Spring Cleaning Part II

So now that you've scrubbed, mopped, and swept, what do you do about the junk you don't want anymore? I’m going to share with you some cool information here that you probably didn't know existed. Did you know that you can recycle your cell phone? Not to mention the fact that technology advances so quickly to make you look so cool with the latest feature, just think about how many phones are thrown away because you want the savvier-looking one, the one with the cooler name, or just because it broke. That's a lot of cell phones. Even more important, the mercury, lead, and cadmium used in phones add to the toxic waste stream that affects the environment. Here's a super-easy way to recycle your cell phone. Visit recyclemycellphone.org. This project, created by Earthworks, will walk you through the process. Donate, Donate, And Donate! You probably have some old books, clothes, appliances, and other miscellaneous stuff you don't want anymore. These are easier to get rid of than you think, just don't get rid of them in a landfill. Books: super easy... give them to your local library, school, or any organization that uses books. Clothes/sheets/textiles: remember how you used that old t-shirt to wipe your counter? Now you have a great source for more cleaning rags, and of course you can give them to those in need. Shoes... this one is my favorite! The Nike Company started a program in 1993 called the Nike Reuse-a-Shoe Program. Essentially, they collect old shoes, grind them up, and integrate the recycled material into sport surfaces like basketball courts as a part of their Let Me Play community investment program. To learn more, visit http://www.nikebiz.com, http://www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/program, http://www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/grind If you haven't started your cleaning projects yet, to help you get started, here are some links where you can buy safe products: Countrysave.com, Mountaingreen.biz, and Seventhgeneration.com.