3/11/14

The Polar Vortex that has gripped much of the country this winter has meant using every means necessary to keep snow and ice from building up on our driveways and sidewalks. While many of us reach for salt as a deicer, there are many reasons to avoid it as much as possible: Salt can be detrimental to plants, burn the paws of dogs that walk on it and heavy metals in it can leach into waterways. But when all you can find is salt to make your morning commute easier, do this one thing: choose wisely. Look at the packaging and choose deicing salt made from calcium chloride, not sodium chloride. Calcium chloride actually has a more efficient and effective composition than sodium chloride. You can reduce the environmental damage and still get the same results with less salt.

3/10/14

The Dell computer company has partnered with Goodwill stores to make electronics recycling a breeze. The used computer equipment program, called Dell Reconnect, lets you drop off your old computer equipment of any brand in any condition at any of the more than 2,000 Goodwill stores across the country, free of charge. The recycling program makes sure all the components are separated and recycled or refurbished. Computers that can be fixed are refurbished by Dell and then resold through Goodwill. Learn more at dellreconnect.com.

Do you have a pair of Crocs shoes that you aren't wearing anymore? Or do you know family members, neighbors or colleagues who also have Crocs they want to dispose of properly? Collect a few pairs and donate them back to the Crocs company to be recycled and used for good. Crocs, in partnership with the nonprofit organization Soles4Souls, takes lightly worn Crocs and refurbishes them back into almost-as-good-as-new shoes. They clean them up and donate them to people in need all over the world so they have shoes to wear. You can donate your used Crocs at any Crocs retailer store or visit crocscares.com for more information.