Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all). A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing. A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find… (Yep, I’m still on that mini-sabbatical.)
Actually, this month’s transformer turns into a spoon AND a glass AND a candle holder. How’s that for triple duty?
The Pure-Bottle by Lucirmás is made from a recycled wine bottle that’s cut in two places giving it the ability to be three things all at once. The company, located in Barcelona, Spain, focuses on creating “sustainable glass products which tell a story.” Each piece is original and simple, yet functional, in design.
This 100% recycled bottle also comes in three different colors: brown, beige, and blue. Can you picture the Pure-Bottle on your dining or cafe table? Seems like it might be perfect for the beach or on a picnic. What do you think?
Did you know that wine bottles can be made into many different things? Here’s a look at their Prosecco votive holder called Nino.
Toothpick and votive holders…
Serving trays and salt and pepper shakers…
…and, my personal favorite, coat hooks and note holder. Genius! Click here to see the new mirrored version.
Curious about how they’re made? Check out this video…
Lucirmás Sustainable Glass Design from Lucirmás on Vimeo.
Sources:
Check Out These Other Transformers
Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all). A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing. A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find…
I’m amazed by the creative and unique things you can make from stuff that you would normally put on your car or bicycle, like tires. Have a look…
Sandals
Jewelry
Art
Furniture
Planters
Would you put this in your garden?
Sources:
Check Out These Other Transformers
“It’s not hard to understand why energy entrepreneurs and municipalities are looking to turn more garbage into gold. Recyclers will pay for plastics, metals, and paper because they can sell that material, once separated, to mills which use it as raw material. As the tipping fees increase, it becomes more and more economical to divert that material into a composting facility at a lower rate than a landfill.”
Read More:
Next wave of recycling? Check your dinner plate | CNET.com | 2.21.11
Back in February 2010, I discovered the art of Michael Johansson. He was quite clever with how he organized every day things.
My most recent find (thanks to Alltop) is the work of Jacqueline Rush Lee who makes sculptures from used books. Some of you may cringe at that thought, but it sounds like a better option than having books packed away in a box, never to be seen again.
“As an artist I am inspired by the materials, colors and forms that I find in my everyday environment. I am particularly drawn to objects that record physical processes or bear the imperfections and scars of life.” ~Jacqueline Rush Lee
“I am interested in how these recycled books come with their own histories of use and meaning and how they serve as potent vehicles of expression. With the idea of working with them as my canvas or building block, I transform the books into sculptures that explore and redefine the book as familiar object, medium, and archetypal form.” ~Jacqueline Rush Lee
The best way to manage magazine clutter is to cut back on subscriptions, particularly for those that you don’t read often. When you have finished reading the ones you like, move them onto the next stage of their life by:
- Being Green. Throw them in the recycling bin. That’s it. You’re done. Well, not exactly. You still have to take the bin to the curb to be picked up.
- Donating to an Office. Give them to your local hospital, doctor’s/dentist’s office, retirement home, or women’s shelter (basically, anywhere people have to wait).
- Donating to an Individual. Give them to your neighbors (or friends/family) who like that particular mag. If your neighbors are new to the area, be sure the magazine is current and perhaps add it to a welcome basket.
I do have one final thing to share that may sound a bit odd. You could keep one rolled up magazine in your car, tote bag, or murse. Why? Strangely enough, it can be used as a self-defense tool (seriously). I watched an episode of Fight Science on National Geographic where this was demonstrated. Of course, I’d much rather you not have to make that type of decision (nor am I advocating that you do this), but it’s an interesting tidbit, no?
-
How to recycle old New Yorkers (timesunion.com)
I usually tell my clients to donate or responsibly discard their unwanted electronics. Now, there’s another option, one that might get them a bit of cash: Gazelle. Simply answer a few questions about the condition of your used tech, Gazelle makes you an offer, and even sends you a postage paid container to ship it. If it turns out that your item “has no market value,” Gazelle will recycle it for you.
Related Articles
- A Site That Pays You to Recycle (gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com)
- Niche Sites Going After eBay (online.wsj.com)
“Why should I pay the same as someone else who throws away twice as much?” ~Ellis Burruss, Frederick County Solid Waste Advisory Council
How do you feel about the concept of paying for what you throw away? That means that the more you buy, consume, and discard, the more you pay for the garbage you throw away. Ellis Burruss of Frederick County, MD doesn’t believe he should have to pay for trash service because he recycles just about everything.
The idea is waste less and pay less, or in Mr. Burruss’ case, pay nothing. If you have more “re-usables,” then you’ll also have less to throw away. If you shop less, then you also have less to throw out (and theoretically, you’re likely to be living a more simple life). Less garbage = smaller landfills = good for the environment = everybody’s happy…right?
Hit people where it hurts the most – their pocket – and they’ll do almost anything, yes? What do you think? Is this the right course of action? Leave a comment with your thoughts and take the poll below.
Would you recycle more if you what you paid for trash pick up was based on the volume of your trash?
Loading ...
Overloaded with paper clutter? I normally advise anyone struggling with piles of paper clutter to spend some time every day separating/recycling the junk followed by sorting, categorizing, and containerizing documents they must keep. It’s a logical process, though not one that most people enjoy.
Well, if you have a green thumb, there’s a solution you might just love: gardening. Recently, The Huffington Post profiled Garden Girl and her daughter, Garden Kid, about how they successfully combined “newspapers, kitchen scraps, and junk mail” to create nutrient-rich soil (with the help of earthworms) for their house plants. This is perhaps not how we usually think about decluttering or managing paper clutter, but here’s why this may be a good option for you:
1. You can quickly decrease your paper piles
2. You can remove your “shred” pile from your home/office almost immediately
3. You make less trips to the curb for recycling pick ups
4. You declutter in a way you love and are likely to keep up with
5. If you involve your children (or other loved ones), you’ll get help with decluttering and spend time together
Still not sure if this right for you? Need a little inspiration? Check out the video below to hear what Garden Girl and Garden Kid had to say. If you’ve been using your garden to get rid of your paper clutter, tell us about it.
“I’m taking the waste that we make every single day and composting it in my home and not putting out on the curb. I’m utilizing here, right here on my land. I take it, I consume it, and I reuse it. Then we’re gonna consume it again and then we’re gonna reuse it.”
Who said organizing isn’t fun!? Swedish artist, Michael Johansson, has found a creative way to put order to very ordinary things. He repurposes familiar yet unrelated items by combining them to make organized, 3D sculptures. Notice how he puts particular focus on shape and color. It’s a very interesting take on organization as art…or perhaps, formerly useful items as art…
“I am fascinated walking around flea markets finding doubles of seemingly unique, though often useless objects I have already purchased at another flea market. Despite the fact that I did not have any use for them even the first time, the desire to own two of these objects becomes too strong to resist.” ~Michael Johansson
“I am intrigued by irregularities in daily life. Not those that appear when something extraordinary occurs, but those that are created by an exaggerated form of regularity.” ~Michael Johansson
Many thanks to Terragenesis LLC for sharing the article, Sculptural Color Palettes By Michael Johansson by Evad at COLOURlovers.
Drowning in paper clutter? Well, you’re in luck. Here are two shredding events scheduled for September 2009. Don’t miss them! **UPDATED WITH 4 NEW EVENTS** (9.10.09)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Fairfax County Recycling Roadshow · Navy Federal · Town of Vienna · Covanta Energy **New Event**
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Where: Navy Federal Credit Union · 820 Follin Lane Southeast, Vienna, VA 22180 (703-324-5052)
Cost: Free
Info: (1) Electronics. Recycle televisions, computers, and electronics. DO NOT bring electrical household appliances (such as vacuums, microwaves, toaster ovens, etc.) to this event. (2) Paper Shredding. Up to 5 reasonably-sized boxes of paper per household will be accepted for shredding. Be sure to remove paper from binders and remove binder clips. All shredded paper will be recycled. (3) Compact Fluorescent Light Recycling. Only compact fluorescent light bulbs will be accepted. Long fluorescent tubes and broken bulbs WILL NOT be accepted.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Fairfax Community Clean Up · Household Hazardous Waste Disposal **New Event**
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Where: McLean Government Center · 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 (703-324-5052)
Cost: Free
Info: Proof of Fairfax County residency is required (ex: utility bill, driver’s license). Household hazardous waste from residential households will be accepted. NO business or commercial waste will be accepted.
Acceptable Items:
- Acids
- Gasoline
- Fluorescent bulbs
- Fungicides
- Herbicides
- Insecticides
- Mercury products
- Oil-based paint
- Paint thinner
- Pesticides
- Poisons
- Pool chemicals
- Nickel Cadmium, Lithium, and Mercury batteries
- NO lead acid or automobile batteries & NO propane tanks will be accepted
Saturday, September 12, 2009
PC Recycler Residential Paper Shredding & Electronics Recycling · TrueShred
Time: 10 am – 2 pm *You must be in line by 2 pm.
Where: PC Recycler Inc. · 4005 Westfax Drive, Suite A, Chantilly, VA 20151 (800-731-1909) [Directions]
Cost: $10 per bankers box (10″x12″x15″)
Info: PC Recyler is now partnering with TrueShred to handle your paper shredding needs. Representatives will be present to address any questions that you may have about paper shredding. You can also watch as your documents are destroyed and bring your electronics to be recycled. Click here for a list of acceptable electronics and fees.
Sunday, September 13, 2009 **New Event**
Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services Electronics Recycling
Time: 12 pm – 4 pm
Where: Northwest School · 13501 Richter Farm Road, Germantown, MD 20874 [Map]
Cost: Free
Acceptable Items:
- Small Electronic Appliances
- Calculators
- Camcorders
- CD’s and Floppy Disks
- CD players
- Cell phones
- Computers and Computer-related Products
- Consume Electronics
- Copiers
- Cords and Cables (including chargers)
- Digital Cameras
- Electronic Typewriters
- Fax Machines
- Microwave Ovens
- Personal Digital Assistant Equipment
- Printers
- Projection Equipment
- Scanners
- Telephones
- Televisions
- Small Electronic Toys
- VCR’s
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Fairfax County Recycling Roadshow · Solid Waste Management · Covanta Energy **New Event**
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Where: Sully District Government Center · 4900 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151 (703-324-5052)
Cost: Free
Info: (1) Paper Shredding. Up to 5 medium-sized boxes of paper per household will be accepted for shredding. Be sure to remove paper from binders and remove binder clips. All shredded paper will be recycled. (2) Compact Fluorescent Light Recycling. Only compact fluorescent light bulbs will be accepted. Long fluorescent tubes and broken bulbs WILL NOT be accepted.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
NBC4 Safe & Secure Community Shred · Shred-It · PNC Bank
Time: 8 am – 11 am
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds · 1620 Chestnut Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (301-963-3247) [Map]
Accepted Items:
- Up to 5 boxes of personal (non-business) papers
- NO CD’s
- NO Credit Cards
Cost: FREE
Related Articles by Zemanta
- Shred Hot Summer! (monicaricci.typepad.com)
- Free Recycling for Your Schools Old Computer Equipment (q-ontech.blogspot.com)
4xtvf25m3k
4xtvf25m3k
