Sears goes "RAD"

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Responsible Appliance Disposal program" was established in 2006, a voluntary effort to ensure the recovery of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) from old household appliances. Sears started its RAD participation in 2007.A couple dozen utility companies are RAD partners. But Sears is currently the main "RAD" retailer, part of a campaign to strengthen its environmentally friendliness with consumers, that includes heavy promotion of the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, also known as the cash for clunkers for appliances. Sears is also helping Alaska residents with disabilities access the $658,000 in rebates available for ENERGY STAR (qualified appliances), in part of the "Cash for Appliances" rebate program. These Alaskans are eligible for rebates from $150 to $500, one product per customer. Rebates vary and may be higher in some areas because of shipping costs. (According to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, which is managing the program, a rural community is defined as one not served by road or the Alaska Marine Highway at least once per week).

Qualified Alaskans will receive a voucher from the State of Alaska for the following rebates:
$150 - $300 for clothes washers
$150 - $300 for dishwashers
$300 - $500 for refrigerators
$300 - $500 for freezers




Here you can search for available appliance rebates by ZIP code. Some states require that you recycle equipment to get a cash for appliances rebate.

Garbage Island - This is why we recycle

For years the content of this massive heap has been growing, thanks to everyone who throws there garbage in the ocean. The toxic plastic/ garbage island is now twice the size of Texas, and until it can be taxed, U.S. officials will continue to ignore it. Eighty percent of the island is plastics and weighs over 3.5 million tons. A report found that 80% of the oceans litter originated on land, while ships dump the occasional load (sometimes on purpose and illegally) most trash start onshore. Chris Parry (public education program manager with the California Coastal Commission in San Francisco) said the patch has been growing, along with other ocean debris worldwide, tenfold every decade since the 1950's. Though cleaning it up is not an option we can still try to keep it from growing. For example, using canvas bags to carry your groceries instead of plastic bags is a good first step; buying food thats not wrapped in plastics is another. "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is particularly dangerous for birds and marine life", said Warner Chabot, vice president of the Ocean Conservancy, an environmental group. "Sea turtles mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish. Birds swoop down and swallow indigestible shards of plastic. The petroleum-based plastics take decades to break down, and as long as they float on the ocean's surface, they can appear as feeding grounds." The Greenpeace report found that at least 267 marine species had suffered from some kind of ingestion or entanglement with marine debris.

You can help to limit the ever-growing

patch of garbage floating in the Pacific Ocean.

IDEAS ON HOW TO HELP:

1. -Limit your use of plastics when possible. Plastic doesn't easily degrade and can kill sea life.
2. -Use a reusable bag when shopping. Throwaway bags can easily blow into the ocean.
3. -Take your trash with you when you leave the beach.
4. -Make sure your trash bins are securely closed. Keep all trash in closed bags

pictures from resourceactitionprograms.org

Recycle Cell Phone

On January 1, 2009 the state passed a law saying any person, firm, or corporation selling cell phones in Maine must accept used cell phones at no charge. They must port a notice clearly visable to the public saying; We accept used cellular telephones at no charge. They must also report the number of cell phones collected and how they were disposed of, reused, or recycled.

Like many other electronics with circuit boards and liquid crystal displays, cell phones contain hazardous substances like arsenic, beryllium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc and flame retardants. Collecting cell phones for reuse and recycling prevents the release of these substances to the environment and recycles material for use in manufacturing new products. Last year 82 locations throughout Maine helped recycle 48,229 cell phones.

Wireless Service Provider	Number of Maine retail locations	Number of cell phones reported in Maine	Recycling program
AT&T Wireless (includes Cingular)	8	22,639*	AT&T Reuse & Recycle
Rural Cellular Corporation(Unicel)	44	15,317	Unicel
T-Mobile	2	Report not yet received	T-Mobile “Huddle-Up”
U.S. Cellular	13	511**	US Cellular
Verizon	10	4094	Verizon’s HopeLine
Unaffiliated retailers reporting	5	5668	various
Totals	82	48,229

2009 Cell Phone Report

http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/recycle/cellphonerecycling.htm

Computers & Televisions

"Take-back"- Some manufacturers of computers are offering take-back programs (reuse incentives). This means that a computer can be returned to the manufacturer or a designated company for recycling, or donated to a charity for credit. There might be fees for sending your computer back to the manufacturer, but government entities are negotiating to make this a more affordable and user friendly system.

Consolidation and recycling companies- Schools and businesses may have to call a company that charges a fee to take computers for recycling. Some companies are "Transporters/Consolidators". This means they will pick up your computers, take them for consolidation, and then transport the computers to another company that will do the actual recycling. Other companies are Recyclers, which means they break down the computers and recycle the useful parts.

Are there programs to help in Maine?

The state of Maine has many programs promoting recycling, the first step in recycling is to find programs and centers in your area. The Maine Waste Management & Recycling Program, has many different solutions to recycling. For example; $$ Help to Promote Recycling and Composting, Maine Recycles Campaign – Recycling Works!, and Compact Fluorescent Recycling Program.
$$ Help to Promote Recycling and Composting- starts with the SPO(Maine State Planning Office), it is offering a fall round of funding support for recycling promotion in Maine. Municipalities and regional programs that need help push residents to reduce waste by recycling and/or composting are encouraged to apply. Any community or program may apply for up to $500 to use towards a project that educates on these topics.
Maine Recycles Campaign – Recycling Works! - Thanks to a partnership of the Maine Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association, the Maine State Planning Office, and the Maine Recycles Campaign, recycling “coasters and posters” are being seen in local restaurants and bars. It’s one more way to remind us that “Recycling works!” The coasters explain that “Every day we use things made from recycled materials.” And the coaster itself is an example, like its matching poster, it’s made from recycled paper and can be reused/recycled when no longer useful.
Compact Fluorescent Recycling Program- Efficiency Maine, a program through the Maine Public Utilities Commission, just launched a statewide CFL bulb recycling program. You can now bring your unbroken, used CFL bulbs to any participating stores for free recycling.
Note: CFL bulbs must be recycled and cannot be disposed of in the trash because they contain small amounts of mercury.