Residents in one Colorado town may find it harder to keep a commercial dumpster on the site of a home renovation or construction project when city council members take up the issue next month.

The town of Cañon City, Colorado is looking to ban the use of large trash container and commercial dumpsters from residential areas unless they are concealed by a fence, according to the Cañon City Daily Record.

If the proposal is passed by the city council next month there will be a number of exemptions which will allow apartment buildings, mobile home parks and some other residential locations to have a commercial dumpster on site. Additionally, businesses located in non-residential zones will be exempt from the ban, according to the paper.

There is a chance that language can be placed into the proposal which would allow residents who need a construction waste container to obtain a $35 permit which would authorize the use of a refuse dumpster for up to 30 days for use during a move or remodel.

Last month the city of Longview, Texas proposed an ordinance that would require dumpsters to have screens on up to all four sides in order to hide them from view, according to the Longview News-Journal.

No, you can’t! That oil is environmental poison, as it can harm or kill wildlife and plants. Plus, it can cause serious damage to drinking water supplies, as well as sewage/septic systems. According to the earth911 website, dumping cooking oil and grease down the drain is the leading cause of stopped-up plumbing.

But before you dispose of your oil, you may want to contact a local restaurant. If the oil is still good, it can be added to their existing supplies for future use. This may be a good idea if you’re a “frequent fry-er”! You may also want to consider adding the used oil to a compost heap. But if these ideas don’t appeal to you, just follow these simple steps, and avoid any environmental catastrophes!

1.) Make sure that the used oil has safely cooled off.

2.) Check if the oil is actually done for good. Deep-frying oil can be used repeatedly. If it is unusable, you’ll need to find a clean container that seals tightly; an old plastic jar (NOT glass) with a durable lid is a good choice.

3.) Then, strain the used oil into the container. But be careful — you don’t want to slip and fall!

4.) Do you have only a small amount of left-over oil? If so, you can toss the jar right into the trash.

5.) If there is a lot of oil left, you’ll need to take it to your local landfill.

If you have any other questions about the disposal of oil or other waste, call the professionals at DumpsterSource, the place for all your dumpster rental needs.

Best Answer: The answer is “Yes,” but you can’t just toss it out of a truck bed and take off … In most communities, you can drop off large appliances for recycling at local landfills, transfer stations and municipal recycling depots.

But if you have any regard for the health of the environment, you’ll need to be aware of certain local AND federal guidelines. You should contact your local government to find the proper facilities and programs for recycling appliances. In fact, these locations are preferred, as the employees will be able to remove any hazardous materials.

But before you just dispose of your unwanted washer and dryer, why not consider helping out your neighbors in need. As long as the appliances are still working, they can be reused, or even salvaged for valuable parts. And if they’re beyond repair, be sure to contact the qualified professionals at DumpsterSource. They’ll pick up your appliances at your home or business, and transport them to the proper facilities. You can contact them at (888) 423-8677, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am EST until 8:00 pm EST, or online, 24/7.

But before you run out and replace all of your units, you’ll need to know what to do with the old extinguishers. After all, you can’t just toss them in the trash. They may not be totally empty, and if the liquid, gas or chemicals inside leak out, serious damage can occur, including contamination or even explosions! So how do you get rid of those old extinguishers?

Instructions: First of all, you need to determine what type of extinguisher you’re dealing with. Newer extinguishers typically contain water, gas, or chemicals. Water-filled and gas-filled (CO₂) models are safe, as the liquid or foam inside is inert. However, the chemical models may be toxic, and if released, they can irritate skin (and the environment).  To be safe, it’s a good idea to contact your local fire department, or even a fire extinguisher service company. This can be located with a simple Google search.

You may have to follow local and even Federal guidelines when disposing of extinguishers. Again, the fire department, as well as your local sanitation or environmental protection departments may have the proper information for disposal and recycling. You see, fire extinguishers are often considered to be “hazardous waste,” and as such, they may require special arrangements. Plus, these extinguishers are generally under a great deal of pressure (this is what makes them effective). Therefore, they need to be handled by qualified professionals!

Typically, local sanitation workers will pick up old extinguishers for disposal and recycling. If the extinguisher can be reused, the employees willfully inspect and perform pressure tests. If the unit is unusable, it is cut in half or pierced. Then, it’s scrapped, as almost all of the unit can be recycled.

At DumpsterSource, our representatives will schedule personal pick-ups and disposal for your extinguishers and other waste and trash. To reach a representative, simply call (888) 423-8677, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am EST until 8:00 pm EST. Or, you can reach them online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth.”

– Henry David Thoreau

Everywhere you look, trash is piling up. No matter how hard we try to recycle, to conserve, to limit our consumption, the waste grows. But it’s no big deal, right? Surely, the problem will work itself out….

Unfortunately, we only have to look at the Pacific Ocean for an illustration of our bad habits. Floating on the current is an extraordinarily immense mass of trash, one that may be twice as big as Texas! Even worse, this collection of plastic continues to expand every day.

A Trash Heap By Any Name

This environmental hazard goes by many names; “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” “Plastic Trash Vortex,” “Eastern Garbage Patch.” But whatever it’s called, this blob represents a growing concern for the health of the planet. Located between Hawaii and the Western U.S., this blob shows that our trash and waste can reach all parts of the globe – even the middle of the ocean!

Researchers estimate that about 80% of the debris comes from land-based sources, while the remaining 20% comes from ships at sea. This garbage is then swept by currents into the mass. And the majority of the plastic found in the Patch is not biodegradable. Instead, these plastic bags, bottle, toys, etc. are primarily photodegraded. That means that it stays a plastic, even as it disintegrates into smaller pieces. This places local wildlife in terrible damage, as the pieces are consumed. Even worse, once the plastic breaks down in the sun, toxic chemicals leach into the water. This can harm fish and other organisms, and eventually humans.

Clean-Up Efforts Are Underway

But despite the mounting crisis, there are steps being taken to fix the problem. The prestigious Scripps Institution of Oceanography has joined forces with conservationists, environmental experts, and business leaders. A major initiative, known as “Project Kaisei” (Japanese for “Ocean Planet”), is launching. This initiative will involve a two-ship expedition to the Vortex; the New Horizon and the Kaisei.

The team will explore the Vortex, and take photos and videos, in an effort to alert and educate the public. “We need to make people realize what we are doing to our ocean,” states Doug Woodring, a Hong Kong-based entrepreneur and ocean conservationist. “We need to make people realize what we are doing to our ocean.” The New Horizon is handling scientific research. The Kaisei will explore methods for cleaning up the plastic waste, while not harming the nearby wildlife. You can view the project’s progress online, at www.projectkaisei.org/.

It should be mentioned that the “Plastic Trash Vortex” is not the only one of its kind. There are also garbage masses in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. And as these are located in international waters, most governments are reluctant to become involved.

As such, our best weapon may be to stop adding to the problem. That means using less plastic, and recycling whenever we can. Estimates suggest that more than 60 billion tons of plastic are produced annually. Unfortunately, only about 5% is recycled!

SOURCE: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914145,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

• From 1950-2000, the U.S. population has almost doubled. But during that same period, the U.S. population’s demand for water has multiplied more than three times. The EPA estimates that Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day. That amount is enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses!

• Do you recycle paper? Well, here are a few incentives; one ton of recycled paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, AND 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity. These savings can provide enough energy to power typical American homes for five months!

• Have you considered installing a drip irrigation system for your lawn and garden? These systems use 20-50% less water than conventional in-ground sprinkler systems. Plus, they’ve been shown to be more efficient than conventional sprinklers. That’s because no water is lost to wind, runoff, and evaporation.

• You may want to look into installing water-efficient appliances. The EPA has found that these devices could save the nation more than three trillion gallons of water. That’s the equivalent of more than $18 billion dollars per year!

The “Green Guilt” is Growing

As you can see, recycling has its benefits, for every man, woman and child across the country. Nevertheless, a great number of the American population has yet to jump on the recycling bandwagon.

But research shows that while we may not all be doing our part for the environment, that doesn’t mean we don’t feel bad about it. Actually, studies show that in 2008, more people – especially women –felt guiltier about their poor environmental efforts than in 2007. This study was conducted by the non-profit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). The survey involved 525 women and 481 men.

According to the findings, about 20% of the polled Americans stated that in 2007, they felt guilty about their recycling habits, vs. 2008’s 22% level of guilt. Actually, this higher level of guilt may be a good thing. You see, this may mean that increased “green” activities may be in effect.

For instance, in 2008, 41% of those surveyed said they recycled cell phones and 37% recycled rechargeable batteries. In 2007, these numbers were 31% and 29%, respectively. In addition, 89% stated that they recycled something in 2008, compared to 2007’s 87%.

The Children Are Our Future

Those surveyed said that their main reason for recycling was the children. This suggests that the American population now understands that their actions (good or bad) will have a long-term effect. The 2008 survey shows that “green guilt” is real, and people want to get involved.

However, experts caution that this guilt can only do so much. “Green guilt certainly works for some people, but I have a concern that guilt ultimately is going to turn off more people than anything else,” states Chip Giller, president and founder of the humor/environmental website Grist.org. “Consumerism and frankly battery recycling are only going to get us so far.” Eventually, the U.S. Government will need to get involved; they’ll really need to target major polluters.

The bottom line? Whether you recycle everything or only on special occasions, every little bit helps! If you want more information about recycling and what you can do to help the environment, visit DumpsterSource.com

SOURCE: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-05-07-green-guilt_N.htm

Mayor Michael Udine states the situation as this: “There are 6,500 homes in Parkland and 6 percent are not paying their garbage bill.” As such, City Commissioners will soon be voting as to whether or not to combine the waste management and tax bills together.

However, many of the city’s representatives already believe that this may be the best decision. “Putting the waste management bill on the tax bill makes sense. If someone is not paying their garbage bill and their neighbor pays, the neighbor won’t want to pay,” says City Commissioner Jared Moskowitz. “With the garbage bill now on the tax bill, it’s tougher to get out of it and residents who are paying will save some money.”

According to area waste management officials, if this measure passes, residents could receive a 60 cent household reduction. This comes out to about $2.40 per quarterly bill. For convenient and personalized dumpster rentals, Parkland residents should contact DumpsterSource at (888) 423-8677.

SOURCE: http://theourtownnews.com/parkland_news/3569.html