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Three-Quarter Innovations, LLC is excited to announce the launch of a retail-focused version of The Label Popper, the tool that easily and safely removes labels from steel (tin) cans. The engineering of an all-plastic version of this clever tool will bring better recycling to more Americans through traditional retail channels.

Every year Americans recycle nearly 20 Billion steel cans, but when a can is recycled with the label attached, the label is destroyed in the process of recycling the metal. Recycling centers separate cans with magnets (95% of which have the label still attached) before sending them to steel mills where the metal is melted down and the paper burns up. The paper destroyed in this process is equivalent to more that One Million trees every year. Furthermore, the CO2 released when the paper is burned is equivalent to the annual exhaust of 10,000 average American cars. Removing the labels from cans before tossing them into the recycling bin, facilitates proper recycling of both the can and the paper label.

The Label Popper is the gadget that easily removes the label from the can in seconds. It has no sharp edges or points, so it is safe for recyclers of all ages.

“We are very excited to announce a ower-cost, retailer-branded, Label Popper to sell through traditional channels,” said Steve Nazarian, inventor of the Label Popper. “We have been selling the original design (made of stainless steel with a plastic handle) for $10 through labelpopper.com for more than a year now, but we knew that to appeal to a larger audience, we needed to bring the cost down and get the word out through more traditional bricks-and-mortar stores.”

The new all-plastic Label Popper will be 100% made in the USA at a factory that generates its own electricity from wind and clean burning natural gas. The material being used is made from 60% recycled PET water bottles. Additionally, the product itself will be coded for recycling. This lower-priced Label Popper will have a MSRP of $3.99 when it becomes available.

“We are having conversations with several national retailers who are looking to be the first to get their brand on a Label Popper while spreading the word about what it can do. Of course we are interested in getting it in as many stores as possible since the better the availability, the closer we will come to our goal of saving trees and reducing CO2,” said Nazarian. “As we ramp up production on the new version, we have also lowered the price of the original Label Popper to $7.50 with free shipping through labelpopper.com. This new product is a great opportunity for eco-conscious companies to help their customers become better recyclers while promoting their own brand.” See www.labelpopper.com for additional information.

Three-Quarter Innovations, LLC is a Rochester, NY based engineering and design company focused on solving annoying little problems through creative and clever thinking. The Label Popper is their first commercially available product with several more ideas in the pipeline. Additional information and resources are available at www.labelpopper.com/press

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Earn from your idle assets!

With UK industry in decline, unemployment on the rise, household incomes at their lowest level for years and properties being repossessed at a rate of one every 14 minutes*, there's little wonder people are getting thrifty!

One year on and The Borrowers are gaining momentum. We're not talking about the little people under the floorboards increasing in population, but the website that helps individuals not only save money (by borrowing items instead of buying new), but also helps them earn a little extra by hiring out their belongings, property, land, gardens, skills and even animals!

Somerset businesswoman, Lynn Bunniss set up the website, www.theborrowers.co.uk, to give people an opportunity to advertise their property and possessions, either for rent, for sharing with others, or swapping for something else.

Lynn said: "There are few of us without cupboards, lofts and garages bursting with stuff that we either no longer use, or only need once in a blue moon. A tent, for example, or pair of skis, a rotavator or an old computer. Or all those tools bought for renovating your home that have only been used once and are now relegated to the garage. Perhaps a spare saddle or even your old wedding dress. We've all got a host of items that can be put to good use."

Gumtree recently estimated that the average UK home has nearly £600 worth of unused items**. Collectively, we all own millions of £'s worth of equipment, tools, sports gear, musical instruments, home and garden items, as well as clothes and accessories, books, CD's and gadgets - all sitting idle.

With the UK economy unlikely to get any easier for some time, hiring and borrowing is now on trend. Transition movements are on the increase and the resurrection of the good old fashioned concept of sharing with your neighbours is beginning to return to our lives. Websites like www.theborrowers.co.uk are ideally positioned to support this renewed activity.

Lynn added "There's no better time to make the most of the things you own and rent them out or simply share them with your neighbours. Since launching in Autumn 2010 we've had over 1.5 million hits and it's becoming more and more fashionable to borrow rather than buy new".

When asked what's been the most popular advert, Lynn replied "We had a pony for share recently because the owner didn't want to sell the horse she'd out-grown - she received 28 calls in 3 days and now has a regular rider for her horse".

The website offers lenders the chance to include a comprehensive description with up to 3 photos of their items and, for adverts placed in the Land/Garden, Property and Possessions categories, the service is free.

* Credit Action
** The Guardian

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