Cardboard Boxes - Save or Recycle?

Gretchen and I find that many of our clients store boxes. Unless you are moving, this can quickly become a problem an you may fill your garage and attic with unnecessary trash.

Photo by Akira Ohgaki

In order to maintain a good flow of items through your home, usually it is best to recycle boxes.

If you are an on-line shopper, many boxes enter your home. Do not delay and set these empty boxes aside. Make a decision to recycle or store right away!

Try these tips:

1. If you have an account and re-sell items on Ebay, craigslist, etc., choose a location in your home to temporarily store items to sell with packaging to mail these items. In this area, create a space for bubble wrap, peanuts, and boxes. Make another space for boxes/packaging and lastly a space for item storage. Once this area is full, recycle all packaging. The idea is to keep within a boundary!

2. Recycle all shoe boxes with lids that are attached. If you ever want/need a shoe box, you will probably prefer a box with a removable lid.

3. Recycle all large boxes that typically are associated with large children's toys.

4. Keep super small packaging for expensive electronics. These are easy to store and you will get a better return if you have original packaging.

~Amy

Too Many Wire Hangers

Recycle them!

Not enough room for your hanging clothes? I hope you keep a bag for your dry cleaning nearby.

Recycle those wire hangers!

Simply place them in your dry cleaning bag and return them when you take your cleaning.

Keep this system going and you will reclaim some space in your closet. ~Amy

Old Computers Pile Up to Create E-waste

Recycle old electronics, don't trash them

Link To Murfreesboro Post

By: JOHN MICHAELSON, TNNS
Posted: Friday, December 28, 2012 9:58 am
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NASHVILLE - "Out with the old, in with the new"' takes on a whole new meaning when the topic is electronic gear.

Laptops, televisions and cell phones should never be dumped in the garbage, says Gregg Bjork, senior vice president of Minnesota-based Materials Processing Corp., because toxins can leach into the soil and water. Another major concern, he says, is data.



"Everything from a laptop to a copy machine is storing confidential information on it, and anybody who gets their hands on it might be able to extract everything from credit-card numbers to any kinds of confidential documentation that might be on that device."


MPC is among recyclers in about 30 states so far that are "e-Steward" certified, meaning people can be sure their cast-off electronics are recycled safely.


The "e-Stewards" certification is a program of the toxic waste watchdog group Basel Action Network. BAN's enterprise director, Mike Enberg, who heads the "e-Stewards" program, says the oversight is necessary for what has become an international environmental nightmare.


"E-waste is the quickest-growing portion of the waste stream and has been for a number of years - 142,000 computers and over 416,000 mobile devices are trashed or recycled every day."Too often, Enberg says, electronics aren't broken down by recyclers for their usable components, and hazardous waste isn't safely disposed of. It may even be shipped overseas to become another country's problem.


Find free "e-Stewards" drop-off sites at e-Stewards.org. More information on BAN is online at ban.org.

Ready to purge? Next time, think twice before you buy.

I follow a blog that I've shared with many friends and particularly liked this post:

THE POST-CHRISTMAS HOME AND THE EPIDEMIC OF DOMESTIC BULIMIA
By The Decorologist.

This is Kristie Barnett's version of the famous William Morris quote: “Have nothing in your home that is not functional or doesn’t bring you joy because of its beauty or meaning to you. And strive for both, if possible.”

Check it out!

So Many Ornaments!

Do you have more ornaments than you need this year?


If you have children, nieces or nephews, consider purchasing an ornament box before Christmas. Currently, these boxes are in stores and come in all sizes and price points. You can fill the ornament box as you take down your tree.

If your children are grown, go ahead and pass the box along! If not, purchase a different box for each child or family member and store individually until they have a home of their own.

What a nice way to pass on those ornaments along with a proper storage box that will keep the ornaments in use for years to come!