Materials such as aluminum, tin, silicone, iron, copper, gold and a wide array of plastics, can be reused or re-processed, which help in reducing the cost of manufacturing new computer units. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 used to be the main federal law governing the recycling of computers. It s estimated that 1 in 4 of the used tires today are re-treaded, and used again in another motor vehicle somewhere else. Many of the used tires today are also ground up, chopped, and used as a base for gravel roads, and as a sand and gravel substitute in road construction activities. Some used tires are also chopped up and mixed as part of the surface for indoor tennis courts or indoor sports playing fields. If your recycle old newspapers, junk mail, cardboard, Styrofoam and other materials, you help protect the air, and help save trees from being cut down. Recycling plastic products such as soda bottles, milk, juice and bottled water containers also lessens the need for new petroleum to make these kinds of plastic products. com for example, purchase old PC s and refurbish them for resale. Some recycling facilities also buy used ink printer cartridges. Used cellular phones can also be turned into profitable recyclable materials. You may resell used cell phones in online shops like UsedPhone.com or eBay. Your home s attic or cellar can may surely contain a lot of recyclable items. Since mercury is a highly-toxic material, its disposal in landfills or incinerators poses a major health safety issue, because burning or burying them in the ground can contribute to air and water pollution. This has prompted the National Electrical Manufacturers Association in the US to voluntary cap the amount of mercury placed in each CFL unit. More states and counties have now adopted a wide array of recycling and waste recovery programs. Some US states are already far ahead of the rest when it comes to implementing recycling programs. In Portland, Oregon for example, recycling bins are in every street corner, while in Albuquerque, New Mexico, there is a clear lack of curbside recycling programs and facilities.