Well if you stumbled on to our web site here we appreciate your interest in the topic and want to thank you for dropping in but we’re still just getting things set up around here so we apologize for the mess and disorganization. The plan is to have the site ready to go for a launching on Friday October 26th.
That said we invite you to take a look around and take a look at our statement about what we hope to accomplish here: About The How To Dispose of Idea and help us build up this site. Please give us your suggestions ideas and any solutions you may have to How To Dispose Of stuff!
If you like to join us a regular contributing blogger write to us a tell us about your interest there too.
Zen and the Art of Dumpster Diving
by Andrew C. Revkin
The middle word in the environmental mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle” may have a deeper and more ancient root than some realize….
Lately in the news we’ve heard a lot about recalls of childrens toys that were decorated with lead paint. U.S. Recall News asks an important question…
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2007Blog Action Day Post - How Are The Recalled Toys Being Disposed Of?…With so much attention being given, by us and other media outlets, to the health risks associated with recalled toys with lead paint in the hands of Children, we tend to ignore the environmental impact of these products.What is going to happen to all of these millions of toys that have been recalled? How are they being disposed of? What did you do with yours? Are they going into the kitchen trash to sit in a landfill and poison the nearby water sources? Are they being sent back to the manufacturers and - if so - what are THEY doing with them?…
A new educational and social awareness campaign started in Romania by Odyssey about the imminent problems caused by forest mass destruction, deforestation of important zones with forests and the uncontrolled use of non recycled paper.
Some interesting news I just picked up via Grist.org the other day:
Garbage Can Do Largest U.S. garbage hauler greens operations
Posted at 2:40 PM on 12 Oct 2007
Strange but true: Our trash is going green. The nation’s largest garbage hauler and landfill operator, Waste Management Inc., has announced plans to make its operations more eco-friendly. The company hopes to double its landfill methane-to-electricity production by 2020, boost the fuel efficiency of its fleet by 15 percent by 2020, process more recyclables, and set aside more land for wildlife habitat. Now we almost feel bad that our lifelong goal is to put them out of a job.
Seeing is believing I guess as to whether the intent on Waste Management’s part is really genuinne concern for our environment or just a case of greenwashing but it’s worthwhile news to keep an eye on.
Although mercury is a liquid at room temperature, it can quickly and easily evaporate into a gas. The gas will be odorless. That gas, or vapor, is toxic if it is inhaled. There are a few documented cases where children have become ill after being exposed for a long time to the vapor of a single broken mercury thermometer.Bring your mercury thermometer to a municipal household hazardous waste collection facility or hazardous waste collection day. You can find more information about local waste collections from your local health department, located in the government listings in the phone book.
It is not safe to throw a mercury thermometer in the garbage, down the sink or down the toilet.
The mercury will become toxic to human and the environment through air emissions or water contamination. Disposing of a broken thermometer requires particular care:
Do not use a vacuum to clean up a mercury spill. The vacuum cleaner will become contaminated and the heat from the vacuum will create higher levels of mercury vapor.
Never use a broom to clean up mercury. It will just break up the mercury into smaller beads, and will contaminate the broom.
If a mercury thermometer is broken, keep all people and pets away from the spill area and open the windows in that room. Do not turn up the heat while you are cleaning the spill.
5 Steps To Transport It To A Waste Facility / Waste Clean-up Day
Find a household hazardous waste collection facility or pick-up service near your home. Many communities hold annual clean-up day events.
Place the mercury thermometer inside a small disposable non-porus container. Choose a container that the thermometer will fit into and allow a filler to be added.
Pour kitty litter, oil-absorbent, dirt or sand into the container around the thermometer. Fill the entire container and cover it with a tight-fitting lid.
Place a piece of tape on the container and write “mercury–do not open,” on the container with a permanent marker and place the container in a cardboard box.
Take the container to a hazardous waste collection center in the trunk of a car or the bed of a truck. If it will be some time until the next hazardous waste day or pick up, place the container in a safe, well-ventilated area out of reach of children and pets.
Oil-based paint and solvents, including mineral spirits, are considered hazardous waste materials. Special precautions and steps must be taken for proper disposal. Never dispose of liquid oil-based paint or solvents in the regular trash or pour them down the sink. Some communities have special hazardous waste collection programs for liquid paint. Check your local regulations to ensure proper handling. You can also visit paint.org for more information.
Liquid paint should not be taken to a landfill or poured down a sink. Use the following method when disposing of water-based paints:
Fill a paper bag or box with kitty litter, sand, or saw dust.
Pour the remaining paint over the absorbent material.
Allow to dry completely in a well-ventilated area away from children, pets, and direct heat.
Dispose of the solid in the regular trash.
For paint residue in the can, remove the lid and allow to dry completely. Remove the skin and dispose of it in the regular trash. Leave the label on the can and recycle if a program is available in your area.
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