11/8/13

Riding a bicycle instead of driving a car is one of the greenest things you can do to help the environment. But with a rise in bike theft, many people opt to drive out of fear their bike could be stolen. One thing you can do to help protect yourself is to register your bike with the National Bike Registry (nationalbikeregistry.com), where you can register the bike’s serial number and report it stolen if it should ever happen. A registered serial number can help your local law enforcement agency help connect a recovered stolen bike with its rightful owner.

11/7/13

Every year, millions of CDs and DVDs are thrown away because they are either too worn to use or there is no need for them at local charities or nonprofits. Instead of tossing them, you can recycle them. The CD Recycling Center of America takes old CDs and DVDs (and their plastic cases) and grinds them down into recyclable plastic. This plastic is then recycled and made into industrial components used by the automotive and building materials industries. Visit cdrecyclingcenter.org for more information.

11/6/13

If you’re concerned about the toxins in chemical fire retardants found in upholstered furniture and mattresses, there are easy things you can do to lessen their risk and exposure at home. One simple solution is to wipe down surfaces using a microfiber towel to collect dust particles. As foam in treated furniture breaks down over time, it releases chemical fire retardants into the air that collect with dust. By wiping surfaces -- and using an air filtration system -- you help lessen the number of fire retardants floating in the air in your home.