Many large companies, such as Apple, already offer recycling programs. But a new state law which came into effect this past Friday in New York makes it mandatory for all producers to provide free recycling services for their electronic products. Aimed at being environmentally friendly, simple, and convenient, the New York Times reports that efforts may be getting off to a slower start than initially hoped due to lack of information and advertising.

The new rules require manufacturers to pay for the collection, handling and recycling of electronic products, such as cell phones, computer hardware, TV’s, and other goods, which will be enforced by the State Department of Environmental Conservation. While companies may use any combination of pick-ups, mail or drop offs to collect goods, many companies are partnering with local organizations to coordinate drop-off sites for consumers.

With this new law, New York joins about two dozen other forward-thinking states who have committed to reducing e-waste.

Starting with a crossword puzzle about the reasons to recycle, the booklet offers a variety of fun educational games. Following the crossword is a coloring page with a character copyrighted to Disney (it is California, after all!).

A large recycling word search puzzle has 22 columns and 23 rows. A creative word search in a bottle is a few pages later, with a list of words that are things that can be reused. The tree one is also good.

The remaining games include a maze and a hidden symbol. Among the information presented on other pages is a feature about recycling aluminum cans. Did you know that one recycled aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours?

Have fun with the booklet. And remember, print individual pages on recycled paper, and recycle them when you’re finished with them!

Although all the suggestions are important, it’s only human to have some favorites. My favorites included having field trips to learn about wildlife. Putting a plastic bottle filled with water and rocks in your toilet tank to achieve water conservation for each flush gets top points for being creative.

From planting shade trees to cool a house in summertime, to planting trees, to having indoor plants to make the air better, people voted for the plant kingdom.

Overall, the ideas are good and if you’re looking for something new to do you’re likely to find an activity in the comments.

The reports include a January 2010 update to their Global Warming’s Six Americas research.  Their press release suggests that Americans can be grouped into one of six groups depending on their attitudes towards climate change.  Overall, the results show a shift among Americans from being convinced that global warming is happening and is caused by humans and is a real threat (10% from its previous 18%), to more people (16%) believing global warming is not happening and is likely a hoax.

The report suggests that part of the cause responsible for this decrease is the current economic conditions and the recent attacks on climate science.  While people focus more on keeping their job or dealing with job loss, they share something in common with people in developing countries who just want to feed their family.  As humanitarian and conservation workers reveal, when people get desperate enough they will carry packages across the Pakistani/Afghanistan border for dinner money, or clear the forests of animals for African bushmeat.  It’s tough to care about the long term consequences of climate change when you’re worried about paying your rent or feeding your family.  But it’s still important.

Some people still care about their world, even when they’re facing personal challenges.  They decide to be game wardens rather than bushmeat hunters.  If only we could bottle that and pass it around!

The Center’s reports also have interesting information about the people who occupy the middle ground.  The “Cautious” believe global warming is a problem but not urgent and are unsure if it is human caused, has risen to 27% from 19% in 2008.

The “Disengaged” who don’t know much about global warming and may not even think about it, has decreased to 6% from 12% in 2008.  The “Doubtful” who aren’t sure if global warming is happening, but believe that if it is it’s natural and not a threat, is now 13% from 11% in 2008.

Interestingly, the majority of respondents believe that developing sources of clean energy should be a priority for the US Government, and support more funding for related research.  Perhaps we can solve the problems even if people don’t fully believe in them!

As well as the above report, the website also has information about how American attitudes don’t equal concerns about recycling or eating locally grown food.  Then there are four other reports to read.

So check out the University’s Center for Climate Change Communication’s website and learn more about American attitudes and actions.  It’s important reading.