Electronics Recycling

Every year Americans add tons of broken or outdated appliances to our landfills. But it doesn't have to be that way. Most major electronics retailers offer free or nearly free recycling programs.

No matter where you bought it, what brand it is, or how old it is, bring it to Best Buy and they'll make sure it's safely recycled. It's all part of their Greener Together™ program.

• CDs
• DVDs
• cell phones
• ink-jet cartridges
• DVD players
• computers
• televisions
• and more

Just drop them into the free kiosks located at all U.S. based stores.

Office Depot will recycle ink or toner cartridges and cell phones at no charge. Larger items will require the purchase of a recycling box ($5 to $15) which you can then leave at the store to take care of.

Radio Shack has a very cool program. Trade in your unwanted small electronics and they'll give you a gift card based on the value of the items you're turning in.

Staples will give you store credit in exchange for your empty ink or toner cartridges. You can also turn in your cell phones and any Dell products at no charge. You'll pay $10 per piece to recycle non-Dell items.

Building Green

Dan Phillips in Huntsville, Texas formed Phoenix Commotion, Inc., a for-profit construction company that builds low-income housing where each project contains at least 80% recycled materials. He's part inventor, part artist and part out-of-the-box strategist. Anyone who's shingled a roof with cast-off license plates, crafted a floor out of wine bottle corks, and made door knobs out of tree branches left in a landfill by a landscaper has my respect as a green builder. He's built homes that run the gamut from a 350-square foot one bedroom that cost the new homeowner - dru-u-u-um-rol-l-l-l - $199 a month! to a 1,000-square-foot four-bedroom that the new homeowner purchased with a $450 per month mortgage! Now that's green building with a conscience.

How does he do it? Hint - he's not above Dumpster diving for home building materials.