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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Everyday green lifestyle tips.

Alternatives to Wrapping Paper | Recycle Old Clothes | Freecycle | Recycle Old Eyeglasses | Reuse Old Bottles | More Tips...

That’s a Wrap! Alternatives to Wrapping Paper

Gift-giving is not an especially green activity – fancy paper and shiny bows get thrown out by the bagful, and some papers can’t be recycled. Instead:

• Reuse colorful materials from around the house, such as maps and magazines.
• If you use wrapping paper – or are given it on a gift by someone else – salvage the paper for future gifts and collect the intact bows. You’ll be saving dollars, trees, and landfill space.

New Life for Old Stuff: Recycle Old Clothes

Green style is in – and trash has never looked better. Companies like Seven Ply turn broken skateboard decks into earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.

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Freecycle!

Instead of heading to the recycling center or to the store, head to your local freecycle community, where members give items to other members or find cool new things - for free! To find a group near you, go to freecycle.org and enter your location.

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Seeing a Brighter Future: Recycle Old Eyeglasses

Recycling isn’t limited to cans and newspapers – even your eyeglasses can be recycled. Donating your old glasses to an organization that redistributes them to people who can’t afford a new pair. You’ll improve someone’s quality of life and extend the life of those old frames you were going to throw out.

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Reuse Old Bottles

Keep old squeeze bottles from your kitchen to use as bottles for your hair-care and cosmetic needs. Plastic salad dressing and cooking-oil bottles can be cleaned and refilled with soap, lotion, or shampoo.

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