Reusing and Recycling
Back in our grandparent's day, everything was used and used again until there was nothing left of it. These days, we've become a disposable society and our finances and the environement suffer because of it. I've gradually changed my ways and now try to make do with what I have whenever possible. Our community has a free community clothes closet available to everyone, regardless of income, to encourage recyclying clothing, so I plan to check that out this year. I have also used Freecycle with good results for both obtaining and disposing of items. Are you taking any special measures to reuse and recycle consumer goods?
One thing I've noticed since moving to Nevada from California is the recycle mentality of Nevadans is nowhere near that of Californians. People here tend to recycle less. In fact, the aluminum recycler moved from his busy street to one hard to find. I used to recycle everything, paper, glass, plastic and aluminum at one drop off point in California. In fact, they even took paint, pesticides and other hazardous home materials. Here, it is impossible to find such a recycling center.
I guess it depends on where you live and the attitude of that area.
Recycling is such a brilliant idea to save our environment especially nowadays our ozone layer is getting worst. I worked in the office for almost five years. I recycled all items such as papers, plastic and etc. I encourage my co-workers not to burn their garbages instead recycled it. At least in a little way I can help our nature.
One thing I never understood.. Isn't there money to be made in recycling? It seems like the owners of the local dump would wise out and start sorting out the items that arrive there to sell off the scrap metal, paper, plastic etc. Seems like a good chunk of it could be automated and even the part that is manual would be profitable. Maybe not.
Yes, I tried wrapping gifts with colorful catalog pages and reusing shipping boxes. Also, I recycle and have stopped buying anything disposable. I take my own bags to the store.
Speaking of recycling clothing, I was once at work with a fine looking lady in a very sharp outfit, and she went through the list of garments telling me what she paid for each one at a second hand store.
She could go to a second hand store and find very fashionable clothes that looked great on her.
I haven't tried shopping for used clothes. Need to do that.
Is there a way to recycle fabric? I mean the kind that would be found in clothes that are too worn to be offered for sale or given away.
I'd assume that lots of older fabric could be bleached and prosessed to be reused in some other products?
I guess a basic example of this would be the patches used in quilts.
The only way I know cloth is recycled by the consumer in the US is donating it to the Salvation Army, goodwill and other such organizations. They put it in huge bundles and sell it that way.
We have a Salvation Army and a Savers (which is similar to the SA) near our house. I notice huge bundles of clothes behind each one since their back side is visible from the street.
I also had a friend who worked in their warehouse and he told me they sell it to what are roughly called rag buyers and it gets shipped out of the US to other countries. He didn't know what happened to the bundles once they reached destination port.
Thanks for the information, sandalwood. I'll make sure I include the worn items too when I make a donation to the places that take used clothing.
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