Did you know that if you throw your old electronics into a land field that is it creating potentially hazardous waste? These electonics release more toxic chemicals, ie, lead, mercury and cadmium into the environment. More and more electronic equipment will be disposed of as time goes on. Please, reuse your old cell phones, there are many avenues as for Battered Women, Lions Club and more.

Check out www.earth911.org (1-877-earth911), also www.greendisk.com (1-800-305-3475) and www.rethink.ebay.com. These places will give you great information such as how to to 'green' recycle and/or dispose of old electronics and other products.  More places you can check out are www.PlanetGreen.com for information on various products,  www.Greenopla.com which compiles and reviews local "green" businesses, and  www.TheGreenGuide.com which has more than 2700 products, www.Shop.Lime.com for items from organic bedding to a solar charger backpack.  Also check out www.plentymag.com. 

Just be sure to be environmentally responsible about the dispose of old electronics. Our childen's future is at stake! (AND GRANDCHILDRENS) When you shop for new models make sure that you look for the ENERGY STAR label. You want to have products that run on less energy and with fewer toxic chemicals, making them more GREEN and easier to recycle.

Just do your part, others will follow!!!.   You can also find great information such as using baking soda, borax, distilled white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, lemons, olive oil, vegetable-based castile soap, and washing soda for cleaning and sterilizing.  The three germ killers are borax, hydrogen peroxide and the vinegar.  Straight 5% vinegar will kill 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold and 80% of germs.  Hydrogen peroxide is good as well.  Go the the GreenGuide site above and check out cleaners.  Happy Cleaning!

Lets not forget our pets!  Check out organic dog and cat food, treats and green kitty litter made from recycled paper products plus hemp leashes and collars.  Inman Park Pet Works, 914 Austin Ave. is a good place, also Eco-Bella, 1046 N. Highland and for 100% biodegradable and compostable waste bags for those of us who walk out dogs go to www.BIOgroupUSA.com as well as Inman Park Pet Works.  These places are in Atlanta, of course.

Also, check out www.georgiapower.com/greenenergy.com and www.greeniacs.com for more information.

**Saturday, March 29, 2008, from 9:00AM to 1:00PM - Decatur's Spring 09 Electronics Recycling event at Decatur High School parking lot, the corner of N. McDonough St. and Howard Aven8ue.  Electronics will be sorted and disassembled into raw materials or cleaned for re-use.  You can also drop off batteries, styrofoam peanuts, mercury thermometers and thermostats.  To volunteer, please email Scott Thompson at scott.thompson@mindspring.com.  For additional information:  www.decaturga.com/cgs_sitysvcs_electronics.aspx

What about recycling in other ways?  Give it to your child's school or a charity.  Go to www.cristina.org and www.sharetechnology.org. for suggestions of other ways.  Check out PC Disposal at www.pcdisposal.com.  Sell your computer on Ebay or to a local computer reseller.  Find a vendor to dispose of your equipment - www.electronicrecycling.org, www.iaer.org/ and epa.gov/e-cycling.  You can download for ree the EPA publication WasteWise Update:  Electronics Reuse and Recycling from www.epa.gov/wastewise. 

HAPPY RECYCLING!!!