Make Love. Not Landfill.

If you’re cleaning out your house and find yourself not too sure about what to do with those items covered with dust, we have created a list of some odd household items that you may have never thought to recycle. There are tons of agencies, organizations and programs who would be more than happy to take those unwanted items out of your possession. When in doubt, do some research and find out how you can help people and organizations in need. Here are some items you can and should recycle!

It’s something that we wear everyday, well some of us anyway, but what do you do when it doesn’t fit anymore? Yeah I am talking about your Bra. Yes, I am telling you that you can recycle your Bra! If it doesn’t fit, recycle it! A bra Recycling program called The Bosom Buddy Program is more than willing to take your old bras. The Bosom Buddy Program, started up by a textile recycling company in Arizona gives donated bras to women who need them, through shelters or other programs that help women gain self-sufficiency. So ladies, and perhaps gentlemen who enjoy wearing bras, go clean out your bra drawer and donate them to a good cause!

Enjoy your wine but recycle the rest. Recycled wine corks can be made into flooring tiles, building insulation footwear, bulletin boards, packaging materials, and sports equipment. Natural corks, which are made from the bark of a cork tree, are ideal for recycling because they are renewable, natural, sustainable and energy-efficient. However, synthetic corks are made from petroleum- based products are not accepted for recycling. Companies like Yemm & Hart produce recycled building materials, are are devoted in turning used corks into floor and wall tiles.

It’s about time you clean out that closet, and when you do, make sure to send your gently used items such as board games to people who may enjoy using them. Adult appropriate items can be sent overseas to our U.S. Soldiers through programs such as AnySoldier.com. AnySoldier has a list of items that may be of value to the men and women serving our country. Visit their website and they will tell you what to send and how to send it.

As long as they don’t stink, go through your old shoes and donate your gently used athletic shoes to a good cause. Through the organization Shoe4Africa, your old athletic shoes will be forwarded to athletes in developing countries. A little bit goes a long way and this kind of donation means more than you know.

You probably have an old iPod that you don’t feel comfortable throwing away (which you shouldn’t)! Apple’s commitment to responsible environmental citizenship, includes ensuring that an iPod is properly disposed of at the end of its life. Apple’s Recycling Program covers your iPod or any cell phone regardless if the manufacturer or model. Not to mention you get a 10% discount from your next purchase. Not a bad gig, eh?

It always seems like a good idea at the time to spend a large amount on a formal dress that you know you will probably only wear once. It’s time to clean out those closets and donate those beautiful gowns so someone else can look pretty in them too. Charities such as Glass Slipper Project are more than willing to take those old prom dresses off your hands and out of your closet (making room for your new dresses). The Glass Slipper Project will provide young high school students new formal dresses that they would not have been able to afford otherwise.

Remember back in the day when we used phone books? It’s a hazy memory but I am sure you remember what those are, because they are probably taking up so much space in your kitchen drawers. When you finally get around to cleaning out those drawers, don’t throw those big books away, recycle them! You can go to yellowpages.com/recycle to find out how to dispose of them appropriately.

It’s hard to let go of the past but if you think your ready, we ask you to take out those old trophies, dust them off, kiss them farewell, and send them on their way. Send them to Art Inc. this company will gladly take your old, valuable award and make new art to give to children groups or other causes like the Special Olympics. Don’t worry, you still are #1 even if you don’t have a trophy to prove it

Last but not least ( but maybe the most surprising) is human hair. Yes, the hair on your head. Well, you can’t recycle the hair still on your head but the hair that comes from your head, you can! Did you know that human hair can be composted? It can also be recycled into dense mats for soaking up oil. Matter of Trust is a public charity started because the Hair for Oil Spills Program in 2000. Very interesting and definitely worth checking out!

If you need more assistance in finding out what to recycle and how visit Earth911