Make your prom dress out of Caprisun drink pouches.

Photo Credit: Adam Foster

I know that my post last week was all heavy — so let’s CELEBRATE the Earth today and join together to be better stewards of our trash. Search for some great ideas for re-use of stuff that most of us just throw out and then more importantly, actually follow through with some of these ideas. We each can make an impact in our community with just a little bit of effort and creativity. AND it doesn’t always have to involve compost!

RecycleWorks

http://www.recycleworks.org/schools/creativereuse.html This site has some fantastic project ideas for kids and adults for making new things out of old things. And they have a section for teachers to assist them in ways to instruct their students in the ways of GREEN living.

TerraCycle

And check out TerraCycle: http://www.terracycle.net. They have some super programs where you can sign up to collect certain types of trash that you can send in and they will make that trash into treasure and in some cases, get paid for doing it. For example, you can collect empty drink pouches and then send them in by the box full and they make them into recycled material fencing products! In fact, in this article, it says that one class has actually made $400 on collecting items of trash through TerraCycle’s programs. How cool is that!

Do an Internet search for words like “reuse,” “trash to treasure,” and “recycling ideas” and you will be amazed at the treasure trove of information out there to guide you on your garbage to glory quest. Who knows, maybe your next semi-formal outfit will be made of juice pouches!

I would like each one of you to make what’s left of 2011 your year to think about your trash. How can I cut down the amount of trash I produce? How can I make use of the trash I produce? How can I create something beautiful out of trash I produce? Oh yes, there is a common pairing there — the words “I” and “trash.” We are all “trashy” folks, so if you got it, flaunt it! To modify a country music classic lyric sung by Confederate Railroad, “I like women PEOPLE just a little on the trashy side.”