Turn Trash into Treasure

In the spirit of Earth Day...

If one person’s trash is another’s treasure, then repurposing your unwanted items is a great way to turn trash into treasure. Perhaps your organization could organize a project to take some of the following unwanted items and put them to better use.
CDs, Tapes, and Records. With more and more people using MP3 players, many homes have stacks of old CDs, tapes, and records just sitting around. Look for local used music shops that might buy old music from you or accept it as a donation. Or, see if the local library might be interested.
DVDs and Videos. Got any movies sitting on a shelf that you’re not interested in watching again? Folks at a homeless shelter, abused women’s shelter, or Ronald McDonald House might enjoy watching them to while away some time. Conduct a drive to collect DVDs and videos and donate them to a local organization.
Office Equipment and Supplies. Old typewriters, filing cabinets, and office furniture that’s no longer needed could find a new home in a local agency or nonprofit organization that is strapped for funding. Contact your favorite service or charity organization to ask about donating.
Books and Magazines. Check with a local senior citizens center or other facility to see if residents would be interested in having you collect paperback books and magazines. Or, collect gently used children’s books for a children’s center or homeless shelter for families.
Toys and Games. Kids inevitably outgrow toys and games, so why not collect them to donate to needy children in your community? Work with a local family services agency to figure out how to distribute them to families in need.
Clothing. Used clothing can be donated to local agencies that support disadvantaged families. Check with them first to see if they have specific needs, such as a socks and sweaters. Remember to tie or pin together items that go together such as shoes, socks, and belts, and be sensitive to the limited storage space many of these agencies have by collecting clothing that is appropriate to the season. Another outlet for old clothing is a theater company that can use vintage clothing for costumes.
Shoes. Worn-out sneakers of any brand can be turned into brand new playgrounds, running tracks, basketball and tennis courts, gym floors, soccer and football fields—all kinds of sports surfaces—through Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe Program. Visit https://www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/ for more info on how to participate.
Computers. With faster and more powerful computers constantly being developed, many people opt to replace their computers regularly. Yet according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Plug in to eCycling program (www.epa.gov/ecycling/faq.htm), only 15% to 20% percent of retired personal computers, TVs, cell phones, and other electronic devices are being recycled in the United States (latest statistics are from 2005). Check out TechSoup (www.techsoup.org) for information on how and where to recycle computers.