City of St. Louis Department of Streets Refuse Division Recycling Program

Household

Dining

Lawn & Garden

Packaging

Paper

Miscellaneous

Materials Exchanges

Links

NOTE: The following information is also available as a downloadable PDF Flyer or Word Document.

HOUSEHOLD: ACCESSORIES, APPLIANCES, BOOKS, CLOTHING, EQUIPMENT, FURNITURE, TOYS


• Books, films, and music can be borrowed from libraries. Rent films from a video store.
  
• Borrow or rent equipment that is used infrequently. Share seldom-used equipment and tools with family, friends, and neighbors.
  
• Buy used from antique stores, classified ads, consignment shops, estate sales, flea markets, garage sales, secondhand stores, thrift shops, etc.
  
• Donate or give items to charities (e.g., Goodwill Industries, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Salvation Army, Vietnam Veterans of America, etc.), shelters, group homes, senior centers, nonprofits, schools, youth programs, libraries, hospitals, used equipment dealers, family, friends, or neighbors.
  
• Hold a garage or yard sale.
  
• Maintain it well and repair it when necessary.
  
• Electronics http://www.ecyclestlouis.org
  
• Cellular Phone Reuse and Recycling
  
• Charities That Pick Up Donations
  
• Electronic Media Reuse and Recycling
  
• Household Batteries: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
  
• Ink Cartridge Reuse and Recycling
  
• Textile Reuse and Recycling

  DINING
  

• Carry and reuse fabric linens (e.g., napkins, tablecloths, towels, etc.), flatware/silverware, a refillable cup/mug, bowls, plates, etc. in cafeterias, homes, offices, and restaurants.
  
• In restaurants, ask for aluminum foil or bring your own reusable containers.
  
• Lunch bags, lunch boxes, or coolers are reusable, durable, and spacious.
  
• Purchase a reusable coffee filter rather than disposable paper filters.
  
• Reuse plastic microwave dishes as picnic-ware.
  
• Store food in reusable containers rather than plastic wrap or disposable plastic bags.

  LAWN AND GARDEN
  

• After it freshly snows, lay old doormats under birdfeeders to catch fallen birdseed for birds who can't get the seed that falls into the snow.
  
• Old file cabinets can store gloves, hats, hand tools, pruning tools, seeds, string, etc.
  
• Plastic miniblinds can become plant markers.

  PACKAGING
  

• Carry small, reusable bags and containers for use when purchasing bulk foods and produce.
  
• Foam "peanuts" and bubble wrap can be reused or donated to company mailrooms. Take foam "peanuts" and bubble wrap to a local shipping service or check with the Peanut Hotline at 1.800.828.2214 for an automated list of local businesses that will reuse clean, dry, loose fill packaging materials.
  
• Large, durable, reusable bags are useful when shopping.
  
• Make scouring pads from onion and potato mesh bags.
  
• Paper or plastic bags can be reused to line trashcans instead of buying trash bags or plastic liners.
  
• Return clothes hangers to the cleaners.
  
• Reuse bread bags, glass jars, grocery bags, plastic tubs, produce bags, etc. to store food and other items.

  PAPER
  

• Brown paper grocery bags are sturdy enough for wrapping packages to be mailed.
  
• Clean messes or spills with reusable dishcloths or rags, rather than disposable paper towels.
  
• Envelopes can be reused by placing labels over typed or written areas.
  
• Handkerchiefs reduce paper tissue waste and are softer on your skin.
  
• Reuse holiday and greeting cards by cutting off the back, then writing and posting the card covers as postcards; or by using the card covers as gift tags.
  
• Share catalog and magazine subscriptions.
  
• Use both sides of a sheet of paper (particularly for draft documents).
  
• Book Reuse and Recycling

  MISCELLANEOUS
  

• Install reusable air conditioner and furnace filters, and clean monthly.
  
• Old, used, or worn out textiles (e.g., bandanas, clothes, curtains/drapes, scarves, sheets, washcloths, etc.) can be reused to cover buttons, to create or cover pillows, to make patches for decorations or hiding holes in clothing and linens, or to make quilts.
  
• Rechargeable batteries can reduce household hazardous waste.
  
• Refill lighter fluid and blades, rather than using disposables.
  
• Refillable pens and pencils conserve resources.
  
• St. Louis Teachers' Recycle Center, Inc. or Leftovers, etc. will accept items and materials that could be reused (e.g., bottles, bottle caps, buttons, canisters, fabric, film containers, jars, stickers, yarn, wood scraps, etc.).
  
• Habitat for Humanity's ReStore accepts building materials and fixtures.
  
• Miscellaneous Reuse and Recycling

  MATERIALS EXCHANGES (aka Where You Can Swap Things)
  

• Materials Exchanges

  LINKS

  Are you wondering just how creative you can be? Are you handy around this home, preferring to do-it-yourself? Below are links to some websites where you can find suggestions for what to do with "it" or share your own ideas.

• How Do I Recycle This?
  http://www.recyclethis.co.uk
• ReadyMade
  http://readymademag.com
• ThriftyFun
  http://www.thriftyfun.com

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This Page Last Modified: Friday, 22-Feb-2008 16:00:47 CST

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