Waste Nothing, Want Nothing With Recycling
By vocalcoach
Save and Protect Our Planet
Helping to Save Our Planet by Recycling
I first began to recycle seriously about 2 years ago. Today, it is a daily part of my life. I look at everything in a different light. "Can this item be re-used?" "How can I help to save our planet by recycling?" And after months of research, I have found natural methods for cleaning, healing, saving money and living a healthier life-style.
I waste nothing. I try to repay the universe for all it has given to me, by giving back in return. My favorite color now, is green.
Forming a New Habit and Consciousness
Does it take extra time to recycle? Sure it does, especially in the beginning. Is the extra time worth the effort? Absolutely. Forming new habits always takes a bit more time. But the pay-back is just great. And the good feeling that goes along with knowing you are doing your part to protect and save Mother Earth is the biggest reward of all.
I'm not a millionaire (not yet anyhow), so the money I save through recycling has given me added benefits. I was able to pay off my car, saving on interest charges, as well as paying off some credit cards this past year.
Vintage and Goodwill
I love shopping, (what woman doesn't) but rarely purchase my clothing at the mall. Instead, I visit the local vintage shops and even Goodwill. I tuck away a nice little savings every month or so by selling clothing, handbags, scarves, hats, belts and shoes that I no longer wear to high-end used clothing shops.
After scouting out the latest fashion in magazines, television and the mall, I list exactly what I want and shop for these items at the above stores. Sometimes, I cut out pictures of outfits I find in magazines and take them with me. I have put together some very "in" combinations.
Everything I buy is either taken to the cleaners or washed and sterilized at home. This includes jewlery, shoes, handbags, hats and belts. I once bought a $500 winter coat for $26 and found a $100 bill sewn inside the lining.
Here's a great hub by our own Cloverleaf on recycling shoes. It's a good read.
Great Reading on Being Green
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Things to Recycle and Re-Use
When we recycle, we turn a products useful part into a new product. And with a little creativity we can re-use a product that would get thrown out to make gifts or convenient items for in-house use. I have had a fun time with the following:
- Baby food jars make snow globes and kids love to make these.
- I shred all of my junk mail and envelopes to use for packing materials.
- Curtains and drapes make decorative shower curtains.
- Toilet paper rolls are convenient for storing extra extension and cable cords.
- Plastic containers that originally were filled with food, become storage containers.
- Extra buttons that come with a new garment that sit in a drawer for years, make fun, decorative designs for clothes or home-made gifts.
- I fill my plastic water bottles with sand and use for weights.
- Plastic water bottles also make great see through containers for nails, screws and such.
- Fill your empty milk or cream cartons with water, freeze and use to keep foods cold.
Waste Nothing, Want Nothing With Recycling
It just makes good sense to recycle. What could be better than saving money, becoming more creative and honoring our planet? Be an example of doing the right thing for your children, friends and community.
Remember to recycle and re-use.
How often do you recycle or re-use?
See results without votingComments
woww...happy
Great hub filled with many useful tips for recycling. Love the way you shop for clothes and the story about purchasing a $500 coat for $26 and finding $100 sewn into the lining was priceless!
Voted up, useful, awesome and interesting.
I have no plans to save the planet. However, I came from an earlier day when reusing things was necessary because there was not so much stuff around.We have municipal recycling of paper, cans, bottles etc. which I support. Most of my clothes come from garage sales. Truthfully one can buy clothes cheaper than fixing them. Unfortunately, a lot of things today are really unfixable. If they break you have to throw them away.I think a house built in the 1950's may still be standing when a house built now will fall apart.
danielle - I have noticed a hike in Goodwill's prices. They are "biting the hand that feed's them". By watching the sales and specials of other stores such as Macys and Target, I often do better there. Thanks for your visit!
You are welcome! It is frustrating when I know (my local stores at least) that many of the workers are doing community service, and all of their products are free to them! I make sure to go on half price mondays.
I have been recycling for over 20 years now. I save all my empty bread bags and use them for leftovers in the fridge or for packing lunches. I really like your idea of using junk mail and envelopes for packing.
Go green! Thanks for some awesome tips (I love the vintage clothing tips). That topic has become a recent passion of mine too. Love that tree-hugger shot :)
We recycle here on the Jersey Shore and I guess it just comes naturally now. As usual a Wonderful Hub with lots of good Advice Vocalcoach...Always a pleasure to read your Hubs.
b. Malin - So happy to see you! You always leave good positive comments. Your Jersey Shore sounds like a great place to live. Stay safe with the approaching hurricane.
Thanks, my friend.
Great hub, here's hoping you enlightened more people to recycle.
We recycle here in Las Vegas. I send any clothes I don't want to Las Vegas veterans. Now we are clearing our house of unwanted things and take them to Goodwill.
Melsay - Thanks for stopping by. The benefits of recycling are endless. A good thing to do.
I'm with you all the way. I love shopping at thrift stores. I refuse to pay a hundred dollars for a dress, plus recycling is saving our planet. I like that. Thank's for GREAT ideas.
Cheers
Wonderful hub. First, I love the picture hugging the tree. Two beauties. Second, I always recycled even before I cared about the planet, basically because of being poor! Thrift stores have gotten quite expensive unfortunately and I get better deals at Macy's it seems. I still try to find a bargain in them when I can. I, being part Native American just can't bare to throw anything away. I can find a use for anything and have been declared a hoarder by some. LOL. Ive practiced 7 of your above ideas and love them. Thanks for the message. It's a good one all the way around. Love to you.
I love to recycle and I enjoyed your suggestions for how to use some items in resourceful ways.
I will have to remember to check the lining of the clothes I buy from second hand shops : )
It is easy to practice thrift once you get used to it, and you'll be amazed at the money you save! There is also a feeling of doing good, helping the planet as a whole, and being a part of something larger. Thank you for this hub, with its inventive ideas and great reminders. Thank you for promoting recycling/reusing/thrift in general.
Paradise7 - You have completely summed it all up. It is easy to recycle and reuse when you get used to it. It simply becomes a way of life. And, as you have said, its a way we can all help the planet.
Thank you for your wonderful contribution, Paradise. It means so much!
writer20 - Wonderful! It is always inspiring to hear how others recycle. I need to follow in your footsteps and begin clearing stuff out of my house and donating it. Thanks.
Very good tips on how to recycle in every day life. We can´t go on consuming in the way we do today and we don't need too either. Thanks for writing a hub that is inspirational, useful and also show how easy it is! Voted up!
Tina
I doubt if I will make old buttons into a craft project, but I really like the creativity of your suggestions. I recycle everything the city will accept. I take my bread bags etc. back to the grocery store plastic recycling bins. I'm accumulating used batteries and obsolete electronics to take to the hazardous waste collection center. Voted up and useful.
Especially now that I am starting an online green products business, I am mindful of how much more than that needs to be done. Thank you for your suggestions. I'm bookmarking this so I can link to it some time.
lisadpreston - I, too am part native american and learned many tips for non-waste and living off the land. My Mother was amazing at this. I treat used clothing like it has a history and spirit. You may think me crazy, but I even talk to my used items, thanking God and then giving these items new life and energy - and of course love. Oh dear! Now all my hubfamily knows I'm a little nuts! Thank you dear heart...
always exploring ~ I always find your comments supportive and motivating. Is'nt it great that we can find quality clothing without spending a fortune? And to think we are helping the planet at the same time. Really, a win-win! Thanks, my friend!
Very inspiring hub, my friend. We should do this to make this earth always clean and "green" as well. I know it hard to do and apply this in daily life. But we must try. I believe from recycling we can make something new and it's useful for our life...amen. I love your tips above and I'll bookmark this one. You have done a great job here. Vote up and useful. Cheers....
Love and peace,
thoughtforce - You are absolutely right! We don't need to consume as much as we do. So much is wasted, when there are so many individuals in need. Good thoughts! Thank you so much.
I'm a little, ok a lot nuts too. I love your spirit and I adore you.
Very cool hub, thanks
Rated up.
Brilliantly written hub. I think everybody is more aware of recycling.
Great hub, vocalcoach - every little bit helps! I'm a big fan of recycling. Looking forward to reading more of your hubs.
Cloverleaf
I can't remember when I started to recycle, or to stop waste. I hate seeing anything thrown in the bin and the thought of food (unless it is really bad) being thrown away has always upset me.
I was known by my parents as the "dustbin" (Trash can) for all my childhood and even after I left home, because I will not discard food.
Maybe it stems from "Eat everything on your plate dear, Waste not want not".
Maybe it is because of living in a country for some years where there isn't enough food for families to have more than one meagre meal a day.
Thanks for this hub, my friend. Very worthwhile!
Cloverleaf - I added a link to your marvelous hub on recycled shoes here. I enjoyed reading it so much. Thanks for your support and adding my link to your hub.
Together, perhaps we can motivate more people to recycle.
Thank you!
mrali - Great to see you. Glad you liked this hub. I want to thank you for rating UP. Appreciate it!
Absolutely a wonderful Hub. We recycle almost everything. We have reusable shopping bags and that alone removed all those plastic bags. I never buy clothing retail but frequent consignment shops and thrift stores. I love your idea "Sometimes, I cut out pictures of outfits I find in magazines and take them with me." I am going to do that.
Should I mistakenly throw out an item that can be recycled my boys is quick to remind me. laugh
Dear Hyphenbird ~ I'm trying to decide which I love the most - your incredible hubs, or your helpful, rewarding comments. I'll just continue reading them both, as I am motivated and inspired by both!
Wonderful that you recycle and support consignment shops and thrift stores. Both, are the "in thing" today. I found the cutest bracelet last year at a consignment shop. It is made out of plastic bags, believe it or not. It is crochet-like and peach color, with a pearl snap.
Amazing what some people can do with used plastic bags.
And kudus to you for training those great boys of yours to think "recycle". You really are a treasure!
I love your title Waste Nothing, Want Nothing With Recycling very creative.
As for the $100 bill thats a great way to hide money but it seems that it has its draw backs. Vote up
What a great hub!
I love vintage too, and prefer to reuse instead of consume. We recycle and repurpose as much as possible.
I wish more people would stop to consider the impact we have on the planet, and the other species we share it with.
+vote up from me.
To reuse objects is a passion of mine. It's amazing what you can do with things, others consider trash.
Thanks for a great hub and the great ideas!
Voted up and useful,
Sannel
Sannel - I am so happy to find that you reuse. I am always searching for new ideas on how to reuse and recycle. Just last week, I paid a visit to Goodwill and found 2 brand new, never even worn, velveteen blazers in my size. The cost? Only 6 dollars. They are both designer labels which would have brought at least 3-4 hundred dollars at the mall. Thanks for commenting.
Very nice hub vocalcoach. I used to be all about buying clothes from re-sellers, until I worked at Nordstrom's. Needless to say I stocked up, and stocked up, so much so that now for new clothes, all I have to do is look in the closet, or a box, or storage, etc, and find something that will appear new to me and everyone else, especially as I've not worn some of my clothes for over a year, and then only once for some of them.
Now for my part in recycling I'll have to sell some of my multitudinous items of clothing. Again very good advice. Voted up, useful, interesting.
A very smart way to go! Stalking up on Nordstroms quality clothing to be distributed as needed later on. I was pianist for Nordstrom years ago and often bought clothing when on sale. With additional discounts, most of what I purchased was a steal.
Thank you, Freda, for adding your comments, which are excellent, and will give others good ideas for saving. I'd like to be in on the recycling of your items of clothing. :) Thank you for the vote!
I don't know what size you are vocalcoach, but I will be putting some them on craigslist real soon. The sizes will be medium to large, 8,10,12.
Oh, great! I am a 10, and some things, like t shirts and sweaters I like a little roomie so I go with a 12.
Let me know and thanks so much!
I also enjoy hunting at thrift stores and Goodwill. You never know what you might find. Useful and reusable hub!
Good for you! And when we have a bunch of stuff to throw away, why not throw a yard sale? I have done that several times. One man's trash can be anothers treasure!
Great tips! Good for us a consumers and from the enviornment. I think paying retail for anything is so wasteful. I find things every where and recycle what I can. Well done.
Nice Hub! I have found more diva wear at Goodwills than anywhere else!
You have a lot of terrific ideas about ways to recycle. I think I am going to use the toilet paper rolls idea to store cords. I actually have a drawer full of electronic cords, computer cables, tv cables etc. - it's a big mishmash. After I organize them in the rolls I am going to write on the roll what they are or what gadget they go to. Thanks for inspiring me both to recycle and get organized doing so.
Sunshine - Gee, wouldn't it be fun to go shopping together for items we could reuse? It has become one of my favorite things to do. Thanks, Sunshine!
rebecca - And I am collecting items right now for next months garage sale. A lot of work, but also fun and a good way to make a few bucks!
Hi, tammy! I couldn't agree more with you. I rarely pay retail anymore, unless it's a great sale. I love browsing through goodwill and such...especially the .99 racks. Thanks for your comments, my friend.
Audrey, my friend - me too! Just last week I found this great ruffled skirt and velvet jacket that brought me so many compliments at church. I love Goodwill!
ktrapp - I took the toilet paper rolls 1 step further and labeled them with cute flowered labels. I've had a number of people ask me where they can find some for storing their cords. Shall we go into business? :-)
That's really funny. Wasn't it obvious that they were toilet paper rolls?
We tend to assume recycling to be a specialised practice. But simple common sense practices like using empty milk containers to keep food, as depicted here, are actually economical and comfortable.
danielleantosz 9 months ago
Thanks for sharing! I do advise people to research their local Goodwills, I have found that some are not quite as charitable as they claim and make a hefty profit. (Some of the ones in my area, at least)