Comments tlovester has made

HEARTBREAKINGLY BAD ADVICE

I was shocked to view Mr. Giller & Ms. Wroth on the November 6 Today Show advocating recycling of used mattresses.  There is very good reason that Goodwill does not accept them... they might contain bedbugs.  GRIST and the Today Show have done a grave disservice to the public.  PLEASE educate yourselves and the public.  Use of bedbug infested mattresses speeds the filling of landfills, multiplies the use of powerful insecticides, and makes people miserable. Once bedbugs been brought into a building, they spread and are extremely difficult to eradicate.   Many, many people end up throwing out tons of furniture during their efforts to rid themselves of this scourge.  These insidious pests are much, much more difficult to control than rats, roaches, scabies, and cockroaches. The vast majority of their desperate, tormented victims resort to pyrethrins, vikane, and other powerful toxins, and they dream of getting access to DDT.

Hopefully people wouldn't knowingly post an infested mattress on Craig's List or Freecycle, but sometimes they don't even know they are
infected.  Many people aren't allergic to bedbug bites so they could be totally unaware that they have them.  But for those who are allergic and their families, they are a horrible nightmare.  The bites itch like mad for months and leave scars.  Ask any exterminator or big city public health official - bedbugs are epidemic in the country.  For an intro, see
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-11-06-bedbugs-pe ...
For more in depth information, see http://www.bedbugger.com

Perhaps the you could help rectify the damage done by running a story on this epidemic and how to avoid becoming a victim/carrier.
On How to recycle athletic shoes, iPods, mattresses, and other oddities posted 2 years ago 7 Responses