Three R’s for Texas
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality estimates that Texans discard 1.5 million computers annually and depend on an average of six wireless (battery-powered) products daily! Computers, electronics and batteries contain metals like nickel, aluminum, mercury and lead. When these items end up in landfills, metals may vaporize into the air when burned or leach into groundwater and soils with rain water.
Viewer Tip: You can keep these items out of the landfill and protect air and water quality by remembering the three R’s:
- Reduce: Help reduce the number of single-use batteries discarded each year by trying rechargeable batteries – most can be recharged up to 1,000 times!
- Reuse: Donate working electronics you no longer need to charities, family members or friends.
- Recycle: When batteries and electronics have reached the end of their lives, take them to a recycling center for proper handling. If every Texan recycled five batteries, we’d keep more than 39 million out of our landfills! Visit earth911.com to find a recycling center near you.
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
(Sources: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. “Take Care of Texas.” http://www.takecareoftexas.com/around-the-house/ and Earth 911. “Electronics 101.” http://earth911.com/electronics/electronics-101/)
