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On the Road to Recycling
Help Save the Earth With Fun, Educational Activities By Dianne Hadaway
by collecting and separating recyclable items to be picked up or take your recyclables to a recycling center where they are processed to create the same, different or new products.
Patricia Murdoch of Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada, and her 6-year-old son, Jacob, recycle all their cans, bottles and juice containers by returning them to their local bottle depot. "Jacob loves to recycle because he gets the money and can spend it as he likes," says Murdoch.
According to Worldwise Inc., an environmental consumer products company, motor oil and oil filters can be recycled through automobile repair or oil changing businesses that participate in a recycling program. They caution, however, to never pour oil or antifreeze into a storm drain or sewer.
Look for the recyclable logo on batteries from remote control toys, cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders and digital cameras. To recycle batteries, call (800) 8-BATTERY (228-8379) to find drop-off locations. Online, you can find lists of companies and recycling centers that recycle and reuse cell phones, batteries, computers, electronics, computer disks and aluminum cans at www.earth911.org.
Be crafty by making birdfeeders from household containers. Use the water from cooked vegetables to water your houseplants. Let kids save the crusts cut from their sandwiches to feed the ducks at the park. Plastic grocery bags make great trash bags, or you can recycle them at your local grocery store. Encourage kids to start or join a printer ink cartridge recycling program at their school.
You also can participate in local and national recycling events like America Recycles Day (ARD), which is observed every year on Nov. 15. "It's important for families to get involved," says Steve Kullen, ARD national program manager. "Parents can have a huge impact in getting the companies they work for to recycle." Mark your calendars and visit the America Recycles Day Web site at www.americarecyclesday.org