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Local Voices

Do Not Sell Recalled Products. It's Against the Law. Recalled Products Can Cause Deaths and Injuries.

Every year, the consumer product safety commission, issues 500 recalls involving millions of products. Unfortunately many consumers never get the message, leaving dangerous products lingering in homes or up for sale on the internet, in resale shops or at garage sales. It is not whether you have a recalled product, it is to find the products in your home before someone gets injured or killed by them.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s goal is to protect consumers by getting dangerous recalled products out of resale stores and off the Internet. Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

Before re-selling products online or donating products to thrift stores, CPSC encourages consumers to check its Web site, www.cpsc.gov, to determine if the product has been recalled. Plus, sign up to receive CPSC’s free recall announcements by email and they now have an Android app.  

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www.recalls.gov

To provide better service in alerting the American people to unsafe, hazardous or defective products, six federal agencies with vastly different jurisdictions have joined together to create www.recalls.gov -- a "one stop shop" for U.S. Government recalls.

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Recalls on the Go

When you’re buying and using products, safety comes first. And now, with this product recalls application, you have vital safety information available whenever and wherever you need it - right on your mobile phone, thanks to the RECALLS.GOV mobile application.

How to dispose of recalled products safely?

Recycle recalled products. Just because the product is defective doesn’t mean it can’t be made into something new. Although not everything can be recycled, still the majority of products can be. The Recycling Sisters specialize in HARD-TO-RECYCLE PRODUCTS, including recalled, broken, damaged, or unwanted products. It takes less energy to recycle old products into new products, than to make them from virgin material. The Recycling Sisters provide Free Holiday Pickup Service for North Oakland County residents and small businesses.

ACCEPTED HARD-TO-RECYCLE PRODUCTS: Anything made of metal (even partially), appliances, anything with a plug (except tube TVs & monitors), large bulky metal items, electronics, computers, and rechargeable batteries.

Five Common Recalled Products:

Strollers/playpens/highchairs: CPSC has had numerous recalls over the years on several models. You want to be extra cautious with products for children because the life you save may be your own child.

Non-stick cookware: EPA has a voluntary recall to eliminate PFOA from non-stick cookware by 2015. PFOA are linked to long term health effects including cancer, immune system and reproductive problems.

Electric space heaters: Be sure to check to see that your space heater is not on the very long list of recalls before you continue using it. All types of space heaters from quartz to infrared are included.

Household extension cords: Can overheat and cause fires. Discard extension cords that are old/or are missing important safety features.

Surge Protectors: The surge protector can overheat, smoke and melt causing a fire hazard.  

Other products that thrift stores do not take that can be recycled: appliances(built-ins in particular), auto parts, medical equipment, office equipment, metal office furniture, plumbing supplies, light fixtures, old power tools, hardware supplies, Christmas lights & metal outdoor decorations.

Call the Recycling Sisters at 248-240-4899 to schedule an appointment for our Free Holiday Recycle Pickup Service. Our email address: recyclingsisters@yahoo.com or check out our Facebook page: Michigan Recycling Sisters. We are also looking to partner with churches, clubs, schools, and businesses on Community Recall Drives. Please call us if you are interested.  Make this holiday season safe by getting these dangerous products recycled before they hurt someone. Checking for recalled products is a good habit to get into.

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