Consumer Education
 CPSC will be posting information for consumers who are interested in learning how to encourage producer responsibility through their purchasing habits. Remember to vote with your dollars!
- The Story of Stuff
 Video (20 minutes)
This is a powerful and entertaining introduction by Annie Leonard to the over-production, over-consumption and over-wasting inherent in our global economy. It describes the roles of government and corporations, and the effects on everyone.
- The Secret Life of Paper Video (5 minutes)
Learn how paper production is related to forest destruction and global warming, and why recycling and buying recycled paper important.
- The Secret Life of Cell Phones Video (5 minutes)
See where old cell phones and mobile devices go when you recycle them and why you should recycle them.
- Fluorescent bulbs
Listen to Dr. Wilkes, Professor of Medicine and Vice Dean for Medical Education at UC Davis, talk about the hazards of fluorescent bulbs and why the public hasn't been informed.
[Flash player] [MP3] (3 minutes)
Consumer Action
To find a recycling facility near you, go to Earth 911 and type in the product and your zip code.
- Take Back the Filter
Tell Clorox to take back Brita water filter cartridges and recycle them just like they do in Europe.
- Recycle Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable batteries contain heavy metals, and battery producers have organized a voluntary responsibility organization called the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). We encourage you to utilize RBRC collection bins at many retailers. To find our where you can recycle old batteries and cell phones:
- Call the RBRC hotline at 1-800-8-BATTERY or 1-877-2-RECYCLE
- Go to any Alltel, AT&T, Batteries Plus, Black & Decker, Circuit City, DeWalt, The Home Depot, Lowe's, Milwaukee Electrical Tool, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Orchard Supply, Porter Cable Service Centers, RadioShack, Remington Product Company, Sears, Staples, Target, US Cellular and Verizon Wireless.
- Mercury Thermostats
Mercury thermostats
were widely used in California prior to 1992  and were legal to buy until 2006. Each mercury thermostat contains 3 grams of mercury on average. If you have a mercury thermostat, make sure when you replace it that it gets properly recycled.
The Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) is a not-for-profit corporation founded and operated by thermostat manufacturing companies. You can properly recycle your mercury thermostats for free through the TRC program at either:
- your local heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) wholesale outlet, such as Geary Pacific Supply Company, Baker Distributing Company, Johnstone Supply Company, RSD, Lennox Industries, Burke Engineering Company
OR
- your local hazardous waste collection facility.
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