy Dust provides NYC high school girls in need with a formal dress for their senior prom. This gives them the ability to attend their prom with confidence, translating into an increased level of self-esteem. To donate a bridesmaid dress or other formal dress from your closet, visit www.operationfairydust.org.

Hand towels

Clean used towels and washable baby blankets can find great new uses at local animal shelters and rescues. Many shelters welcome the donations putting them to use as bedding, comforting an animal in the medical department, or for drying a rescue animal after a bath. Contact your local shelter to see if they are accepting donations.

Paint

Donate leftover paint to our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, offer it to your high school’s drama for use in creating sets, or check with your place of worship to see if there is a family in your community who might want to use it for a quick and inexpensive room makeover. To recycle steel paint cans, they must be empty and all paint contents dried, then call your town recycling coordinator for instructions.

Refrigerator

If you are replacing a working appliance, look to local charities that might find a match for your item. Non-working washing machines, water heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators, and dryers also can be recycled. The Steel Alliance and the Steel Recycling Institute have teamed up to bring you the first searchable online database specifically designed to help find locations that will recycle steel cans and appliances. The database contains more than 30,000 steel recycling locations, searchable by state and zip code. Find it here: www.recycle-steel.org.

Carpet

Composite decking material, roofing shingles, railroad ties, automotive parts, and stepping stones are just some products that can be made with recycled carpeting. For a map of carpet recovery centers across the country and contact information, visit carpetrecovery.org.

Sports equipment

Play It Again Sports buys, sells and trades gently used sporting equipment and gear. To find a location, sell or trade equipment, visit www.playitagainsports.com.

Catoosa County News: A Damaged Economy Reduces Value of Recycled Products

Filed under: Earth911 - January 19, 2009

By Elliot S. Volkman

The economy has yet to make a turn for the better, and recycling has started to take a hit as a result.

The value for recycled products has drastically decreased, lowering the amount of material some areas accept and pay for. In a supply and demand economy, less demand for items is causing prices to drop.

Catoosa County’s transfer station operated by Santek currently accepts mixed paper, cardboard and began accepting plastic products Jan. 15, according to Officials at the Santek Catoosa Transfer Station. However, recent prices for paper and other recycled goods have been reduced, creating a smaller demand for these materials.

Johnny Jennings of Catoosa County volunteers his time collecting recyclable materials around Catoosa County and bringing them to Santek. He then donates the proceeds from recycled goods to the local Baptist Children’s Fund. In previous months Jennings says he received $90 per ton for paper; however, he is only being offered $10 per ton now.

The national pricing for recyclables for common products is as follows, each measured per ton: mixed papers, $9.25; cardboard, $22.50 and magazines, $4.39, according to the Scrap Index Web site. Plastic products are purchased for six cents per pound and aluminum purchased for 17 cents per pound.

Consumers purchasing fewer goods due to the recession are causing the issue , according to the Scrap Index. This has in turn slowed down production of products, reducing the need for recyclables, especially overseas. In the recent past, Asian companies have acquired a large portion of U.S. recyclables for the same products consumers later purchase. What was once a multibillion-dollar trading industry has since plummeted, according to a statement from recyclenet.

According to the Scrap Index, more than 22 percent of recycled paper and other materials are purchased from China; causing the demand to decrease from $1,600 in Chinese funds ($205 U.S. dollars) to $400 in Chinese funds.

A popular Web site, www.earth911.com, helps its readers find a recycling center for thousands of different reusable items. The Web site conducted a worldwide poll that resulted in the finding that there would be no decrease in recycling.

“We recently conducted a poll of our readers that showed 32 percent recycle for the monetary value of it, but most other consumers are unaffected by the price of recyclables. We’ve heard from very few programs that they will be ceasing operations until the prices go back up, so it should be business as usual as far as the public is concerned,” said Trey Granger of Earth911.com. “One of the primary reasons to continue recycling is that most of the things we recycle (metal, plastic) are in limited supply. There’s a limited amount of aluminum and petroleum (the main ingredient in plastic) available so putting them in landfills means we have less supply to create future products from.”

The Georgia Recycling Coalition (GRC) states the importance of continuing to recycle even with the value being lowered, and products can even be traded instead. “Reusing items —by repairing them, donating them to charity and community groups, or selling them— reduces waste,” according to the GRC Web site. “Reusing products, when possible, is even better than recycling because the item does not need to be reprocessed before it can be used again. There are a number of ways to find previously owned items. Buying these items or exchanging them with others is a great way to help the planet.”

“Despite the economic climate, recycling is just as important today as ever. The current downturn in recycling commodity markets appears to be a readjustment from unusually high values in recent years,” according to Vice President of Communications for Keep America Beautiful, Robert Wallace. “Communities and individual residents still benefit from recycling because recycling conserves valuable natural resources, and recycled materials consume significantly less energy than those made from virgin materials. For instance, a recycled aluminum can requires 95 percent less energy to create than one made from virgin materials, said Wallace. This energy savings correlates directly to reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacture of materials from virgin sources.”

Wallace goes on to say that recycling products still costs less than placing them in a landfill. “When the current economic situation improves, communities that maintain active recycling programs stand to benefit from the resulting increase in commodity values,” he said.

To recycle paper, plastic and cardboard in Catoosa County visit the Santek Catoosa Transfer Station on Shope Ridge Road in Ringgold. To recycle plastic shopping bags, Wal-mart has a collection area and also sells reusable shopping totes to reduce the use of plastic bags.

To find additional recycling centers, visit www.earth911.com, which can help find areas to recycle specialty products like motor oil.

Northern Virginia Daily: Tree-cycle: Community Programs Allow for Reuse of Evergreens, Live Garland

Filed under: Earth911 - January 16, 2009

By Linwood Outlaw III

The gifts have long been unwrapped. The ornaments and lights are back in storage.

Christmas has come and gone, but many people may still be wondering how to make good use of their trees in its aftermath. Between 25 million and 30 million real trees are sold in the United States annually, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

Because authentic trees are biodegradable, experts say they can be put to good use in a variety of ways other than simply being hauled off with the rest of the trash.

There are at least 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs throughout the country, according to the tree association. Authentic trees support life in general by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases while they’re growing. They also help preserve green spaces. Among the top selling trees are balsam firs, Douglas firs, Scotch pines, white pines, Virginia pines and noble firs.

One commonly known benefit of recycling trees is to produce more mulch for gardening purposes, said Michael Neese, Winchester’s recycling coordinator.

Mulch, Neese said, prevents weed growth and “protects the soil from erosion.” Mulches are also used to reduce compacting from the impact of heavy rains, keep fruits and vegetables clean, and provide a more even soil temperature, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mulch conserves moisture and reduces the need for frequent watering.

Additionally, trees can also be broken down to make bark chips to round out garden beds, Neese said.

Environmentalists also encourage people to convert their Christmas trees into habitats for wildlife. Residents may simply decorate the trees with snacks and place them in their backyard for animals to enjoy, though Neese says such methods are usually applied in more rural areas.

“Making trees into habitats for wildlife usually isn’t done as much in the city,” he said.

About 93 percent of consumers who purchased a real Christmas tree recycled it in some type of community program each year, according to results from a national survey posted on the Web site Earth911.com, which has a database containing information about more than 100,000 recycling programs in the country.

The survey showed authentic trees are recycled for five main types of large-scale uses, including chipping, beachfront erosion prevention, fish habitat, lake and river shoreline stabilization, and river delta sedimentation management. For every real Christmas tree harvested, up to three seedlings are planted in its place the following spring, according to Earth911.com. More than 60 million new seedlings were planted by Christmas tree farmers across North America this year.

Authentic trees, according to the tree association, are highly recommended as opposed to petroleum-based artificial trees, which are mostly imported from China. The average family uses artificial trees for about six to nine years before throwing them away. Environmental experts say artificial trees could remain in a landfill for many years after disposal. Such trees are also known to contain metal toxins such as lead.

Front Royal officials wrapped up their curbside Christmas tree collection program on Wednesday and are suspending yard waste collection operations until March 18.

Winchester officials also wrapped up curbside tree pickups on Wednesday, but residents can still drop off cut trees and other greens at convenience sites and the Landfill Citizens’ Center in Frederick County, except Greenwood Road, from now until the end of this month, Neese said. All trees and garland must be free of wire, decorations and tinsel before being turned in.

The county has convenience sites in Albin, Clearbrook, Gainesboro, Shawneeland, Round Hill, Middletown, and at Double Toll Gate. County officials will ground the trees into mulch to be reused at the landfill. Residents in Shenandoah County can take their cut trees to the recycling center at 349 Landfill Road in Edinburg. The center excepts brush, wood products, lumber and yard waste such as leaves or grass clippings.

For more information and site locations, visit www.co.frederick.va.us or www.shenandoahcountyva.us.

Camarillo Acorn: Free E-waste Drop-Off at La Mariposa

Filed under: Earth911 - January 9, 2009

By Michelle Knight

Camarillo residents can dispose of old computer monitors, cellphones, fax machines and other electronics free of charge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, Sat., Jan 10, at La Mariposa Elementary School, 4800 Corte Olivas. Any electronic item, except for household appliances, will be accepted.

The elementary school is partnering with G & C Technologies and the city of Camarillo to collect and recycle electronic waste. In California, it’s illegal to put TVs and computer monitors in the trash.

Twenty percent of the proceeds will be donated to La Mariposa.

Principal Pam Gonzalez said e-waste collection was chosen as a fundraiser for two reasons: It’s a novel approach, and the school promotes recycling. Students are encouraged throughout the year to bring in items such as plastic bags, bottles, cans, newspapers and batteries to school for recycling.

James Chambers, G & C Technologies’ vice president of sales and operations, said all the electronic items it collects will be reused or recycled.

Electronic products contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium, which can contaminate air and water. G & C is state-certified to collect and properly dispose of e-waste. The company will first assess which electronics can be repaired at its Camarillo Street warehouse and sold at its retail store in Old Town Camarillo. Items that can’t be repaired will be dismantled and the metal, plastic and other components sent to a statecertified recycling center.

“Everything can be recycled,” Chambers said.

A few free e-waste collections around the country have reportedly come under fire because some of the collected electronic products have been shipped to developing countries, where their components are sent to junk yards.

It happens in California, too, even though the state requires certification to accept and dispose of electronic waste, said Barbara Kyle, national coordinator for the San Francisco-based advocacy group Electronics TakeBack Coalition.

Federal law permits the export of old electronics to developing countries, and state law isn’t strong enough to prevent it, Kyle said.

How can you know if a recycler is in fact recycling electronic components?

“You don’t.” Kyle said. “That’s the problem.”

She said the nonprofit plans to introduce federal legislation this year that would ban the export of toxic ewaste materials to developing countries.

Chambers said his company does not sell electronics to other countries and controls the destiny of most of the electronic components by dismantling the units itself.

“That’s how I’m so confident,” Chambers said.

If you miss the ewaste collection event, G & C Technologies accepts e-waste throughout the year, or visit www.erecycle.org or www.earth911.com for a list of electronic waste recycling centers.

In related news, residents can dispose of pesticides, car batteries, oil-based and latex paint and other hazardous chemicals through the city’s Hazardous Household Waste Drop-off, scheduled for today and tomorrow. An appointment is necessary, and pickup service is available for disabled homebound residents.

Call (805) 987-0717 or fill out a request form online at www.ci.camarillo.ca.us.

The city schedules hazardous household waste collections the second Friday and Saturday of each month.

Torrance Daily Breeze: Beverage Container Recycling

Filed under: Earth911 - January 8, 2009

Q: I just went to recycle my bottles and cans at the recycle place by Vons on Beryl Street near the Redondo Beach dog park and it’s gone. I’m wondering where else I can take my recyclables?

—MARIE PASCUA
Redondo Beach

We’ve received a couple of calls recently about closed recycling locations.

People looking for recycling locations for beverage containers may want to try the toll-free numbers and/or Web sites of two organizations that compile that information.

The state Department of Conservation’s toll-free beverage container recycling information line is 800-RECYCLE, and its Web site is www.bottlesandcans.com.

Both use ZIP codes to locate CRV redemption sites for beverage containers.

Earth 911 also has a toll-free phone number, 800-CLEANUP, and Web site, www.earth911.com, to find recycling locations.

Earth 911 uses ZIP codes and the type of item to find recycling locations, compiling 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.

One note: When we used the Earth 911 Web site, the Beryl Street location was still listed, but it did provide a toll-free number for the company that operated the site.

—Stephanie Walton

Tampa Tribune: Residents Are Urged to Recycle Electronics

Filed under: Earth911 - January 8, 2009

Got a shiny new television set or computer for Christmas? Don’t forget to recycle your old electronics, state environmental officials say.The Florida Department of Environmental Protection wants Pasco County residents to keep discarded electronics out of landfills to protect the state’s natural resources.

“Recycling televisions and other electronics allows for the recovery of electronic components that contain lead and other toxic materials,” Mary Jean Yon, DEP’s director of waste management, said.

Many people bought flat-screen LCD or plasma TV sets as gifts this holiday season, Yon said.

Also, state officials expect still more people will switch to the newer television sets when television stations stop broadcasting analog signals Feb. 17. Analog television sets might need converter boxes to continue to pick up local television stations through an antenna. Cable or satellite dish subscribers or people with digital televisions won’t have to do anything to continue getting the local channels.

DEP officials, however, expect some people might go ahead and buy digital LCD or plasma televisions. They also hope buyers will choose energy-efficient sets carrying the Energy Star label. Such models use about 30 percent less electricity.

Go online to www.energystar.gov to learn more.

To avoid a bunch of old television sets winding up on the curb for trash haulers to cart away, DEP officials are telling residents there are many methods of recycling outmoded televisions:

DEP has produced an interactive, online map that shows recycling centers that can handle old electronics in each county. Go to www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/electronics/pages/televisions.htm.

The DEP site refers people to Earth911.com, which shows public and private recycling centers.

Arizona Republic: City Prepared to Weather Downturn in Recycling Industry

Filed under: Earth911 - January 7, 2009

By Michael Clancy

The nation’s recycling industry has taken a sharp downturn, but Phoenix officials say the city and its residents are somewhat insulated from the worst effects.

Behind the downturn are lower prices worldwide for the main commodities that come out of recycling plants: paper, glass, metal and plastic.

City ownership of two sorting plants, where paper, glass, plastic and metals are separated, helps. So do ongoing contracts with companies that manage the plants and sell the materials.

On top of that are savings from extending the life of the city’s landfill in Buckeye.

“Prices are a global issue,” said Carl Smith, who focuses on recycling for the city’s Public Works Department. “Some of us are much better off than others.”

Demand fell suddenly and dramatically in mid-October and has not recovered, Smith said. Prices rapidly followed.

“It’s no different than what is happening to the price of oil: The demand for oil and gas goes down and the price drops, and the same thing with the recycled commodity market. Lower demand, and prices drop,” said Ed Skernolis, the acting executive director for the National Recycling Coalition, a non-profit advocacy group, who spoke to Associated Press.

Skernolis said a result of this has been an increased financial pressure on public recycling programs across the country.

When prices were high, cities could earn additional revenue from sales of recyclables. When prices are down, the revenues go away. Some communities are storing goods rather than selling them, waiting for prices to improve. Others have stopped collecting certain items, like glass.

Skernolis said he fears the downturn could end some recycling programs.

But Phoenix is prepared, Smith said.

“Recycling still pays for itself, even in today’s market,” he said.

Contracts with commodity buyers have floors, or minimum amounts, which helps maintain prices.

“We are still receiving reasonable revenues,” he said.

Trey Granger of Earth 911, a locally based Web portal for recycling, said no Valley cities have taken drastic steps to cope with the price reduction so far.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Partnership Puts Trash to Artistic Use

Filed under: Earth911 - January 4, 2009

By Spencer Sadler

The message underlying “Animals in Your Trash,” a project partnering Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s art department and the Indiana County Recycling Center, is anything but garbage.

As part of the project, IUP students made sculptural critter creations bursting with the colors of post-consumer plastics provided by the recycling center.

The collection of “trashy” art was on public display in December at the recycling facility along Route 119 between Homer City and Indiana.

On one level, “Animals in Your Trash” is a whimsical, avant-garde exercise exploring imagination and limitless boundaries; on another level, it points up the difficulties American society faces in dealing with excess plastics.

According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is used to make detergent bottles, toys and water bottles, and low-density polyethylene, used to make wrapping films and grocery bags, are the most used but least recycled forms of plastic.

Those products take 700 years before they even begin to decompose in a landfill. And, since they are made from oil, “every bit of plastic bought or used is like putting gas in your tank,” said IUP professor and project director Steve Loar.

Loar, who is director of the university’s Center for Turning and Furniture Design, challenged students in his three-dimensional design classes to represent the image of a bird or dinosaur by applying their cutting and building skills and creative problem-solving to mostly waste plastic.

“The assignments were not about making a model of a real dinosaur or making a true likeness of a bird, but rather to attract the viewer, activate their imagination and have them understand the idea without being told,” Loar said.

With a longtime interest in heightening student awareness of ecological issues and a concern about nonchalant views regarding waste, Loar obtained permission for his students to mine the recycling center’s treasure trove of trash so they could begin the process of making art that makes a statement.

“It almost felt illegal,” student Patrick Camute, 19, said with a laugh, recalling how he rooted through the recycling center’s Dumpsters after hours in search of materials for his pieces. “My favorite part was the process, but the grossest part, was the old, spoiled milk and the spit cups. I saw it as sacrificing myself for the art,” he joked.

Camute, a sophomore art education major from Charleroi, even made trips back and forth to the recycling center over the summer.

He explained, “There’s no other place anywhere near Charleroi like the Indiana County Recycling Center, so it was worth it to me to drive the two hours to get materials.”

Pieces of a toddler’s bicycle and detergent bottles were ingredients for Camute’s dinosaur, which is the largest item on display in the recycling center’s lobby.

“I wanted a dinosaur that represented an everyday function, and with it being from a child’s bike, a message comes clear,” he said. “Recycle, ride bikes to conserve oil and energy and cut down on the pollution, and our children won’t become extinct like the dinosaurs.”

According to Earth 911, an online consortium for environmental resource information, more than 1.5 million barrels of oil are required to manufacture a year’s supply of bottled water. That’s enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars.

“Oil is a limited resource, but 92 percent of water bottles are not recycled and become landfill waste,” Loar stated.

Plastic as a medium poses unusual challenges for an artist, but it also can open some creative doors.

“I usually work in ceramics,” Chelsea Nelson, a 19-year-old sophomore and art education major from Brookville, explained, “but clay can only go so far; it’s just a lump.

“Every bottle, though, already has its own personality, shape, color and thickness. Unlike paper, it’s not just flat, so you have to look at plastics to see where you can go three-dimensionally.”

“That was what a lot of the students had difficulty with,” Loar noted. “By using a few simple tools like scissors, hole punches, pinking shears, pop rivets, wire and screws, nuts and washers, the complications of creating with post-consumer plastics has everything to do with the artist’s imagination and the ability to see and use shapes. The medium encourages more experimentation with using what is already suggested rather than creating out of clay, with paints on canvass or drawing on paper.”

Loar admitted not all of his students embraced the requirements of the project for creating a fish pin, a bird and a dinosaur.

“I have a reputation of having a challenging course, so some saw the project as just another in a series of extremely difficult tasks,” he said. “What is being displayed is just a sampling, perhaps just a quarter of what was produced.”

The project made a lasting impression on Roxanne Hotaling, another 19-year-old sophomore also majoring in art education.

“Because it was like an immersion with the project, every time I go to the grocery store to shop, I’m looking at the shapes and colors of the plastic bottles,” she said. “It really makes you aware of what you buy, how it is packaged and presented for marketing effect, and now how it can be translated into art.”

Residing in York and used to traditional mediums, Hotaling experienced the same type of liberation with plastics that Nelson did.

“I never thought that I would be working with plastics,” she said, “but for the first time I didn’t feel held back creatively. It was like a breakthrough forcing me to adapt and see how things can all fit together to convey a message.”

The “Animals in Your Trash” project resulted from an evolutionary process, Loar said: “As a teacher of three-dimensional design, I have been experimenting for years with student assignments that used recycled materials, but without great personal satisfaction. When I stumbled upon the new work of David Edgar, whom I had previously met in 1999, I had a true ‘a-ha’ moment. It seemed that all the hopes of my previous attempts were embodied in his one plastic fish.

“To give the project a direction, I thought that I needed categories. The idea of assigning a fish was inspired by Edgar. Then, I figured that whatever you put wings on, it could be identified as a bird, so I used a bird because I thought that was easier. And dinosaurs were chosen because of the artistic jump of thinking big, larger scale.”

The recycling center is open to the community from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is no admission charge for the exhibition.

Plenty Magazine: How to Recycle/Reuse Your Christmas Tree

Filed under: Earth911 - January 2, 2009

“Nothing lasts forever” is an all-too-accurate adage for the more than 25 million Christmas trees purchased each year in the U.S. All those darn little pine needles drying up and interminably scattering around the house just prove that even the sweetest celebrations must come to an end, especially if you want to keep your home clean. Live Christmas trees readily biodegrade, so long as they’re exposed to oxygen, not smothered in landfills. Their useful lives can be prolonged as mulch for garden beds, barriers against flooding and so on. Preparedness is all!

Whenever your family tradition prescribes the removal of the tree, here are some tips for thoughtfully dispatching it. For instance, if you live near Phillipsburg, NJ, there’s the Perfect Christmas Tree Farm’s 5th annual Tree Chip Day celebration on January 10th. Events at this farm party include Smokey the Bear’s birthday party; a tailgate auction with pro auctioneers helping you sell some of those unwanted presents you received; a worm exhibit that helps folks visually understand the decomposition process; and of course, free tree chipping and big bag of mulch to take home with you. If you live near NYC, one great excuse to party is the annual five-borough MulchFest, including kids’ activities galore. If you live elsewhere, check out the resources below.

But first, here’s the deal with mulch: Not only does it protect sloping groundfrom soil erosion, it also reduces soil compaction from rain, keeps soil moisture from evaporating, keeps weeds down and provides the perfect environment for helpful garden critters like earthworms. In short, it’s a gardener’s cure-all. Best of all, after Christmas you can get your mulch for FREE, courtesy of your tree. You can hack off branches with a hand saw and lay them on garden beds as winter decoration and protection. The trunk and thicker branches, however, must be composted or chopped up to make good mulch. “Some municipalities will use a larger size chipper that can handle the bigger tree trunks. The branches could be cut off of the tree trunk and used as mulch or to hold leaf mulch in place,” says Anne Edwards, president of the New Jersey Christmas Tree Growers Association. Heads up: Most of the community chipping events around the country happen on January 10th. So wrap your tree in an old sheet, tarp, or what have you, to keep it stored in one piece until you can cart it to the chipping place.

To locate Christmas tree recycling centers and services in your neighborhood, type in your zip code at Earth 911, the brilliant online directory that helps you recycle just about anything. You can also find your municipal parks department or recycling services by searching here at the eminently useful Local.com. Many locales pick trees up curbside, just as they do regular yard waste. Just double check that your municipality recycles trees instead of just dumping them. “After Christmas is dull compared to the holiday celebrations,” says Cynthia Curtis of Perfect Christmas Tree Farm. ”We do this event each year to extend the holiday pleasure.” For more tree-repurposing ideas, the National Christmas Tree Association highlights how a variety of communities nationwide reuse trees; for how to use your tree as a wild bird feeder, see this article in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Suffolk News-Herald: Oh, Christmas Trash

Filed under: Earth911 - January 2, 2009

By Lauren Wicks

The presents have been unwrapped. The ornaments have been taken down.

All that is left from this Christmas holiday are some memories and the wilting tree standing in your family’s living room.

If you are one of the many area families trying to get rid of your 2008 tree, there are a couple of ways to dispose of it.

Most simply, you can just throw it away.

Debbie George, communications director for the city, said there is no special protocol for throwing Christmas trees away. Residents have only to put their tree out by the curb on their regularly scheduled trash day, and then public works will take care of it from there.

Second, people can recycle their trees.

According to an article posted on LiveScience.com, real Christmas trees can be recycled in a variety of ways, including being turned into mulch, used in landscaping and gardening or chipped and used for playground material, hiking trails, paths and walkways. They are also used for beachfront erosion prevention, lake and river shoreline stabilization and fish and wildlife habitat.

The article also said that 93 percent of the more than 30 to 35 million real Christmas trees sold in the U.S. each year are recycled. That can be attributed to the more than 4,000 tree recycling programs that are available in the United States.

If you want to take part in the tree recycling, you can visit www.livescience.com and check under the Earth911 site for a complete list of participating recycling programs, though the nearest ones listed are in North Carolina.

Then, “treecyclers” should remember the following steps before dropping their tree off:

And it is also worth remembering the following tree recycling is only allowed for real trees. If you own an artificial tree, it should either be boxed and stored for next year, or thrown away curbside as well.