Reuse Plastic Bag Twist Ties

Plastic food bags are easy to recycle -they are usually #2 HDPE or #4 LDPE and most grocery stores collect the bags for recycling. But what about the paper or plastic covered wire twist ties?

>>> They may not be easily recyclable but they can be reused / re-purposed.

" ... ideas for reusing twist ties ... Most of these ideas work with the ridiculous twist ties that cement kids’ toys into packaging ..."

"Tie up other food bags – ... when you open a bag of frozen vegetables but don’t use it up ..."

"Tie up plants to stakes ... "

"Secure cords ... keep a bunch of cords by the TV or by your desk from getting unruly.

"Tie Christmas lights ... string lights ... with twist ties. ..."

Or avoid them altogether when possible ... at the food store consider tying plastic bags closed with a slip knot that will keep the bag closed so things to not spill out but still come open easily or bring some from home .... they can be used many times before they need to be tossed out with the trash !

Via: TakeApart LINK

Reuse - Repurpose Items

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Ideally one use items can be replaced with multi use items - or you can find a way to give an item a second life before recycling it.

Here are some creative ways to Reuse / Re-purpose items - rather than toss them in the trash. This post came from Lifehacker ... and has ideas for yogurt cups, corks, dryer antistatic sheets, twist ties and more.

I enjoy reading Lifehacker and get their RSS feeds ... and have a link to it on this blog -- on the right hand of the post.


Via: lifehacker LINK

Eco-friendly doormat made of recycled flip flop sandal-foam rubber

I saw this last weekend at my local Bed, Bath and Beyond and thought it deserved a post ... a creative use / recycle / re-purpose of an item instead of putting it into a landfill.

" Contribute towards the environment while cleaning your feet! ... eco-friendly, ... made from recycled foam rubber that went surplus from the production... otherwise meant to head for the landfill."

Click the link below for more information on sizes, pricing, etc.



Via: www.ecofriend.org LINK

Terracycle - How Juice Pouches are Turned into Totes and Backpacks

Watch this video to see how terracycle re purposed used Capri sun juice pouches and turns them from waste into totes and other products ... for sale at Target.com

The finished products can be found on-line at Target.com LINK

Terracycle has programs to help groups collect and return juice pouches ... "Sign up for free and collect juice pouches. We will pay $0.02 for all Honest Kids, Capri Sun and Kool Aid Drink Pouches and $0.01 for all other brand drink pouches you collect. You will receive free shipping boxes delivered right to your door."




Via: terracycle LINK

New Life for Capri Sun Juice Pouches

Anyone with kids has probably used juice boxes or the capri sun juice pouches. Any green-type person is probably torn between the convenience these provide and the waste these create.

Terracycle will help you return these containers and re purpose them as back packs or bags. These are converted to other products - reused - as they are not yet recyclable. The material is a "... polyester-reverse side printed to aluminum then laminated to polyethylene (a plastic polymer) ... this packaging is not recyclable." These bags and backpacks are in effect ZERO carbon footprint ...

They can be found on-line at Target.com LINK




Via: terracycle LINK