What I Wish They Said

My 2 cents on the debates:

Kerry - I wish he'd told us why the French and Germans matter so much in Iraq. I wish he'd told us that he knew that Iraq wasn't Viet Nam. I wish he'd let us know that he understands the war we're in - why we need to fight it, why it doesn't stop with Bin Laden, why, no matter how nice we are the rest of the world will always hate us just because we're us. I wish he had said "In no uncertain terms - I will remove the nuclear capability of Iran and North Korea - by their choice or ours"

Bush - I wish he'd given us more grand ideas. I wish he'd spoken in the same tone he used before the UN, before the American people after 9/11. I wish he had said more plainly "Here's the difference between us - I know Iraq wasn't a mistake. I know that the terrorists are timing their attacks to coincide with our elections, so that we waver." I wish he had said "In no uncertain terms - I will remove the nuclear capability of Iran and North Korea - by their choice or ours".

Hazardous Waste Collection

This just in...

The Southern Berkshire Hazardous Waste Collaborative has planned a Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection for businesses and residents of 15 South Berkshire Towns on Saturday, October 9th, from 9 AM to Noon, at the Great Barrington Recycling Center, Route 7, across from Monument Mountain High School.  This is an excellent and inexpensive opportunity for businesses with small quantities of hazardous waste to safely dispose of the material.    

Computers and televisions can be brought to this collection for a fee paid by the resident or business.  Most TV's/Computers will cost between $10-$20 but larger TV's will cost more.  Cell phones and ink jet cartridges are also being accepted at no cost.

In addition, Residents from Alford, Becket, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey,
Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham and West Stockbridge may bring household hazardous products for safe disposal or product recycling.  The program is free to residents of participating towns.

In addition to the above mentioned electronics, most products that are labeled ‘caution, toxic, poison or flammable’ can be brought to the Great Barrington collection.  These products should not be discarded in the trash.  Paint thinners and solvents, pesticides, gasoline and drain cleaners are examples of acceptable items. 

Products that contain mercury, such as fever thermometers and button batteries, found in watches and hearing aides, also should be brought to the collection. Rechargeable batteries, (e.g. cell-phone batteries and tool batteries) are accepted as well.  Alkaline batteries can be disposed of in household trash.

Latex paint will not be accepted.  Empty or dried up cans of latex paint can be disposed with the regular trash.  Empty cans of oil-based paint, stains and solvents can be disposed with the regular trash as well.

Residents who bring their mercury fever thermometers can receive one free  rnon mercuryeplacement. A broken fever thermometer can cause health problems when one inhales the mercury vapors, or when the skin is exposed.  Mercury can cause environmental and other health problems if it is thrown into the trash. MA Department of Environmental Protection is providing the digital thermometers.  Supplies are limited.  It is important to package the glass thermometers so they do not break.

To make an appointment, or for information about what can be brought to the collection, go to http://www.cetonline.org/Events/events.htm#collections, call CET at 1-800-238-1221 ext. 14 or 25, or email amyj@cetonline.org.  Residents from communities that are not participating should call their City or Town Hall for information about household hazardous product collections.

--
James Cahillane
Waste Management Specialist
Center for Ecological Technology (CET)
112 Elm St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Tel - 413-445-4556 ext-25-
Fax - 413-443-8123
jamiec@cetonline.org
http://www.cetonline.org
http://www.MaterialsExchange.org