Something Old, Something New - Big Y® World Class Market®

Reusing or Recycling Odd Items

You’ve probably been recycling your cans, bottles and newspapers for years.
But most of us would happily recycle just about anything, given the KNOWLEDGE.

Do you have a stockpile of slightly random items that aren’t in good enough shape to use, but you’re not sure if they’re acceptable for recycling - and you’d rather not just toss them out if you don’t have to? There are plenty of ways to reuse, or safely dispose of, many items you might not have considered.

• Aerosol cans - As long as you make sure they’re completely empty, they can be tossed in the recycling bin with your other cans.

• Backpacks - When your teen decides it’s time for a new tote, you can donate the used one to the American Birding Association (www.americanbirding.org), which gives used backpacks to its scientists to use in the field.

• Carpeting - Nylon-fiber carpet can be recycled! Instead of dumping your old carpet in a landfill, find
out where to recycle it by visiting the Carpet America Recovery Effort’s Web site: www.carpetrecovery.org. Click on “What can I do with my old carpet?” to find out if there’s a facility near you. You can also contact your carpet’s manufacturer; several, including Milliken, and FLOR, have their own recycling programs.

• Cell Phones - Do you have a drawer full of your old cell phones? If so, you’re not alone. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, below 20 percent of cell phones are recycled every year. Buck the trend and try one of these options: Donate still-useable phones to the Wireless Foundation (www.calltoprotect.org), which will give them to survivors of domestic violence, or visit www.recyclewirelessphones.com to find other charity organizations. You can also check with the store where you purchased your phone; many will accept old phones for recycling.

• Computers - Because of the different materials used in their components, old computers should not just be tossed into a landfill. In many cases, your computer’s manufacturer will accept old computers for recycling - visit www.mygreenelectronics.com to find out. You can also donate computers to Next Step Recycling (www.nextsteprecycling.org), an organization that will repair and refurbish it for use by underfunded and ill-equipped schools, nonprofits or needy families.

• Crayons - Yes, those sad-looking broken crayons can be recycled. There’s an organization that will melt them down and re-mold them into new ones. Leave the labels on, and check in with the National Crayon Recycle Program (www.crazycrayons.com) to find out where to send them.

• Envelopes - Envelopes with clear address windows, paper or cardboard overnight mail envelopes and Jiffy Pak envelopes (the padded ones filled with soft packing material) can all be recycled with your paper. Shipping envelopes made of Tyvek can be returned to their manufacturer, DuPont, which will turn them into plastic lumber (call 866-338-9835 for more information). You’re out of luck if you have envelopes with bubble wrap or goldenrod-colored office envelopes, neither of which can be recycled.

• Formal Wear - Are old bridesmaid and prom dresses taking up valuable real estate in your closet? Donate them to www.operationfairydust.org or www.catherinescloset.org, which will give them
to girls who can’t afford them.

• iPods - Apple will take your used iPod and break it down for parts; just bring it to your closest Apple store. Bonus: You’ll get a 10 percent discount on a new iPod if you buy one the same day.

• Juice Pouches - Don’t toss these in your recycling bin, since most of them are made from a combination of metal and plastic that recycling centers can’t process. An organization called
TerraCycle (www.terracycle.net/brigades), though, will transform them into totes, purses and backpacks sold at major retailers nationwide. They’ll even donate between one and two cents per pouch you send them (depending on the brand) to the charity of your choice.

• Packing Materials - Styrofoam® peanuts can often be returned to a packaging store for reuse. Visit www.loosefillpackaging.com to find locations.
If your town doesn’t recycle those big Styrofoam® packing blocks, check www.epspackaging.org to find a drop-off location or directions to mail them to a recycling center. What about those inflated plastic shipping bags? Pop them to deflate, then mail to Ameri-Pak, Sealed Air Recycle Center, 477 South
Woods Drive, Fountain Inn, SC 29644. They’ll be turned into trash bags and car parts.

• Prescription Medication - If you have unused antivirals, antifungals or TB medicine, contact the Starfish Project (www.thebody.com), which will send them to clinics in Nigeria. They’ll send you a prepaid shipping label to make it even easier.

• Printer Cartridges - Did you know that these tiny plastic tanks could sit in a landfill for up to 450 years? They’re easily reused by manufacturers. If you have HP cartridges, send them back to HP. Bring any brand back to Staples for a $3 discount off your next printer cartridge purchase.

• Shopping Bags - Plastic grocery bags can be recycled! If your town won’t accept them, just bring them back to your local Big Y - we will. Paper bags can be tossed in with your regular paper recycling.

• Sneakers - If they’re too played out to donate for reuse, you can send your old sneakers to Nike (don’t worry, they’ll accept any brand), which will transform them into material that will be used for sports courts for kids around the world. Visit www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe for details.

• Stereos, TVs and VCRs - Electronic equipment can be broken down and recycled, but usually you can’t just toss them in with your other items. Instead, visit www.earth911.org for a list of stores, manufacturers and drop-off locations that will accept them. When you buy a new TV from Best Buy, they’ll take away and recycle your old one.

• Umbrellas - As long as its spine is metal, just strip off the fabric and handle and drop it in with the rest of your metal recycling.

• Wine Corks - Plastic corks aren’t recyclable, but natural corks can either be composted or sent to a company that will make them into floor and wall tiles. Just send them to Wine Cork Recycling, Yemm & Hart Ltd., 425 North Chamber Drive, Fredericktown, MO 63645.