On a side story and why I'm so happy to be recycling and not DUMPING into nature. This weekend I visited the great (normally cold town, but surprisingly with perfect weather) Duluth. Why? To help one of my favorite people, (if you follow me on twitter you've all heard of Cory @ivesdigital--my boyfriend and favorite account manager--brownie points?) anyway on with my story (what can I say I'm in advertising a shiny object or random thought throws me into temporary ADD). So we were in Duluth because Cory HAD a house up there from when he went to college at UMD (go cyclones) and since he is selling it (closing today) his tenants (he WAS renting) needed to get the hell out of there and have the place spotless (which trust me other then when Cory and I randomly came up and cleaned for showings--it was NOT spotless by any means). Oh so many stories to tell, but Cory would kill me for half of it so long story short: the guys cleaned and lucky me I DIDN'T have to clean and by the time we left (at 12:30--didn't get home till 3 am in Minni) the place was/is SPOTLESS. I'm impressed guys, and you better thank all of your wonderful beautiful girlfriends who helped because I'm surprised those poor girls ever stepped foot in your rooms the way they looked before Saturday. Ok now to the point of this long rant-- one of them yelled at Cory once for throwing away a MOLDY potatoes-- when we left they had empty the fridge, cupboards, even spices (except the ones cory grabbed before hitting the bag) all went in the trash. Poor little starving kids in Africa! Not only that but there was a box of oil, three old batteries, at least 8 bags (that were at the curb), and two trailer loads that went to the dump (the rest was properly taken care of or put in bags on the curb). We did however save as much as we could and took it to good will, called friends to see if they would want ect. Ok rant over. Sad though... lazy wasteful boys --who are going to have a rude awakening at their next target trip when they realize they need all new condiments, spices, utensils (yes cory saved those too--they didn't take anything from the kitchen), even bowls, pots and pans.
Feel free to send me your thoughts or find me at http://www.twitter.com/desaraev
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Under pressure to help dispose some of the electronic waste it helped create, Best Buy Co. is testing a free program that will offer consumers a convenient way to ensure millions of obsolescent TVs, old computers and other unwanted gadgets don't poison the nation's dumps.
The trial, expected to be announced Monday, covers 117 Best Buy stores scattered across eight states that will collect a wide variety of electronic detritus at no charge, even if the Richfield, Minn.-based retailer didn't originally sell the merchandise.
The pilot stores are in Best Buy's Northern California, Minneapolis and Baltimore markets, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Depending on how the test goes, the nation's largest electronics retailer may expand the recycling program to all of its 922 stores in the United States.
"We want to take the time to learn if we can handle this before we go any further," said Best Buy spokeswoman Kelly Groehler. "We know the need is there and the waste stream is there. We think everyone needs to bear some responsibility for this _ consumers, retailers and manufacturers."
As it is, Best Buy's test is believed to be the most extensive free electronics recycling program to be offered by a major retailer so far.
Consumers will be able to bring in up to two gadgets per day at the participating Best Buy stores. The list of acceptable items includes computer processors, computer monitors and televisions with screens up to 32 inches. Console televisions, air conditioners, microwave ovens and other large appliances won't be accepted.
Best Buy agreed to set up the recycling trial after a social responsibility group, As You Sow, submitted a proposal that would have asked the company's shareholders to endorse an electronics recycling program. As You Sow withdrew the proposal after Best Buy indicated it was already exploring ways to expand its existing recycling programs.
"This is a step in the right direction," said Conrad MacKerron, director of As You Sow's corporate social responsibility program. He is hoping Best Buy's recycling trial will prompt other major electronics retailers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Circuit City Stores Inc. to set up similar programs.
The disposal of electronics waste has become a more prevalent problem in recent years as technology's relentless advances turn cutting-edge devices into relics every few years.
That has threatened to create environmental headaches because the old stuff contains lead and other hazardous materials that aren't supposed to be put in the trash.
All Best Buy stores already have been accepting some electronics waste _ such as cell phones, empty ink-jet cartridges and worn-out batteries _ for several years. The retailer also will haul away old appliances and television sets when customers pay to have a replacement delivered to their homes.
Many community groups, local governments and recycling specialists also offer to accept electronics waste, often for a fee.
But environmentalists are worried about what will happen as more consumers replace their existing TVs to prepare for the scheduled February 2009 shift from analog to digital broadcasting.
Although old TVs will still be able to receive the digital signals with the help of a converter, millions of consumers have simply been buying state-of-the-art TVs _ a trend that has helped boost Best Buy's profits.
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