Heavy metal 101
Fish tale
E-Waste Not, Want Not
The Future
What can I do?

What can I do?

It takes less than an hour to do something about heavy metals. By making some small steps, you can protect your health and the planet.

A lot of fuss is being made about compact fluorescent light bulbs, because they contain small amounts of mercury. So the big question: should you switch? Definitely! Coal-burning power plants are the single largest source of mercury in Canada. Reducing your energy use helps keep mercury out of the environment. Learn more: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/newsreleases/2007/200735c_e.htm

The simplest way to stop heavy metals: don't buy things you don't need, especially electronics. The sad fact is that all those great electronic devices usually go obsolete very quickly. (The average useful life for a computer is only five years, and about 18 months for cell phones.) If you must buy something, buy it second-hand. Here are some places to get used goods:

Freecycle: http://www.freecycle.org
Craigslist: http://toronto.craigslist.org/about/cities.html
Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmy.ca/

(You can also donate your older electronics, too.)