Recycling

By Virginia Sole-Smith, Planet Green

I decided that Step One of my Plastic Detox Program would be to find out what I have. It's both worse and a bit better than I thought.

The bad news: Virtually every product in my bathroom (save the hand soap and one moisturizer in glass bottles - and even they come with plastic tops, but let's not split hairs, okay?) is in a plastic bottle or tube. And I have a LOT of products.

The good news: A lot of these plastic containers are made from the safer types of plastic.

(Not sure what type of plastic you're dealing with? Flip the item over and check the number in the little recycling symbol on the bottom. Then read on.)

Here's the breakdown in my bathroom:

#1 Plastic

What Is It? - PETE. Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice, water, detergent, cleaner, and peanut butter containers.

What's Wrong With It? - #1 plastics are designed to be disposable, meaning they create more waste. If you try to reuse them, they can break down on you. The good news is, they are usually recyclable.

Where Is It? - Facewash, eye-makeup remover, and body scrub.

Goal - Recycle these when they're used up and look for reusable containers when I replace them.

 

#2 Plastic

What Is It? - HDPE: High density polyethylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, and some plastic bags.

What's Wrong With it? - Not so much in terms of health - this is one of the "safe" plastics (along with #1, #4 and #5). But it's still made from petroleum products and ends up in landfills, so like all plastic, is not ideal from an environmental standpoint.

Where Is It? - Facewash (yes, I use two different kinds), shower gel, shampoo, several kinds of hair gel, and hairspray.

Goal - Look for more sustainable options as I use up these items (can I find them sold in glass containers? Can I make them myself?), and try to pare down the number of products I'm using to reduce waste. But if I do buy a plastic bathroom item, it should be #1, 2, 4, or 5.

 

#3 Plastic

What Is It? - PVC or V: Polyvinyl chloride, used for cling wrap, plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter containers, and detergent and window cleaner bottles.

What's Wrong With It? - Just about everything. So much, in fact, that I'm referring you to IATP's Smart Plastics Guide:

PVC - THE POISON PLASTIC: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to the environment and human health. PVC is the least recyclable plastic.

• Vinyl chloride workers face an elevated risk of liver cancer.
• Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighborhoods.
• PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it usable. Lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.
• Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal, or from incineration of PVC products, settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products, and ultimately, in human tissue.
• Dioxin is a known carcinogen. Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and hormone disruption.

Where Is It? - A bottle of toner and a clay face mask, which comes in a tube.

Goal - Follow Annie Leonard's advice to pack these up and mail them back to the manufacturer with a letter explaining why I want them to stop selling, making, and advocating for this junk.

 

#5 Plastic

What Is It? - PP: Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid; deli soup, syrup, and yogurt containers; and straws and other clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.

What's Wrong With It? - Like #2, this type of plastic seems to be OK from a health perspective (though, as with all plastic, I'd be leery of microwaving it in case chemicals leach out during the heating process). But this thicker type of plastic is usually not recyclable and will take centuries to break down in a landfill.

Where Is It? - Two big tubs of moisturizer and body lotion, a stick of deodorant, a tub of conditioner and a tub of face mask.

Goal - Figure out ways to reuse these containers when they're empty, since I can't recycle them. If I can punch a few holes in the bottom, they're all about the right size for re-potting seedlings.

 

#7 Plastic

What Is It? - This is a catch-all category for plastics that don't fit into the #1-6 categories. It includes polycarbonate (usually, but not always, labeled #7-PC), bio-based plastics, co-polyester, acrylic, polyamide, and plastic mixtures like styrene-acrylo-nitrile resin (SAN). Number 7 plastics are used for a variety of products like baby bottles and "sippy" cups, baby food jars, 5-gallon water bottles, sport water bottles, plastic dinnerware, and clear plastic cutlery.

What's Wrong With It? - For one thing, it's hard to know what type of plastic you're even dealing with, since so many fall under the Number 7 umbrella. For another, the list includes polycarbonate, which is the type of plastic found to leach Bisphenol-A, a known endocrine disruptor.

Where Is It? - A tube of sunscreen, a tube of self-tanner, an exfoliating scrub, some acne medicine, and a pump container of an SPF face cream.

Goal - I'm really not into BPA in my body lotion, or unknown mystery plastics - though it's worth noting that a lot of "compostable" and bio-based plastics get this number, too - so I'm going to avoid these in the future unless the manufacturer makes the type of plastic very clear. Not sure what to do with the containers I've got, though - tubes don't lend themselves well to reuse or recycling. Which is another good reason to avoid them in the future!

 

So, what kinds of plastic are in your bathroom cabinet? Have you found any great non-plastic personal care products or DIY versions?

While I don't want to waste perfectly good (and nearly full) facewash, acne medicine, masks or scrubs, I am almost out of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, and moisturizer, so I'll be hunting up non-plastic replacements for these guys over the weekend. If you have a favorite source to share, do tell!

 

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When it comes to old cell phones, it really pays to recycle. Several companies will pay you cash to recycle your used cell phone, and sometimes they pay quite well. We looked at three prominent electronics recyclers and learned something obvious - it also pays to shop around.

The difference in payout from selling a used cell phone to one company versus another is often just $1, but for some models the difference is a $20 or $40, or even - in the case of the Samsung Soul, for instance - well over $100. That's serious cash!

Here's how we came up with our list of most valuable used cell phones. First, we asked SecureTradeIn.com, YouRenew.com, and Gazelle.com to tell us what old cell phones they paid the most cash for. SecureTradeIn happily complied, YouRenew referred us to its search engine, and Gazelle just said that smart phones like iPhones and Blackberries typically are worth the most.

So we took SecureTradeIn's list and compared it to the other sites, adding a few additional models after searching by brand on YouRenew. We assumed that the phone being traded in was in good condition, but not perfect, and that it could be mailed with the items in the original package, like batteries, cords, adapters, software, and the like.

Take a look at our list, and remember that recycling pays.

Used cell phones worth more than $125

1. HTC Google Nexus One - $289 at YouRenew ($257 Gazelle, $225 SecureTradeIn)
2. HTC Droid Incredible - $244 at Gazelle ($200 SecureTradeIn)
3. HTC HD2 - $234 at Gazelle ($200 SecureTradeIn)
4. Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB - $200 at SecureTradeIn ($189 Gazelle, $187 YouRenew)
5. Samsung SGH-d980 - $199 at YouRenew ($136 Gazelle)
6. Motorola Droid - $169 at SecureTradeIn ($168 Gazelle , $125 YouRenew)
7. Samsung SGH-INNOV8 - $182 at YouRenew ($149 Gazelle)
8. Samsung SGH-u900 Soul - $175 at YouRenew ($30 Gazelle)
9. Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB - $169 at SecureTradeIn ($159 Gazelle, $158 YouRenew)
10. Apple iPod Touch 3rd Generation 64GB - $168 at Gazelle ($150 YouRenew)
11. Blackberry Bold 9700 - $166 at SecureTradeIn ($165 at Gazelle, $135 YouRenew)
12. Blackberry Storm 2 9550 - $161 at SecureTradeIn ($160 Gazelle, $135 YouRenew)
13. Casio Zone G Brigage - $161 at Gazelle ($150 SecureTradeIn)
14. Samsung Omnia 2 - $153 at SecureTradeIn ($152 Gazelle, $119 YouRenew)
15. Samsung SGH-f700 - $143 at YouRenew ($82 Gazelle)
16. HTC Imagio XV6975 - $142 at YouRenew ($129 SecureTradeIn, $128 Gazelle)
17. HTC PPCT7380 Sprint Touch Pro 2 - $136 at SecureTradeIn ($122 at Gazelle)
18. HTC Droid Eris at Gazelle - $131 at Gazelle ($130 at SecureTradeIn, $84 at YouRenew)
19. Samsung SPH M850 Instinct HD - $129 at SecureTradeIn ($128 Gazelle, $105 YouRenew)
20. Samsung SGH-i200 - $126 at YouRenew
21. Apple iPod Touch 3rd Generation 32GB - $125 at YouRenew ($118 Gazelle)

If your phone isn't on the list, search SecureTradeIn.com, YouRenew.com, and Gazelle.com to find out how much it's worth. Even if your cell phone is on the list, run the search anyway because prices fluctuate, so this list is really a snapshot in time.

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

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Breathe new life into old objects and reduce landfill waste by diverting leftover odds and ends that would be relegated to the dumpster into useful items.

Call it repurposing, call it recrafting, call it creative reuse, or call it trash transformed. No matter what you call it, this concept of "cradle to cradle" is one of the tenants of green living. It means that a product's lifecycle doesn't have to end up forever rotting away in a landfill. It can be endlessly reincarnated into useful items.

We EcoNesters talk a lot about purging clutter, living slower, donating and thrifting, and living minimally. So, this post is going to take a different tact. It isn't going to tell you that hording some things isn't such a bad idea. In fact, hold onto those scraps.

But, wait a minute ... scraps are junk, right? Not so fast. Scrap items can be put to use and given a "life after waste." In fact, the end products of materials are often called salvage. That's a great word for things that are "saved from the ruins" and eventually end up in dumpsters.

If you're like me, you've got all sorts of scraps hanging around just ready for a new practical renaissance of sorts. Think of it as part of the transformation of renewal for living a more resourceful life.

Scrap renewal projects using...

1. Yarn
If you read my posts with any regularity, you know that knitting is my number one DIY project of choice. Yarn scraps abound in the needle world, and this pin cushion from Craft Leftovers via the Craftzine blog is perhaps one of the best uses I've seen for small amounts of yarn scraps.

2. Wood
Keep those wood scraps out of the burn pile and make a beautiful and unique scrap wood cutting board from Instructables.

3. Fabric
I love wrapping gifts using fabric. Here is a pattern from Purl Bee to make an easy, little drawstring bag that could become the perfect packaging for gift giving.

4. Paper
While cardboard furniture has been making the DIY design rounds lately, I'm not sure how comfy these things are to sit on. This bowl, by A Little Hut that is created using scraps of magazine cuttings seems more useful.

5. Plastic
Not being much of a plastic user or a soda drinker, I don't have a lot of plastic recycling hanging around, but this is truly one of the post amazing things I've seen using tossed plastic: This plastic kayak shown here at Gizmodo with DIY instructions from Instructables is outrageous!

6. Glass
I've had a case of severe chandelier envy. You can read about it here and here. So, when I found this outdoor glass chandelier over on Casa Sugar crafted from recycled glass jars, it lit my fire.

Ronnie Citron-Fink is a writer and educator. Ronnie regularly writes about sustainable living for online sites and magazines. Along with being the creator of www.econesting.com, Ronnie has contributed to numerous books about green home design, DIY, children, and humor. Ronnie lives the Hudson Valley of New York with her family. 

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Fresno, California-based Electronic Recyclers International, Inc. (ERI) is the largest recycler in the U.S. of the growing tide of e-waste (electronic waste). Notably, the company does all its processing on American soil, and it works with a wide range of partners to take in material from consumers, businesses, governments and other sources.

Now, ERI is launching 1800recycling.com (and the associated toll-free phone number) as a user-friendly free service to make it easy for people anywhere in the United States to find the nearest drop-off center to recycle virtually any type of material.

URTH Guy recently chatted with John Shegarian, the founder of ERI. Shegarian also hosts a weekly radio show for Clear Channel, Green Is Good, on green business.

Shegarian points out that about 65% of the waste in the U.S. still goes into landfills - yet 70% of it could have been recycled. "Some cities provide recycling bins nowadays but recycling is still not as widespread and simple as it should be," Shegarian explains. "By calling 1-800-Recycling or visiting 1800recycling.com, people can find their nearest recycling location and get in the habit of visiting it often - no matter what type of waste they have. Cell phone chargers, old TVs, radios, computers, and phones - the ones lying around garages or basements - are not junk. They are actually aggregates of materials that find their way into other, completely different metal and plastic products. These should be given new life instead of to landfills around the globe."

Shegarian points out that the new Best Buy billboard in Times Square was made from ERI recycled products, will the medals from the most recent Olympics were made from e-waste.

URTH Guy: Can you give us an overview of Electronic Recyclers International?

John Shegarian: Sure. There was no e-waste recycling industry six or seven years ago when I got into it, it was all mom-and-pop scrap companies and regular trash companies doing it as a side business. So we got into it and modernized and professionalized it.

E-waste is the fastest growing part of solid waste in the world. I bought my kids and my wife Kindles for Christmas, then five months later we're playing with an iPad in the New York Apple store, and my son, who's going to Fordham, asked if he could have one. I said sure. He said, "I know we're spending money but it's good for your business."

We still are an invention society for the world, and we're going to keep inventing. I have a perfectly good TV, a wonderful flatscreen, but I have clients who come in and say, when are you getting a 3D? I'm 47, and my grandparents had furniture their whole lives that they never thought of exchanging, but now we're turning over electronics at the fastest rate in the history of the world.

So now we have an e-waste crisis. Electronics connect us more, make our lives more interesting, and give us more access to information than ever before, but we should not be filling up our landfills with these materials.

1, In our first month of business at ERI we recycled 10,000 pounds of e-waste. Last month we did 18 million pounds. There's no reason why this stuff has to go into a landfill. On end of life basis, we are the number one brand in this business, we are commoditizing your laptop, cell, TV, vacuum cleaner, and so on into plastic, glass and metals. We can keep everything above ground, get all materials to smelters for reuse and repurposing. There is an unquenchable thirst around the world for our commodities, especially in India and China, which are going through industrial and technological revolutions concurrently.

2, There is a massive trend called urban mining; that is, why fill landfills with stuff that we could use? We can also save a tremendous amount of energy. 99% of what we work with at ERI is being repurposed. All metals are called infinite recyclable. When you recycle aluminum you save 95% of energy as opposed to making it out of virgin ore. So this is a simple part of the solution to our energy crisis, and getting off foreign oil. We're saving energy to mine and smelt those resources.

How are you different than other recyclers?

I focus on people, and we professionalized this industry. The woman who wrote our environmental health and safety policies used to manage those areas for 12 states.

We also have the best technology. We developed a proprietary waste shredder, the largest in world, to produce the cleanest commodities. We have one in California and we are building 2.0 in Massachusetts, then next in Indianapolis, with others to follow outside the country.

We also have the best glass technology, imported from Europe, that we have exclusive rights to in the U.S.

Then you have our online technology; I did financialaid.com, which democratized the student lending process. I bought 1800-recycling and 1800-recycling.com, and we are quietly building the biggest recycling network in the world, so every ZIP code is covered for everything: tires, household waste, electronics and everything else, both by phone and Internet.

How does it work?

You type your ZIP code, then get information on a place where you can drop it off or pay to have someone come get it.

How is it different than Earth911.com?

It is similar to Earth911, but people don't know about that. This is an intuitive brand and a service. We're scaling up the site. This is like 1-800-Flowers, which revolutionized that industry. There is great power in such an intuitive brand.

Does the service only use your own network?

No, we want it to include everyone. It's a service for people

Have you seen difficulties with recycling efforts in recent years, given the weak economy? We've seen news articles about towns abandoning recycling or letting the materials stockpile until prices for the stuff bounce back.

Recycling rates are actually going up in America every year. In e-waste, we've had more business then ever, and e-waste is always going to grow. We're sustainable and profitable.

You don't want to get rid of your old cell phone the wrong way. If it gets into the wrong hands your data could be compromised, so there is also a serious security issue.

We've all seen photos of kids in Asia and Africa picking through piles of our circuit boards to "recycle" them, or we worry about lax environmental controls on overseas facilities that break this stuff down. Is that still a concern?

We do all our work in the states, so this isn't a problem for us. I say that 85% of recyclers are just packing and shipping, largely overseas, so they're really sham recyclers. Twenty-five states have landfill bans on e-waste now, so it's going to only grow.

But the clean, high-quality commodities that we produce, such as metals, glass and plastics, are ready to be sent to manufacturers, so there isn't much chance of them getting mishandled.

Have you worked with programs that incentivize people to recycle, like RecycleBank?

RecycleBank is a great program, and we intend to work with them in the coming years. We're also going to create a points system on the site.

But listen, people want to do the right thing once they know. So our stuff won't end up with human rights violations in India, China, or Africa.

How do you actually get the materials?

Big manufacturers are our clients, as are retailers like Best Buy, cities, the federal government, mom-and-pop shops, and individual consumers, who drop off their used items at many different locations, from Best Buy stores to town halls.

Making recycling accessible is the future trend. We think more than half of the stuff we use will be recycled before long.

Consumers, manufacturers, and governments all have to do their part. It shouldn't just be on Walmart and Costo or Samsung and Sony. Everyone has a stake in it: We're all enjoying these products, using them, and they connect us all.

People ask me if manufacturer responsibility laws [which compel producers to provide for recycling their goods] are a good idea, and I say no. It should be up to all of us.

How do we increase recycling rates around the world? For example, I was recently in Costa Rica, which is taking many strides to go green (including going carbon neutral over the next few years), but recycling infrastructure is sparse there.

I get inquiries every day from all around the world. We're going to take this global. We are in talks in China, India, South Korea, Latin America, Europe, and elsewhere.

We're still in the top of the second inning when it comes to recycling. The green revolution has taken hold, and is only going to continue to grow. Our motto: Everyone is part of the solution, whether we are talking about energy, water, or recycling.

 

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

Many vacations start with a plane flight, a car trip, or even train travel. But have you considered a trip that ends with a night spent inside an airplane or other vehicle? Creative hotels around the world are reusing cast-off planes, trains, and trailers as stylish places for guests to relax.

You'll find posh suites in planes, retro-1950s trailers decorated by hip artists, and cozy cabooses with a view. Whether you're visiting Chattanooga or New Zealand, a recycled, upcycled, transit-themed hotel could be worth a stop.

Check out these unique places to stay. You might be inspired to hit the road and then sleep inside your choice of transportation.

 

 

(Photo: Hotelsuites NL)

Airplane Suite, Teuge Airport, Voorst, Netherlands

A Dutch hotel company has converted an entire 1960s plane into one luxury suite for two people. With a Jacuzzi, sauna, three flat-screen TVs, a Blu-ray DVD player, Wi-Fi, and more, the airplane is a far cry from like today's typical, cattle-car flying experience. And at 350 euros per night, these accommodations still cost less than coach-class tickets from the U.S. to the Netherlands.

 

 

 

(Photo: Winvian)

Winvian's Helicopter Cottage, Litchfield Hills, Connecticut, U.S.

Perhaps the most amazing of the 18 standalone cottages at this lavish getaway is the one with a 1968 Sikorsky HH37 Sea King Pelican helicopter as the fully stocked bar and high-tech entertainment room. This might be as close as you can get to sleeping in a helicopter. The suite features a whirlpool tub, walk-in steam shower, and fireplace, plus Winvian offers numerous outdoor activities and a lush spa. Rates start at $650.

 

 

 

(Photo: Woodlyn Park)

Woodlyn Park, Waitomo, New Zealand

Near the glowworm-filled Waitomo Caves, Woodlyn Park gives visitors a taste of kiwi culture and several unusual accommodation options. Guests can try out a train, ship, or an airplane as a bedroom. The 1950s Bristol Freighter might be the most historical option because this was one of the last Allied Forces planes to leave Vietnam. It now contains two double-bed hotel rooms available for NZ$160 to NZ$175. Kids can even sleep in the plane's cockpit, which has been turned into a bed loft.

 

 

 

(Photo: Kaitlin Wilson, Aurora-Express)

Aurora-Express, Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S.

For a touch of local history along with a uniquely shaped room, try the Aurora-Express. Owners Mike and Susan Wilson bought a series of railcars that had previously been accommodations at the Denali State Park Hotel, and they started their own B&B with these vehicles. High above Fairbanks on 16.5 acres of spruce forest, the trains provide charming views for nightly rates between $145 and $225.

 

 

 

(Photo: Buchanan Railcar Inn)

Buchanan Railcar Inn, Buchanan, Virginia, U.S.

The entirety of a 1934 Hiawatha dining car makes up this elegant small hotel. Plush furnishings and fine wood details give the Buchanan Inn the feel of a private, upscale club. But no brandy or cigars are allowed onboard, and the rooms are a modest $135 per night. The inn is conveniently located near the town's shops, theater, and restaurants to make for a lovely stay.

 

 

 

(Photo: Karrels' Double K Ranch Bed & Breakfast Inn Homestay)

Karrels' Double K Ranch Bed & Breakfast Inn Homestay, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.

Book the caboose room for a private train getaway in a completely restored Southern Pacific 1901 car. This place is perfect for couples or families — an additional rail roader's bunk is available for children. The B&B's four acres feature a pool and spa for guests, a cactus garden, and model railways. Caboose residents will be visited by native birds that come to feeders right outside the bay window. It's a train lover's and birder's paradise for only $135 per night.

 

 

 

(Photo: Chattanooga Choo Choo)

Chattanooga Choo Choo, Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.

Pardon me, boy, is that the — OK, it had to be said. Yes, this is the Chattanooga Choo Choo, and you can actually sleep in it. The historic hotel at the train station made famous by Glenn Miller's song has three buildings full of accommodations. But what makes this place extra-special are the 48 Victorian train car rooms. Top off your stay with dinner in the dining car. Rates for the train rooms start at $180 a night.

 

 

 

(Photo: Controversy B&B)

Controversy Train B&B and Controversy Tram-Inn, Hoogwoud, Netherlands

If the Dutch airplane hotel isn't right for you, how about a train or tram hotel? The fine people at the Controversy complex have turned a train compartment into a grandiose room featuring a boat as a bed. Nearby are several Dutch and German public transport trams that have been restyled into cheery hotel rooms with all the amenities. You'll even find a spacious family suite with room for the kiddos. These commuter-themed lodgings are available for 60 to 300 euros per night.

 

 

 

(Photo: The Shady Dell)

The Shady Dell, Bisbee, Arizona, U.S.

Heading out in an RV is expensive and wastes gas. Why not get the same experience while staying put? And what better place to relax than the mid-century modern oasis of the Shady Dell? You'll find nine beautifully restored vintage travel trailers, each outfitted in its own quirky retro style. Authentic 45-rpm records, black-and-white TVs, tiki gods, and leopard prints set the mood. One of these trailers can be yours for $50 to $130 per night.

 

 

 

(Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson, El Cosmico)

El Cosmico, Marfa, Texas, U.S.

If you're looking for a vacation with something more, try a trailer at El Cosmico. Not only does this site have well-kept vintage trailers, but it also sponsors a series of workshops and classes on art, writing, sewing, and more. Plus, you'll find tepees, yurts, and tent-camping nearby. The five 1950s trailers seem like the best deal — from $90 to $125 per night for a spacious lodging with Southwest style.

 

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If you're like most Americans, you probably have a stockpile of old cell phones, laptops, or other electronics taking up valuable space in your home. It's hard to know what to do with working gadgets you no longer need.

Luckily there are more options than ever for those who don't want to fill landfills with stuff that others can use. In fact, it's possible to earn a few extra bucks in the process.

How? A growing number of websites allow you to easily sell your old electronics for cash. They all work in the same basic way, although there are differences in details such as which products they buy, and, of course, in how much they're willing to shell out.

Here's how it generally works:

• Search for the product you want to unload.
• Answer a few simple questions about its overall condition and which additional accessories you have.
• Company will calculate an offer for you.
• If you decide to sell, you can print out a pre-paid shipping label. Some will send a box for you to ship in.
• Payment options vary, but most allow you to choose between receiving a check in the mail or a credit to your PayPal account. In some cases, you can choose to donate the payment to charity.

 

Some tips before you get started:

• Shop around to find the best prices. For an iPhone 3G, 8GB, in good condition bids ranged from $119 to $186, so it's definitely worth the extra time it takes to visit a few websites.
• Be sure to check what the terms are if the item you send isn't in the expected condition. Some websites will offer you the chance to change your mind and have the product sent back to you. Others will send products with no value to be responsibly recycled.
• Don't wait too long to sell your old gadgets because the prices decrease as they get older.
• Remove your personal data before shipping out your product.

Below is a sampling of websites that will pay cash for your castaways.

Gazelle buys a large assortment of products - everything from cell phones, PDAs, and MP3 players to laptops, digital cameras, gaming systems, and more. You can even sell old movies, games, and camera lenses.

Choose between a check, credit to your PayPal account, an Amazon gift card (pays an extra 5%), or a donation to a charity (you choose from a list of organizations). If a gadget has no value, they'll recycle it for you. Gazelle says it removes all personal data from every item it receives (you may still choose to erase data before you drop it in the mail). The company also has a program with Costco where you can receive a Costco cash card in exchange for old devices.  

You Renew buys or recycles cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, calculators, laptops, gaming devices, external drives, and tablet eReaders. If your device has no value, you can still ship it for free to YouRenew for safe recycling. As an added bonus, the company will either plant a tree or give a donation towards a domestic renewable energy product.

NextWorth purchases iPods, iPhones, cell phones, cameras, e-Readers, laptops, video games, game console, GPS, DVD, and movies. Your choices for payment include:  PayPal, check in the mail, Target gift card, or donation to the Red Cross for Haiti relief. The site tells you exactly how to remove all the data from your iPhone, which is a nice touch.

Flipswap offers a set price for cell phones only. No questions are asked, but the company says phones need to be in "working condition." If they don't meet conditions, Flipswap will either pay you a portion of the money promised or they'll recycle it.

Payment choices include: Check or donations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Sierra Club, or ASPCA. Several cell phones are listed as "no value," in which case the company pays your postage to send it back for recycling. It plants a tree for every phone that's recycled.

Cell for Cash, as its name suggests, only buys old cell phones. They offer a set price without asking questions, but expect the phones to be in good condition. It wasn't entirely clear in the terms and conditions how the company handles phones that don't meet its expectations, so it's worth checking out before you commit. Cell for Cash will send you a check in the mail.

 

Just interested in recycling your old electronics?

• Search for local recycling events or visit Earth911.

• Major manufacturers will often take back their products, and some will even offer you a discount on buying a new product. Apple, for example, will give you a 10 percent discount on a new iPod when you bring in your old one to be recycled.

• Several retailers will allow you to bring in your gadgets for free recycling. And some, such as Radio Shack, allow you to trade in old devices for store credit.

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.

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EarthTalk is a Q&A column from E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk:
I work for an office equipment company selling copiers, fax machines, computers and printers. Each year new models come out making old ones obsolete. As a result, we have loads of trade-ins with nowhere to go. What can we do with this old equipment?
-- Jeff P., Worcester, MA

Electronic waste, or "e-waste" as it's called, is a growing problem in the United States and abroad, as obsolete or broken computers and other electronic equipment are taking up increasingly precious amounts of landfill space and potentially leaking hazardous substances into surrounding ecosystems.

The nonprofit Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition reports that 70% of the heavy metals in U.S. landfills are from discarded electronics - even though the e-waste itself accounts for only two percent of the trash by volume. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that Americans trash two million tons of unwanted electronics each year - six times the amount they recycle. To make matters worse, U.S. companies often ship old equipment to poor nations whose landfills and incinerators are ill equipped, subjecting already struggling populations to lead, cadmium, beryllium, and other contaminants.

So what can be done? If your old units still work but have merely been eclipsed by newer models, then by all means donate them to a needy cause that will either put them to good use or resell them to help fund their programs. You'll earn a tax deduction for a charitable donation and, by keeping the equipment alive, prevent the manufacture of new units and thus, if ever so slightly, reduce the footprint of your operations.

But not every charity accepts old equipment, and no one wants to spend all day calling around to find one that does. A good place to look, then, is Goodwill, which will accept your equipment and then sell it through any one of its 1,500 retail stores across the country. Proceeds fund programs to help the disabled, illiterate, homeless, and those on welfare by providing job training and placement programs. The Salvation Army runs similar programs and also typically accepts donated old office equipment.

Another option is to donate your equipment to needy schools, either directly or via a service like iLoveSchools.com, which helps teachers find free supplies and equipment for their classrooms. The National Cristina Foundation also matches donated technology with needy schools and nonprofits. Also, the website GreatNonprofits.org maintains a list of charities in need of various types of office equipment. You can also offload equipment via Freecycle, a free service that helps find homes for unwanted stuff.

While finding a new home for your old gear is preferable, recycling is also an option. Recyclers harvest parts from old equipment that can be reused or resold. Several websites, including My Green Electronics, E-cycling Central, and Earth911, list electronics recyclers across the U.S. Some of these vendors will charge a small fee to recycle an item for you; others may do it for free. Also, Office Depot, Staples and some other stores will take back used electronics - even if not purchased there - usually for a small fee.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it here or via email. Read past columns here and check out the recent book Earthtalk: Expert Answers to Everyday Questions about the Environment

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

For the second season of The GreenShows during New York Fashion Week, models strutted down the runway showing off the best in sustainable, recycled and really awesome attire.

This year the events were held at a new yet-to-be inhabited eco-friendly apartment building in New York City's East Village.

The GreenShows opened with a unique showcase of Gary Harvey's recycled couture. Newspapers and laundry bags rustled down the runway, along with old sweatshirts and baseball jackets repurposed into gowns.

The collection was designed to challenge people's perception of secondhand clothing. Gary, who was previously creative director of Levi Strauss and Dockers Europe, believes: "Too many garments end up in landfill sites. They are deemed aesthetically redundant and get discarded at the end of the season when there are often years of wear left."

So, we say, long live the trench coat! Long live the baseball jacket! Long live whatever else Harvey uses to create his collections! The Daily Green featured 18 recycled dresses by Gary Harvey.

Here's a look at five of the most interesting.

 

The GreenShows was sponsored by natural beauty company Weleda, and its Skin Food lotion was honored in this creation. Gary Harvey used 350 boxes of lotion to create this masterpiece.

 

 

Who says print is dead? It's alive and well, living as eco-couture. This dress was created using 30 copies of the Financial Times.

 

 

The Denim Kimono was created using recycled denim jackets and jeans.

 

 

It took 21 laundry bags to create this dry-clean-only garment.

 

 

The Baseball Puffball Dress was created using 26 nylon baseball jackets.

 

 

Photos by Gloria Dawson.

 

Do you think Gary Harvey is a green hero? Nominate your local hero for a Heart of Green Award, and he or she could win a trip to New York City to be honored alongside celebrities and dignitaries working to make green go mainstream.

 

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

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Given my proclivity for adopting minimalist New Year's resolutions, I'm really pushing the envelope this year by vowing to thoroughly declutter my house and my life.

In January, I dove head over long into my decluttering campaign, rummaging through the garage, closets, and dresser drawers for items I haven't used in at least the past year or two. I've told myself that those are the things I should seriously consider parting company with.

My pile of rarely used items quickly began to take over the living room floor, and when I stood back to appraise my progress, a wave of anxiety hit me. It was a veritable tsunami of materialistic nostalgia.

This is great stuff, I said to myself. I can't give it away!

My original intention had been to cart everything off to a local thrift store or maybe post it on the Freecycle Network, as those are terrific ways to redistribute things you no longer need. But I decided that my old stuff is so special, it deserves the best possible new home.

Parting is such sweet sorrow, but after some online research, here's my last will and testament concerning the distribution of my stuff to some very special new homes:

• My favorite-but-now-sadly-threadbare fleece jacket: I'll drop it off at the local Patagonia store, where it'll be recycled into new clothing as part of Patagonia's Common Threads recycling program.


• The speed-bag that nearly knocked me out last time I tried to use it: SportsGifts.org will pass it along to an aspiring Rocky Balboa, since this group uses donated sports equipment to create community-based sports programs for underprivileged kids around the world.


• A duplicate copy of Stuart Little, one of my all-time favorite books by E.B. White: I know it will find a good home and delight some young reader when I donate it to Project Night Night, a nonprofit organization that provides "Night Night" tote bags filled with books and other items to homeless children.


• Six partially used gift cards, each with such a small credit balance that I know I'll end up spending more on stuff I really don't need if I go shopping to redeem them: I'll donate the balances to some of my favorite charities through Gift Card Donor.


• Our overabundance of used blankets, towels, and linens (where did we get all this stuff?!): Local animal shelters often need donations of such items to use in animal cages. Visit Pets 911 to find animal shelters near you.


• The suits and ties I (thankfully) don't wear anymore, ever since I quit my last "real job" to become a writer: To Career Gear, a nonprofit organization that distributes business clothing to disadvantaged men who are trying to re-enter the workforce. (I'm happy to help, but just don't hold my taste in ties against me.)


• The saxophone I bought during my Kenny G. phase, but never learned how to play: The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation will find a good home for it, since this organization refurbishes used instruments and donates them to underfunded school musical programs.


• And finally, I think I'll take my big stack of old magazines - including Boxing Digest, GQ, and Saxophone Monthly - over to the local hospital and some nearby retirement homes to see if they need reading material.

I'll sleep better tonight knowing that my special stuff has found some very special new homes. Now, who deserves my Chia Pet collection?

Follow Jeff Yeager on Twitter and friend Jeff on Facebook. Friend TDG on Facebook and follow TDG on Twitter.

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

Like me, you've probably been watching the coverage of the earthquake in Haiti with a big knot in your stomach and maybe you've already donated $10 by texting HAITI to 90999, but if you want to do more (and help out the environment while you're at it), there's an easy way to do so.

ReCellular has launched a disaster relief program for the victims of the earthquake called "Phones for Haiti." All proceeds from donated phones will go straight to the American Red Cross for their work in the country.

If you're like most people you have an old cell phone lying around somewhere and this is a great way to donate to those in need and keep your electronic waste out of a landfill at the same time.  ReCellular refurbishes the donated phones and then sells them to people in developing countries.  Some phone models like Blackberries or iPhones could contribute up to $100 to the Red Cross.

ReCellular also accepts your old chargers, batteries and other accessories and the shipping is free.  Click here to get started.

via Inhabitat