Curbside recycling programs are a very convenient system for recycling metals, paper, glass, and plastic. However, they are available to only about half the population in the United States today, and what can be recycled is limited. So where do you go if you do not have curbside recycling or if you want to recycle or safely dispose of such things as electronics, batteries, or books? One source of help is the Earth911 website, which provides information on how to recycle a vast range of items as well as information on the latest recycling laws, ideas for living a green lifestyle, and stories on people and companies who are working to make a difference.
Go to the Earth911 website (http://earth911.com).
Evaluate the website and work with the information to answer the following questions:
Is this a reliable information source? Does the organization have a clear and transparent agenda?
Who runs this website? Do the organization’s credentials make the information presented reliable or unreliable? Explain.
What is the mission of this website? What are its underlying values? How do you know this?
What data sources does Earth911 rely on for its information, and what is its policy on what it puts on its website? Are the sources it uses reliable?
Do you agree with the organization’s assessment of the problems with and concerns about waste and recycling? What about its solutions? Explain.
On the home page, select the link “Recycling Search” and click the “Electronics” icon. Enter your location in the box provided (city and state or zip code).
What options exist in your community for recycling electronics?
Where is the nearest location where you could recycle a desktop computer? A cell phone? A video game console?
Click on any of the tabs at the top of the home page and investigate one topic thoroughly. Identify which tab you chose and answer the following questions:
What types of articles are offered?
Who writes these articles?
Does the content seem useful and credible? Explain your response.
How useful is a website like Earth911? How can a website like this influence societal understanding of waste issues and facilitate a change in behavior on the part of individuals and businesses?
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