Bright Ideas About Light Bulbs

If you've already made the move from incandescent lighting to fluorescent lamps in your home or facility, congratulations. You're saving energy, and reducing your carbon footprint. In fact, according to the Energy Star website, "If every American home replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR [compact fluorescent lamp, or CFL], we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars."

Interested in switching to CFLs? Just remember that each fluorescent lamp contains a small amount of mercury, and while the lamps do not release mercury when they're intact, it's important to dispose of them properly. Mercury, which is a known neurotoxin, should be properly handled in order to minimize human exposure and landfill/water contamination.

If you're looking for a safe way to recycle the CFLs used in your home or business, contact Cardella Waste Services today. When you schedule your pickup of old bulbs, we'll send you UN-certified safety packaging to protect your family and employees. It's simple, fast, and affordable--and you can schedule today by calling Cardella at 1-800-548-7001.

What's New in Green News?

Interested in the latest recycling news? Check out the following headlines.

Landfill GTE project to produce energy for 1,000 homes

St. Joseph, Mo., is partnering with Kansas City Power & Light to create a landfill gas-to-energy project at a 90-acre landfill. According to experts, the project will produce enough power to benefit 1,000 residences. Read more about it here.

Arizona Votes to Fill Old Mine Shafts with Scrap Tires

In a controversial decision, Arizona state lawmakers voted to get rid of old tires by stuffing them down abandoned mines. Environmental activists are concerned about the risk of underground fires and water contamination, but proponents of the decision say that it's an inexpensive way to close off dangerous shafts. Check out the full story here.

Waste to Generate Significant Energy in Spain

University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR) researchers are continuing to study the use of waste in the generation of electricity. While solid waste seems to be the most cost-effective option, the study did not rule out water treatment sludge and livestock slurry as alternate energy sources. Find out more about the possibilities by clicking here.

Upcycling: Join the Club

If you’re interested in joining Cardella in our sustainable upcycling efforts, check out the following tips for repurposing your old household clutter.

1. Save cardboard TP and paper towel tubes to tidy your computer, phone and television cables. Still have leftovers? Send them to your child’s school for craft projects.

2. Salvage leftovers and food scrapings in an outdoor compost bin. When gardening time comes, composted waste makes powerful (and free) fertilizer.

3. While you may try hard to get off of junk mail lists, chances are you still get a catalog or two. Save them for school projects—or visit Planet Green for tips on turning old catalogs and magazines into bracelets, wallpaper and more.

4. Use plastic grocery bags to pad mailing boxes, cover bicycle seats when it rains or organize frozen vegetables and meats. If you’re crafty, you can even crochet bags into cool grocery totes, laundry room rugs and wallets.

5. Decoupage glass wine bottles and use them as flower vases and candle holders—or if you’re handy with tools, turn them into drinking glasses.

As you get creative with your upcycling efforts, remember to visit Cardella to discover more about how we’re reducing the waste stream, keeping the environment clean—and helping eco-friendly businesses reduce their carbon footprint.