| Have you bought any items made from recycled | | | | Some companies use a glass bottle as is and cut |
| materials? Aluminum cans, glass bottles, | | | | the stem from the base to create colorful |
| newspapers, junk mail and more are all finding | | | | drinking glasses or as in one case after cutting |
| their way into brand-new products. | | | | and a little reworking of the glass, reattach the |
| Whether you live in a community that offers | | | | stem to the bottom of the base to create a |
| recycling or you make the efforts yourself, | | | | stemmed glass. |
| recycling requires work and commitment on our | | | | 3. Recycled plastic products |
| part and because of our efforts many different | | | | We use billions of plastic bottles every day. While |
| recycledproducts are being made. | | | | still far too many of them end up in the trash, |
| Although, not enough of us are either aware of | | | | many of them are being recycled into some |
| the options or choosing to buy recycled but if you | | | | unexpected new products. |
| really start to look and the internet is a great | | | | Fleece fabric is a perfect example. A very popular |
| resource, you will find some of the most | | | | fabric that is used for outerwear and it's made |
| interesting and creative items being made from | | | | from plastic bottles. It's fascinating that someone |
| recycled items. | | | | came up with the idea that used plastic bottles |
| Check out 3 of my favorite recycled products. | | | | could be made into fabric. |
| 1. Recycled purses and handbags | | | | Plastic bottles diverted from landfills are crushed, |
| Probably the most creative use of all kinds of | | | | flaked, melted and then forced through a type of |
| throwaway items is in the creation of handbags. | | | | sieve to create long threads. These threads are |
| You may have heard about aluminum pop tops or | | | | then spun into yarn and woven into fabric to be |
| candy wrappers being used but who would have | | | | used to make all kinds of products like clothing, |
| thought that either of these items would make | | | | baseball caps, outerwear, blankets, carpeting and |
| such beautifully designed purses? | | | | more. |
| Handbag designers are exploring the use of all | | | | Items made from recycled plastic fibers are very |
| kinds of throwaway items. Wooden chopsticks, | | | | soft, warm, weather resistant and lightweight. The |
| sails from ships, old record albums, vinyl banners, | | | | fibers can even be mixed with other fibers like |
| old skateboards, carpet remnants, discarded | | | | cotton to provide even more fabric options. |
| fabrics and more have all been used to make | | | | Fabric is just one use for recycled plastic. It can |
| purses that are sure to have others asking | | | | also be used to make many products for outdoor |
| "Where did you get that great bag?" | | | | use like lumber, garden accessories or lawn |
| 2. Recycled glass products | | | | furniture. |
| Glass recycling can go in many different directions. | | | | When we choose products made from recycled |
| Glass of the same color or kind can be melted | | | | materials we help save resources and in some |
| and reused to make more bottles or containers | | | | instances less energy is used to create an item |
| but it is also popular for decorative applications. | | | | from recycled material over one with brand-new |
| The way it has depth or how the light shines | | | | materials, so environmentally it's a great choice. |
| through it are qualities that make it work very | | | | But if you are just looking for creatively designed |
| well for melting into new items like jewelry. | | | | or unusual products look no further than recycled |
| It can also be crushed, mixed with other | | | | products. Not only will you have a beautiful item |
| ingredients and used as paving materials or | | | | but you have a ready-made conversation starter |
| counter tops or broken up in larger pieces to be | | | | when someone does say "That's a great looking |
| tumbled and polished like stones and used for | | | | handbag" and you can brag that it's made from |
| decorative additions to landscapes or maybe even | | | | recycled. |
| a fish aquarium. | | | | |