Economical vehicles

North Americans are feeling the pinch when it comes gas prices. Car dealers on both sides of the border are saying their customers now prefer fuel-efficient four cylinder vehicles or hybrids.

In fact, some are saying they have trouble keeping their gas sippers in stock.

Before you jump the gun and buy a new, more efficient vehicle, you might be disappointed.

For example, if you trade in a 10-year-old Honda Civic for a new one, you likely won't get better mileage unless your old car is in terrible shape.

The mileage ratings are virtually identical. Most developments in technology have improved horsepower and performance, not mileage. Most new cars have larger engines than other ones.

Since a new car purchase isn't possible for many, the simplest way to save gas is just to slow down and drive the speed limit on the highway.

Research shows you can use as much as one third less fuel by dropping your speed from 110 km to 90 km on the highway. You could also be wasting up to 15 per cent of your precious gasoline if you accelerate quickly or brake hard, so drive smoothly.

Other ways to save fuel include:

-Replacing worn tires with new ones could save you more than a $100 a year in gas

-Avoid idling -- turn your engine off if you are going to sit still for more than few seconds

-Combine trips -- your engine stays warm and is more efficient

-Keep tires properly inflated and don't use premium fuel unless your vehicle requires it -- check your manual

-Take off car-top carriers when you're finished with them.

The best way to save money on gas is to take action yourself, instead of waiting for the government to cut taxes.

Electronic Waste Recycling

Ever wondered what happens to your old computer after you take it in for recycling?

Encorp has 86 recycling centres in B.C. that recycle electronic waste.

The company has collected six million kilograms of material that otherwise would have ended up in landfills or worse -- illegally shipped off shore to poison the environment of other countries.

Once Encorp has collected the material, it is shipped to one of three recyclers, including Teck Cominco in Trail, B.C.

What we call it waste, Teck Cominco calls "urban ore."

"It's kind of a sexy term but it is. There is a lot of value in the metals contained within," explains Christa Ford, Teck Cominco's e-waste process coordinator.

She says the glass in computer monitors and TVs contain a lot of lead. These electronics go directly to the smelter, which gets the lead out.

All the rest of it gets shredded down into pieces the size of credit cards. Copper wire and circuit boards are pulled out by hand as the material moves down a conveyor belt.

Then it goes to a multi stage process where valuable metals are pulled out. What's left over is slag, mainly made up of iron.

"This material is then sold to cement manufacturing companies and it's actually an integral component of making Portland cement," Ford explained.

"So essentially, even the end product gets recycled back into a construction material."

Ford says that although metals are valuable presently, the recycling program can withstand a market shift.

"Metal prices can go up or down, the e-waste can still be recycled," she said.

Teck Cominco will recycle 8,000-tonnes of e-waste this year -- and has the capacity to do twice that.

The provincial government has plans to expand the program, but there is still a long way to go. Many common household electronics are not currently accepted, including old VCR's and video game systems.

Cell phones and other handheld devices are not included in the electronic recycling program -- yet. They are going to be added in down the road, so don't throw them away, hang on to them and Olsen on Your Side will let you know when the program expands.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen