SPRING RECYCLING

 IN THE SPRING a young man's, or woman's, fancy turns to thoughts of love. Or maybe, recycling. Springtime is as good a time as any to do a little housecleaning but rather than throw everything away consider donating cast offs that are still usable and in good condition to a charitable organization like the Salvation Army, with more than 2,300 donation drop-off locations throughout the U.S., or to a charity-run thrift store in your city or community. For large items like furnishings and appliances, you can arrange a free pick up by calling the Salvation Army at 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825).

AND WHAT ABOUT electronics, whose toxic components make them a hazardous waste? One reliable recycling option is Best Buy, the specialty retailer of consumer electronics which in addition to recycling also allows trade-ins for some items. With more than 1,000 stores nationwide, the company has a broad reach. The Best Buy store in San Juan is located at 230 Calle Federico Costa, practically around the corner from Plaza Las Americas shopping center (787.764.4900). Business hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

PRODUCTS accepted by most Best Buy stores span nearly everything electronic, including TVs (as long as they don't exceed 32"), DVD players, monitors and mobile phones, desktop and laptop computers with the hard drive removed.  Consumers may drop off two items per day for free with the exception of small TVs, monitors and laptops, for which the company charges a $10 fee. In return, however, you get a $10 Best Buy gift card.

BEST BUY'S trade-in program, according to the company's website, lets you trade in "gently used electronics for Best Buy gift cards," either in-store or online. For in-store trade ins, bring Apple laptop, Apple iPod, mobile phones and PC laptops purchased at Best Buy and get a Best Buy gift card instantly.  There are three requirements: be at least 18 years old, have a valid Best Buy receipt, and bring along a government-issued photo ID. Online trade-ins cover a wider range of articles. For more information on Best Buy's recycling program, including a full list of all items accepted, go to the company website and look up the recycling section under product support. 

RECYCLING gives new life to materials otherwise headed to the local dump. The idea that something unwanted can be turned into something valuable is awesome, particularly in view of the fact that landfills are a limited resource. To find out more about recycling and to locate recycling centers in your area consult Earth911.com for its comprehensive recycling directory covering over 300 materials, plus news and tips. The company also runs a toll-free, bilingual environmental hot line at 1-800 CLEANUP®.

EQUALLY HELPFUL is 1800recycling.com,  a recycling location search engine. The site includes a blog with very interesting stories. One recent piece under the headline of "Holiday E-Waste? Beware Fake Recyclers!" highlighted the growing problem of unscrupulous e-recyclers selling their toxic scrap to brokers who, in turn, dump these materials in Asia and Africa where this waste is broken down in a dangerous way, creating dangerous toxic areas.

©2009 Basel Action Network (BAN)

Accra, Ghana, among the 
 most toxic places on Earth

How to differentiate between good and 

bad e-cyclers? The answer is the e-Stewards® 

Recycler Certification Program that certifies

 responsible e-recyclers and was developed

 by a leading environmental watchdog, the 

Basel Action Network (BAN). "Only

 Certified e-Stewards Recyclers ensure your 

e-waste will not be exported to developing

 countries but rather recycled by the most

 secure practices in the world," said the story.

Best Buy, by the way, is a good recycler. 

The company, according to e-Stewards, 

uses legitimate recyclers.           

                                    

Artwork by Lorraine Blasor

TEA TIME: Everything about tea is perfect. It is soothing, relaxing and drinking it makes you feel like the heroine, or hero, of a British novel (in Barbara Pym's novels, everyone seems to be drinking tea all the time!). One especially delightful brand is Rishi Organic Green Tea Mint, a harmonious blend of full-bodied, roasted loose leaf green tea and aromatic peppermint. At vitamin shoppe.com, the 1.94 oz tin sells for $9.99. 

Photograph by Denise Blasor
Artwork outside shuttered business in San Juan, P.R.

"I can't go on. 
 I'll go on."  

     -- Samuel Beckett

Copyright©2012 Lorraine Blasor All Rights Reserved