Going Green. Are You Kidding?

Welcome to March – a month to think green!    What’s the deal with everyone claiming they are going green?  They ain’t going green – they just talk about it because it is the hip thing to do.  It’s like people who claim they are focusing on being healthier yet 33% of Americans are obese.  It’s like men who claim they play golf and they can’t hit a ball 100 yards if the ball was the size of Texas.  It’s like women who claim to be on a diet and they eat healthy in front of others but are closet gorgers.  In my opinion, going green is ridiculous!

Check these statistics from March 2010, Gallup's annual update on Americans' attitudes toward the environment shows a public that over the last two years has become less worried about the threat of global warming, less convinced that its effects are already happening, and more likely to believe that scientists themselves are uncertain about its occurrence. In response to one key question, 48% of Americans now believe that the seriousness of global warming is generally exaggerated, up from 41% in 2009 and 31% in 1997, when Gallup first asked the question. Yet, we are blasted with global warming warnings everywhere.  I personally believe it is an economic decision to focus on this topic so many many people are getting rich off these claims.  

Here’s a prime example of the nonsense.  Congress passed a law that by 2014, we will be required to use the curly light bulbs.  They cost four times more than a regular Edison incandescent light bulb! Oh, they are suppose to last longer. But when we need to dispose of them, they are a total threat to the environment when because they contain unsafe levels of mercury.   Now, really, how smart is that?  Take a look at the proper method to dispose of the curly bulbs in North Carolina. Oh, I know I have lots of extra time to take three steps to toss a spent bulb!

Fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, which is a hazardous material. Dumping light bulbs into the trash bin is easy, but not responsible because they ultimately pollute the environment. As of 2010, North Carolina did not have a statewide fluorescent bulb disposal or recycling program in place, although some cities recycled the bulbs as part of their hazardous waste management. North Carolina residents have a few options when it comes to getting rid of hazardous light bulbs and should choose the most convenient one.  Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Contact your town's waste-reduction program to find out whether it collects fluorescent light bulbs and follow the guidelines for your community. Learn how to prepare the bulbs for disposal and how frequently they are collected. 

2. Place spent compact fluorescent bulbs in a paper bag and take them to a Home Depot store. Home Depot accepts compact fluorescent bulbs for recycling at any store location, according to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This is a free and easy way to recycle fluorescent bulbs if your North Carolina town does not accept them for recycling.

3. Participate in a mail-back fluorescent bulb disposal program to dispose of larger bulbs that are not accepted at Home Depot. Purchase a container from EasyPak or lightbulb manufacturer Sylvania. Fill the container with your spent fluorescent bulbs and return it to the company by mail, using the instructions sent with the recycling container.