A government official notes: "Up to a year ago, [pollution] really hadn´t hit our pocketbook. But now people are not coming to Hong Kong to take that job because their kid has asthma."

Dog-Smog Prologue
Speaking of kids with breathing problems, University of Southern California researchers have found that asthmatic children who live in homes with dogs suffer worse effects from air pollution than asthmatic kids in canine-free environments.

The researchers haven´t sniffed out the whys of this finding yet, but never fear: Further research is on the way.

The Latest Turn At Indy
Following up on Tuesday´s Inbox item about the city of Indianapolis´ new recycling education and awareness campaign, this letter to the editor ran in the Indianapolis Star yesterday.

Now, the letter does reflects just one person´s story, but if other residents have had similar experiences having to jump through hoops to get the city to provide curbside collection service, it might help explain why Indianapolis´ recycling program has been struggling.

Lenovo & Apple Bite Back
Here´s another column item follow-up. This story from CNET News pertains to Tuesday´s item about Greenpeace´s ranking of computer and mobile phone manufacturers on their use of harmful substances in their products and the quality of their recycling initiatives.

Spokesmen for Apple and Lenovo, both of which fared poorly in the ranking, separately cry foul and take issue with the methodology Greenpeace used.

Our office is closed Monday for Labor Day, so that means there won´t be any Waste News Daily E-mail next Tuesday. The Daily E-mail returns next Wednesday, and Inbox will be back Thursday. See you then.