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CARING FOR REFUSE

Technology has revolutionized our lifestyle through telephones, radios, TVs, computers and cell phones. But there is a flipside to technological advancement. The brisk pace of technology means these devices become obsolete quickly.

A recent issue is how our old electronics should be disposed of, because they often contain dangerous elements such as lead and mercury that can contaminate our soil and water supply. The recycling movement in the West was born out of these concerns in the 1980s. Recycling decentralizes the economy. Manufacturing plants that use recycled materials require less capital to build and operate than virgin materials manufacturers. Far less energy is used as compared to the use of virgin resources in manufacturing. Recycling based manufacturers can be close to their sources of materials to reduce transportation costs. Each level of collection, processing, manufacturing and consumption means jobs, skills, small businesses, profits. These, in turn, add to the local and regional economies.

The Arizona, US-based media company, Global Alerts, that run this site under review also work on the credo of decentralization. According to them, "Earth 911 delivers actionable local information on recycling and product stewardship that empowers consumers to act locally, live responsibly and contribute to sustainability'. Easy navigability is the key feature of the site.

It mainly caters to recycling household wastes. There are tips on how to start a recycling programme, links to scholarly pieces on recycling and recent news items.

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