| It's time to start thinking more about preserving our | | | | pollution. |
| planet's health. | | | | 4. Avoid clothing that requires dry cleaning. Choose |
| We all know how global warming effects our | | | | cotton and wool. Natural fibers are easier to care for |
| environment, our life and our health. Every year, | | | | at home. They can often be washed in cool water |
| global temperatures rises, caused by the buildup of | | | | and hung to dry, reducing chemical use as well as |
| carbon dioxide and the emission of other pollutants | | | | energy. Recycle your old clothes, shoes and leather |
| that trap the sun's heat. These chemicals are | | | | accessories, by donating them to local charity |
| responsible for rising sea levels (from melting glaciers), | | | | organizations (like the Salvation Army and Goodwill), |
| catastrophic storms and hurricanes, changes in the | | | | or take them to a consignment store. Some stores |
| distribution of plants and animals, and the lengthening | | | | like Plato's Closet ( accept gently used clothing for |
| of seasons. They can also increase the risk of certain | | | | cash. |
| infectious diseases. Poor air quality can worsen | | | | 5. Recycle your electronics. Look for state-approved, |
| existing respiratory conditions like asthma and other | | | | reliable collectors and recyclers in your area. These |
| chronic lung diseases. | | | | companies can take care of all necessary services, |
| The future rate of increase of these factors will | | | | such as secure hard drive data erasing, and safe |
| depend on economic, sociological, technological, and | | | | electronic waste dismantling. Moreover, they do not |
| natural developments, and it will depend on us. We | | | | charge anything for their services and make ewaste |
| can help our planet stay clean and healthy by | | | | recycling easy and convenient for you. Dumping |
| following simple steps in our daily activities. | | | | unwanted electronics into the regular trash is illegal |
| You personal impact is extremely important. Recycle | | | | and environmentally irresponsible. Electronic waste is |
| old items into new ones and reduce pollution and | | | | highly toxic when dumped into landfill. It contains lead, |
| energy consumption that results from making goods | | | | cadmium, mercury, chromium, and polyvinyl chlorides. |
| from scratch. | | | | All of these substances have known toxicological |
| We can make a difference, by following these five | | | | effects that range from brain damage to kidney |
| simple steps: | | | | disease, to mutations and cancers. It's wise to reuse |
| 1. Eliminate junk mail. Visit to learn how this site can | | | | and recycle old electronics instead of manufacturing |
| help you to stop receiving junk mail for up to five | | | | new items. A desktop computer and monitor weigh |
| years. | | | | an average of 53 pounds and require 530 pounds of |
| 2. Recycle your household waste: paper, plastic, and | | | | fossil fuels, 50 pounds of chemicals and 3,330 pounds |
| glass, as well as hazardous waste such as paint, | | | | of water to make. Electronics often contain useful |
| cleaners, household batteries, and light bulbs. These | | | | materials such as precious metals, glass, and plastics |
| types of waste pile up in the landfill and do not | | | | that should be recovered rather than buried in a |
| compost. Visit for the nearest hazardous waste | | | | landfill. For example, precious metals are used in |
| recycling facilities. Check with your local recycling | | | | computer circuit boards and other electronic |
| program to find out how you can recycle. | | | | components and, of course, glass and plastics are |
| 3. Go paperless. Sign up for online bills and try to use | | | | used to manufacture TV and computer monitors. |
| as less paper as possible. Recycle used paper, old | | | | Recycling these products reduces the need to mine |
| magazines and newspapers. Saving trees is extremely | | | | the earth for raw materials. Let's think about it and |
| important. Tree foliage works as a natural air filter of | | | | start recycling! Go to to locate licensed electronic |
| particulate matter such as dust, micro-sized metals | | | | waste recyclers. Visit for useful e-waste recycling tips |
| and pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, | | | | and facts. |
| ammonia, and sulfur dioxides. Trees take in carbon | | | | Environmental change is in our hands. Everyone can |
| dioxide and produce oxygen. Combined with their | | | | make a difference by thinking green and being |
| natural cooling effect, these processes can have a | | | | environmentally responsible! |
| significant impact on reducing smog and overall air | | | | |