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Do you have a question for the Green Guide? Just Ask us anything, really! From plastic recycling to non–toxic mold fighters–we’ll give you the straight story. Note: Given the high volume of questions, we cannot always guarantee a response.

Featured Question

Photo: Cell phones

Home & Garden

How long does it take a cell phone to break down?

Cell phones are made from several valuable materials, such as gold, silver, and copper, and from several slow-to-decompose and potentially toxic materials, such as plastic and lead, used in the casing. According to Earth911.com, plastic casings can take hundreds, if not 1,000 years, to start breaking down in landfills. Lead, arsenic, zinc, and other compounds inside the phone can leach into and pollute surrounding soil and water.

Categories

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  • Food

    I put Glad OvenWare's plastic container in the oven and it melted and gave off terrible fumes. Were the fumes were harmful?

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  • Photo: Shea butter

    Personal Care

    Is shea butter an effective sunscreen?

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  • Kids

    Can you help my son get styrofoam out of his school cafeteria?

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  • Health & Safety

    What should I ask for when hiring a carpet cleaner? Are there any safe carpet cleaning products?

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  • Travel & Transportation

    How much of my carbon footprint can I reduce by working at home, instead of going into the office?

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