STOP! Don't throw away things like furniture,appliances,clothes,toys,dishes,



silverware,knick-knacks,pet items,etc.,etc. Many of these items can be recycled right

back into the community. Places like the Salvation Army will be happy to take these

items off your hands. They have thrift stores that they use to sell these items. The

money generated from the sale of these items goes back into the community. They

provide many services such as, care for the elderly, help for abused women and children,

rehabilitation, clothing for the homeless, food for the hungry and many other social

services.

The Salvation Army claims that 83 cents of every dollar raised goes towards

direct assistance to families in need in 5,000 communities. Be careful because there

are alot of charities out there that support good causes, but most of the money doesn't

go towards the charity they support. It's always a good idea to research the charity that

you want to support.

Help the environment and your fellowman by not throwing away things that can

be sold in these stores. Not only does it benefit the community, it also benefits people

who don't have the funds to go out to regular stores and buy the things they need. They

can go to one of these stores and buy these items at a much lower price.

The items that one donates can be claimed on their income tax returns. So, no

matter how you look at it, everyone including the environment benefits. After reading

this article, you probably know now what you can do with all the things you have boxed

up and stored in the attic. Cleaning out your attic,basement and closet will not only benefit

the Salvation Army and others, but you will be helping to prevent a possible fire from

starting.

Recycling is a major asset to the environment.Take electronic devices for instance.

In the U.S. alone,it is estimated that we generated 1.5 billion pounds of all kinds of e-waste

in 2006.In the entire world it is expected to be above 40 million metric tons.It seems as

though that every time we turn around that new device has been upgraded.So we go out and

buy the upgrade and throw away the old.So what happens when these electronic devices

reach the landfill? They become toxic waste as they make it to the landfills because these

substances can leach into the soil and groundwater. Electronic devices could be responsible

for as much as 70 percent of the heavy metals in landfills,including 40 percent of all lead.

Television moniters and CRT-based computers contain on average four to eight pounds of

lead,a highly toxic heavy metal.

There are a lot of useful materials that can be reused from what we would call waste.

We need to do our part and find out where we could take these items that don't work anymore.

This way we could keep the landfills down,the drinking water safe,not only for us but for all

creatures.It's our duty to keep the planet clean and healthy.Please recycle as much as you

possibly can.Future generations are going to have to live here,we need to think about them

as well.