Welcome to The Budget Ecoist, where we help you go green on a budget. Check out our tips for recycling and reusing everyday items, our reviews of eco-friendly products, and share your tips in our green forum.
Archives by Tag: recycle
Glass Jars: Recycle This
August 26, 2008
Glass jars offer a great opportunity to recycle. Nothing excites us more than finishing a jar of jelly, a pint of pasta sauce, or a jar of salsa. When the jar is cleaned out, the fun is ready to begin! YEEHAW!Why the love of glass jars? Storage, of course. Why buy a piggy bank when you use a jar of pickles (minus the pickles, of course)? Why buy granola in a pastic bag, exposing yourself to possible pests in your cupboards, when you can buy...
Bartering: Recycle This
August 22, 2008
Like the days of yore, people are jumping on the bartering bandwagon to save money, resources and ultimately our fine planet. Whether you’re going big or looking to unload your iPod speakers in lieu of recycling them (and hoping to pick up a pair of Wolf Parade tickets in the process) Craigslist is the way to go. Just want to find a happy home for your IKEA shelves? There’s a Freecycle near you.On a much larger scale, Green Apple Barter...
Key Holder: Recycle This
August 8, 2008
How many of us have fallen prey to organizational thingy-bobs, use them for a while, and then become, well, unorganized again? We're thinking specifically about those little hooked key holders you nail to the wall next to your front or back door. They're supposed to make it convenient for you to walk into the house, hang up your keys, and then Ta Da! No more scurrying about the house, searching for keys when you're already ten minutes late....
Houston, We Have a Problem: Recycle This….Now!
August 5, 2008
This week The New York Times reported that out of the thirty largest cities in the U.S., Houston is the lamest (our term, not the NYT’s) when it comes to recycling. They recycle only 2.6% of their total waste compared to New York City, which recycles 34%, and San Francisco, which recycles a whopping 69% of their total waste.
The mayor of Houston cites the independent spirit of Texans as a big problem in getting people to separate their trash,...
Eyeglasses: Recycle This
August 1, 2008
It's been two years...time to get your vision checked again. Afterall, we don't want to let those peepers view the world through less-than-stellar glasses (and there are some cute new glasses you've had your, um, eye on).
You might be tempted to keep that old pair of glasses but most likely you won't be using them (and if your prescription changes, it's not a good idea to go between glasses).
So put them to use! (Someone else's use)...
Magazines: Recycle This
July 22, 2008
Rachael Ray!) that you can't bear to part with, try these options: cut out the recipes you want to keep, hole punch and pop into a binder for safe keeping amongst your other...
Homeless Photos: Recycle This
July 15, 2008
Let’s see a show of hands for everyone who has individual photos floating around the abode, looking for a resting place. That’s what we thought - all of you. Face facts, you’re not going to create a new look book any time soon. No. You’re not. And you don’t want to leave all your cute pics loose, falling off a shelf and getting kicked around and battered beyond recognition until you reluctantly toss them in the trash. We’ve got some better...
All Sewn Up: Go Green
July 14, 2008
Did you hear? Sewing isn’t just for 4-Hers anymore. This back to the roots activity is taking hold in the biggest and smallest cities around the U.S. of A. Even if you’re not a reality show contender, you too can turn a bolt of material (purchased, or found on your mom’s dining room table) into a unique addition to your wardrobe, wall or anywhere fabric makes things fabulous. What? You don’t have a workshop in your home? Never fear as many...
Recycling Batteries: Green Video
July 10, 2008
This quick EnviroTip teaches you about the importance of recycling batteries. We like it because it's short, sweet and actionable. (and because we always forget what we're supposed to do with dead batteries!)Brown Paper Bag: Recycle This
July 1, 2008
Occasionally you go into a store and buy a little something. A really little something. You know all the smart boutiques where they don’t waste money having logos and store names printed on small bags, they simply hand you that one-of-a-kind bamboo bracelet in a discreet, unassuming brown paper bag. Here are ten great ways to make re-use of that bag: 1. Pack your lunch to-go. There was a time when this bag was the go-to staple for packing...
Messenger Bags for a Cause: Green Fashion
June 25, 2008
Don't you just love scoring something super cute that also makes you feel super great? Enter two blogs that offer environmentally-friendly messenger bags as fundraisers.
Bags for Zaza is a fundraiser conducted by Jennie in British Columbia. Family members of Jennie are in the process of adopting a little girl from Colombia (currently referred to as 'Zaza', thus the blog name). Jennie thought she could combine her sewing know-how, with...
Crocs: Recycle This
June 18, 2008
You already know you can recycle newspapers, cans, and bottles. But did you know you can also recycle those soft, colorful shoes called Crocs? And what's more, they're going to a good cause. A few years ago, a little plastic shoe became a fashion phenomenon. But what happens when your Crocs go kaput?
The Crocs company wants to save all that plastic from landfills and make the developing world a more comfortable place. So it started a...
Everything Becomes School & Office Supplies: Recycle This!
June 16, 2008
If there is a cooler green company out there right now than TerraCycle, we'd like to hear about it. TerraCycle recently partnered with Office Max to produce a line of recycled office and school products. The results? One marvelous waste-free future unfolding before us!
A recent rundown in Ecopreneurist goes into more detail, but here are some highlights:
Trash/recycle bins made from recycled computer cases and production waste
Eco...
Mommy-WOW! Diapers: Recycle this!
June 13, 2008
Here’s another major source of non-biodegradable landfill waste: baby diapers. Just think: the plastic diapers we used as babies are probably still buried in some landfill today, and will continue to be there long after we are gone. Factor in that each baby uses about six thousand before toilet training is complete, and that’s a sizable problem. Sure, the oldschool cloth diapers never completely went out of use, and now not too surprisingly,...
A Trio of Companies That Take Your Junk: Recycle This!
June 4, 2008
The already Earth-conscious, animal-friendly Aveda line of haircare products recycles water bottle caps (which can’t be recycled using the usual plastic-bottle-recycling process) for an upcoming line of their limited edition retro-style Clove shampoo, in stores this September. Send caps to: Aveda Re-Cap Program
ACA Waste Services
40 EADS Street
Babylon, NY 11704
When you’re sending Aveda your caps, why not throw in some plastic caps from...
Clean Your Basement Without Filling Your Trash Bin: Go Green
May 30, 2008
We all have our own dirty little secrets, admit it. Your basement is dirrrrrty! If spring has sprung your urge to clean, we have some great tips on how you can clean out the basement without filling your trash bin. So throw on some comfy clothes, grab a few large boxes and get ready to clean, the green way. 1. Obtain boxes and storage containers. There are plenty of ways to obtain boxes for free; there’s no need to spend your precious...
Organize Your Receipts: Go Green
May 22, 2008
The other day at The Budget Ecoist...we were just minding our own business when suddenly...we were taken aback by a reader's question, "Can I recycle receipt paper?"Well, um, yes, we think so. I mean, we've been recycling our receipts...but maybe we're not supposed to? Maybe there's some special rule about receipt paper. Oh gosh...have we been causing the good people at the recycling centers to silently curse our recycleables as they sort...
Ziploc--The Other Plastic Bag: Recycle This!
May 21, 2008
This is one of those tips that will make significant others look at you askew. But it's all for the greater good, and you're used to it anyway, right?
Ziploc bags are so handy, yet so wasteful. Use 'em once and throw 'em away, right? Wrong! Why not simply wash' em? You probably don't want to do this if the storage bag was holding raw meat or fish, but if it was only holding crackers or even cheese, try this:
Let your used storage bags...
The Platypus Hydration System: Go Green
April 25, 2008
So we try to live with the fact that plastic water bottles should no longer be a part of our life. But carrying around a non-disposable bottle all day can add bulk to your load, making smooth getaways a little clunky. Solution – the water bottle with the cute name - Platypus - becomes a tiny bump in your bag once you’ve finished your beverage of choice (it can hold boiling and freezing liquids, so go crazy!) and rolled it up. The Platypus...
