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.

11/5/13

Have boxes of baseball and other sports cards you’ve been collecting for years? Here’s a great way to give them a new life and help kids at the same time: Donate them to Cards2Kids. The nonprofit was founded by a Chicago teenager who was an avid sports card collector who wanted to donate cards to other kids. To date, more than 500,000 cards have been collected and distributed. To donate, sort cards into two categories: “Great” cards are sports stars, hall-of-fame players or just a great-looking card; “average” is everything else. Drop them in the mail to the charity and they do the rest. Learn more at cards2kids.org.