For the Earth ...

Volunteers needed
Fort Belvoir participates in the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce's Richmond Highway Spring Cleanup April 24. Interested volunteers are asked to call Pauline Hunter, 805-2034.

People who volunteer should wear sturdy shoes, long-sleeved shirts and pants; and bring water, gloves and a long stake, to lessen bending.

Last-minute inclement weather information is available by calling 805-3030.

Old wireless phone recycling
Submitted press release
Members of the Fort Belvoir community can help the environment by recycling their cell phones to reduce the amount of electronic waste sent to landfills.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, of the 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones and computer products that can be recycled, only 18 percent were collected for recycling and 82 percent were disposed of, primarily in landfills.

AT&T accepts cell phones for recycling today, which is Earth Day, at local stores. Any wireless phone, regardless of manufacturer or carrier, is accepted.

Locations are available through wireless.att.com/ find-a-store/.

Proceeds from the phones will be used for Cell Phones for Soldiers - an initiative that provides prepaid phone cards for active-duty military members overseas.

Additionally, visitors who stop off to recycle today will get a 10 percent discount on certain items and a reusable shopping bag, while supplies last.

Mercury thermostat recycling
Through May 29, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia and Covanta Fairfax offer a $5 Habitat for Humanity ReStore Chantilly Gift Card to Fairfax County households that turn in old mercury thermostats for recycling. The gift card is also usable through May 29.

Mercury thermostats will be accepted from Fairfax County residents from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays thru Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Habitat for Humanity ReStore warehouse, 4262G Entre Court, Chantilly, Va., 100 yards west of the intersection of Walney and Willard roads.

The mercury bounty program is designed to encourage the proper handling and disposal of these mercury-containing devices and reduce mercury in the waste stream. Once in the waste stream, such devices may break and release mercury into the environment.

Information on how other mercury-containing materials can be recycled is available from Fairfax County's household hazardous waste community collection events Web page, fairfaxcounty.gov/ dpwes/trash/disphhw.htm.

Information on the ReStore is available from restorenova.org.