California passed the Electronics Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20) the first of its kind of legislation in the nation to address the growing electronics waste problem.

Authorized collectors and recyclers of monitors may be reimbursed for expenses for collecting and recycling monitors from the Electronics Waste Recovery and Recycling Account portion of this legislation after July, 2004 in California. This account is expected to be in the tens of millions of dollars. You do not have to be a California Business to participate. California generally leads the nation on innovative programs and trends in waste management and environmental issues, with other states soon following like Florida.

The EPA, environmentalist, computer manufacturers, waste industry, state government and local government are looking at the California model.

The book Computer Recycling For Education will assist you in setting up your computer recycling business or training program. This book used by companies doing junk removal in Pensacola is ideal for recyclers, jurisdictions, municipalities, waste haulers, refurbishes, non-profits or school computer repair training programs. It may also be used as a reference for college environmental studies departments.

Metro Manila residents are not recycling-conscious as shown by the level of recycling activities in the Metro area which is a low of six percent. According to a Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) report on waste management, recycling is the second most preferred activity in the hierarchy of waste management practices.

Source reduction, or the minimization of garbage by residents and other garbage-generators, is the first, according to the report. Recycling of wastes brings environmental, socio-economic, financial and institutional benefits to those who engage in recycling activities, the report also said.

In the Metro area, recycling of wastes is carried out in different levels, namely, at home by residents, on the streets (door-to-door) by eco-aides, on the collection vehicles by the garbage collection crew, and at the open dumps by the scavengers, the report pointed out.

All the recovered items are taken to the junk shops (about 1,000 in Metro Manila) who in turn sell these either to the middle businessmen or directly to the factories. Despite these, the report stressed that of the estimated 6,000 metric tons of garbage generated daily in Metro Manila, only about 327 tons of wastes are recycled daily.
 
In view of this, the MMDA is pushing for recycling, specifically community-based recycling, as part of its master plan for solid waste management in the Metro area. Waste recycling, according to the MMDA, has become necessary and urgent in the light of high costs of collection and transport, the very limited landfill space, and the extreme difficulty in finding new landfill sites.

In the light of the latest garbage crisis which occurred last January when residents of San Mateo and Antipolo City, in Rizal province, blocked portions of the Marcos-Sumulong Highway to prevent Metro garbage trucks from reaching the San Mateo sanitary landfill, waste recycling, among other strategies, will be pushed strongly by the MMDA.

Again you let your own advocacy get in the way of your credibility. There are real and serious problems associated with nuclear reprocessing. I agree that nuclear opponents are trying to block reprocessing efforts, but I don’t agree that the only reason is to make the waste problem unsolvable — there are real and valid concerns with reprocessing itself. Nuclear supporters would do well to address those concerns constructively, instead of attempting to hide then, dismiss them, or pretend that they don’t even exist. I respectfully disagree.
 
Nuclear proponents have yet to demonstrate to the public at large that continued expansion of nuclear power would result in less problems overall rather than more problems overall, particularly since they either didn’t foresee or weren’t forthcoming about the creation of current problems.

It’s not enough to just say, “we may have been wrong and/or fooled you in the past, but it’s all better now.” I don’t think so. The above is an accurate statement of the actions and motivations of anti-nuclear activists.
 
The article from the NAP magazine agrees:

“One might think that opponents of nuclear energy, especially among the activists who make it their business to probe nuclear programs for weaknesses, would be deploring the lack of consolidated spent fuel storage. But neither the activists here in the United States nor those in Europe are doing so. Indeed, as part of their strategy for stopping work at Yucca Mountain, the U.S. activists insist that all spent fuel remain at the nuclear stations, for the next half century if need be. For them, the unresolved problem of long-term storage and ultimate disposal of nuclear waste should be left hanging around the neck of the nuclear enterprise in order to hasten its demise. Activists acknowledge that sooner or later safe disposal of such waste will be necessary, but in their perspective the radiation hazards are for the ages and what is urgent is to shut down nuclear power.”… Read the rest

Spacious attics look best with a dormer window. This can make the exterior of the home look charming while possibly providing double the amount of space inside the home.

Gain space

Your property value will rise, and you will end up with more usable space without having to spend a lot.

You can use steel wool to barricade any areas where you believe rodents may be hiding. This is a preventative measure, used while full repairs are made. Mice are unable to chew through the steel wool which makes it invaluable.

Vinyl decks are popular with homeowners. If you’ve got one, make sure to thoroughly clean it at least two times every year so that it will look great and provide you years of use.

The best time to clean your deck is once in the fall and again in the spring.

A helpful tip on home improvement that can save you and your neighbors some money is to create a “community toolbox” that everyone can contribute to and use for home improvement projects.

You can always borrow tools from your neighbors that you might not have laying around. Even better, you two can share tips.

Remember, home improvement does not have to be a daunting task! With the right information, you will make wise decisions. Whether it’s a DIY project or a work-for-hire one, a bit of effort can go a long way.

Home improvement projects are more fun when you share them with someone you love. Make a weekend of it and get something accomplished together. Consider all the savings you’ll make by doing it by yourself.

The advice in this piece will help you determine your project and collect everything you need to begin.

Most lampshades are actually quite boring. Brighten up a lamp shade by using stencils and acrylic paint. This will add some style and personality to you rooms and take away the drab look from a cheep looking lamp shade.

If you have no counter space, install a microwave over the range. These units take the place of a range hood and are available at a variety of price points. Some even have features such as built-in convection cooking. These units contain a recirculating ventilation system.

Prior to installing paneling, paint stripes on the existing walls. No matter how careful you are when installing paneling, the old wall still peeks through. Be sure to measure the paneling before you install it.

Use a color that will match the paneling and paint the areas where the paneling will meet.

Choose one room to work on at a time. Rather than trying to do the entire house at one time, you can go room by room to save time and money.

Plan your renovation ahead

You should plan ahead and look for price deals on required project items. Planning ahead is a smart way for you to save money when you are improving your home.

You can get rid of that ugly bubble in your vinyl flooring with a shot! You can easily slice into the vinyl floor and let out the air. The bubble will collapse in the short term.

After that, though, you must put in a bit of glue to keep things the way you want them to be. Use glue that comes in syringes to get the job done.

If you are looking for a cheap method when it comes to floor tiles, try using vinyl tiles rather than using stone or ceramic tiles.

Vinyl has several things going for it. It is durable, installs easily with an adhesive backing, and resists water damage. You can find vinyl flooring as individual tiles or in a complete sheet that will cover an entire room at once.

Or a great idea is to install epoxy flooring. This modern-looking type of floor can get personalized for that unique look that will make your friends jealous.

When performing home improvement tasks, a drill is essential. It lets you make the holes you need for driving screws and other fasteners. You should have a cordless, 9-volt power drill that come with a variety of drill bits and bits for Phillips and flat-head screws.

How about the doors

If you want to change a lock, you should replace the whole thing, or if not just change the cylinder. The cylinder being the lock’s mechanism that completes the lock action.

When you lose a key, a cylinder replacement is a great way to re-key the lock. If you’re doing it for aesthetic purposes, change the whole assembly.

Sitting on chair cushions flattens them over time. If you want to “fluff” up those cushions, and give them new life, use the sun. The sun helps the moisture evaporate from the cushion’s fillings, bringing the bounce back.

Carefully flip the cushion’s sides, and be sure not to let it sit out too long. Too much time in the sun can cause the colors in the fabric to fade.

Last but not least, rent a roll-off dumpster so that you can easily remove all the construction debris and it is guaranteed you will get a lot. Depending on the size of your renovation, you can hire a 20yd up to a 40yd dumpster from a Concord dumpster rental service or other locations in the nation.

Developing a solid plan makes it easier to succeed at home improvement. Doing this together is enjoyable, and you can also enjoy the results together.

It will be a treat for you to sit back and think over the work you’ve done and how much money you saved doing things on your own.… Read the rest

North Carolina is a constituent state of the U.S. One of the 13 original states, it lies on the Atlantic coast midway between New York and Florida. It is bounded to the north by Virginia, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by South Carolina and Georgia, and to the west by Tennessee. Its capital is Raleigh.

The Province of North Carolina was a British colony that existed in North America from 1712 to 1776, created as a proprietary colony. The power of the British government was vested in a governor of North Carolina, but the colony declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. South Carolina separated from North Carolina in 1719 when it was named a royal colony. Most of the settlements were located in the southern part of the colony. The colonial government was created through the Fundamental Constitution of Carolina.

The government of North Carolina is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. These consist of the Council of State (led by the Governor), the bicameral legislature (called the General Assembly), and the state court system (headed by the North Carolina Supreme Court).The Constitution of North Carolina delineates the structure and function of the state government.

Like the federal government and almost all the other states, North Carolina has a bicameral legislature, consisting of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The General Assembly meets in regular session beginning in January of each odd-numbered year, and adjourns to reconvene the following even-numbered year.

The North Carolina Department of Administration oversees government operations as it relates to the construction of buildings, purchasing and contracting of goods and services, managing state vehicles, acquiring and disposing of real property and operating auxiliary services that include courier mail delivery, the sale of state and federal surplus property and waste management and recycling.

Waste management and pollution is a priority focus of the NC government with an emphasis on promoting recycling and optimum landfill management. The local authorities recommend residents to rent a dumpster whenever they have unwanted junk and debris on their premises, so that no accumulation with pollution risk can occur. Different sizes of roll-off rentals are provided by local companies so that house owners and business directors can get such tasks easily completed.

The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, one of the United States; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law.All U.S. state constitutions are, according to the United States Supreme Court, subject to federal judicial review; any provision can be nullified.

How does the State Government works? Laws of North Carolina, known as statutes, are made by the General Assembly. The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) is made of two bodies or houses; the Senate, which has 50 members; and the House of Representatives, which consists of 120 members. The integration of analytics into agency business decisions and enterprise IT strategy, along with a focus on data management, governance, and data security, are the fundamental focus of the North Carolina Government Data Analytics Center (GDAC).

This commission worked hard to reform local government financing throughout the state and its successor, the Local Government Commission, remains one of the bulwarks of North Carolina government today. Experience with various local arrangements for road building and maintenance had a comparable effect on state policy.

The N.C. Department of Information Technology provides technology services to state agencies and other government customers across North Carolina. Their services include hosting, network services, telecommunications, desktop computing, project management services, and unified communications such as email and calendaring.

In North Carolina, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state’s finances.This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicing state debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planning. The Government and Heritage Library serves the operational needs of state government agencies, those doing research on genealogy or North Carolina history, and the citizens of North Carolina. Visit us to explore the many services and resources, both digital and print, provided by the library. … Read the rest

One old resident from Arizona said he walked to the edge of a lake on a boardwalk leading to a small wharf, where a boat was moored. He counted 30 steps since he passed the whereabouts of this wharf … 10 years ago. This lake dries up almost visibly.

Big Lake Powell, an extension of the Colorado River straddling Arizona and Utah, has come down to one-third of its original level. And that’s the least of the problems. The real fear is that 30 million Americans risk losing a war that threatens the future of the entire southwestern United States.

Without the Colorado River, economic development in the southwest would never have occurred, says the Save the Colorado River coalition. Las Vegas would be an unknown village and most of Nevada, Arizona and Utah, vast, soulless deserts. The river has become the most important artery of this region which, writes the Sierra Club, “is drier than the deserts of North Africa”.

Lake Powell is artificial: it is a reservoir – like those of the Hydro-Québec dams – born at the turn of the 1960s when the Glen Canyon Dam was built. The same is true of his twin brother, Lake Mead, born 30 years earlier from the construction of the Hoover Dam near Las Vegas. The gradual drying up of both, in the last decade, results both from an unconsciousness in the face of a river treated as if it were unlimited, and from enormous errors of calculation.

More than a thousand years ago, handfuls of Native Americans cultivated corn in this semi-desert region because they had found the Colorado River there. But today, millions are taking the opportunity to water their lawns, grow fruits and vegetables in the desert, develop suburbs and maintain golf courses – about 150 just in Phoenix, capital of Arizona, and 130 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Local junk removal services are thriving due to the increase in urbanization and all the pollution that comes with it.

The Central Arizona Project, a canal that transports 541 km of river water to the 4 million population of the Phoenix area, is the largest water system in the United States. In the end, the Colorado river is running out of steam, Lake Powell is drying up, and the small wharf at Wahweap Campground where people have been walking has to be moved a little further, year after year.

The Colorado meanders for 2330km: it rises at the summit of the Rockies in the state of Colorado, where it is fed by melting snow, and it flows to Mexico, after crossing, among others, the famous Grand Canyon. Except that since the year 2000, when it reaches the Pacific on the Mexican side, more exactly the Sea of ​​Cortes … it is dry. Everything was pumped. And if the Mexicans are entitled to a party – which allowed them to set up farms and feed the city of Tijuana – it is because of a treaty of 1922 (Colorado River Compact) which defines virtually the drop by the flows that can be taken by the seven US states concerned.

Since 1922, the population has exploded. Las Vegas has sprung up from the desert. Arizona has become the fastest-growing US state-with the influx of retirees from the east coast. And there is agriculture. As a result, more water is pumped into Colorado than the river carries. This is where the miscalculation occured. Lake Mead in 1935, and Lake Powell in 1962, were to serve as a reserve, to compensate for years when the river level would be too low. They used the average precipitation over a decade … and now we see that it was a period of above average precipitation. For 11 years, it has hardly rained.

Lake Powell is down to 30% of its original level, and Lake Mead is at 50%. All around Lake Mead, a huge white ring – of calcium – photographed by visitors to the Hoover Dam, marks the height that the water reached. The level of Lake Mead has come down so low that Las Vegas and Nevada have started building a new pumping system, installed deeper into the lake, because the current system may soon be out in the open. Cost, by 2014: nearly a billion.

Recently Las Vegas experienced a major storm (flash flood), which killed one person, flooded about forty homes and temporarily blocked two highways and the airport. The end of water shortages? Not quite: the storm left … three inches of rain. It was too much of a sudden for the drainage systems, but it would take more to bail out Lake Mead, whose level depends mostly on the snow melt in the Rockies -and a little near tributaries, like the river Virgin.… Read the rest