21. Compact discs: You bought it, your kids scratched it, the dog chewed it, you stepped on it. Now what? Well, if it just has minor scratches, you can use toothpaste or a mild abrasive like VIM and run your finger over the surface of the CD from the center outward then rinse with water and air dry. Supposedly this repairs them, but I personally would rather let a pro do it. It's not a bad deal for guaranteed results at $3 a CD - especially for a very expensive software CD. So, if you'd like to have those CD's repaired, contact professional refinishers like Auraltech at www.auraltech.com.
If the CD has been totally mauled by your mutt or is just totally obsolete or some other such horrific fate, then you can recycle it by sending it to Digital Audio Disc Corporation: Disc Recycling Program at 1800 Fruitridge Ave, Terre Haute, IN 47084-1788.
If you just don't like the CD and don't want to go to the trouble to recycle it, then trade it to a used music store or sell it there on consignment.
22. Smoke Detectors You know that ancient smoke detector of yours from 1980? Did you know it is radioactive? No, I'm not kidding. Most smoke detectors have a lifespan of 10 years and after ten years, a radioactive chemical compound in them known as Americium 241 begins to break down. You'll want to get rid of these puppies at about 9.5 years, I'm guessing. But don't just toss the things. They need to be recycled as hazardous waste. You don't need to buy some kind of protection suit a la HAZMAT or anything - it's not like at 10 years the thing automatically becomes life-threatening. But you will need to dispose of it after it has lived past the manufacturers specified lifetime and if you don't know the lifetime, replace it if it's ten years or older.
