Upcycle Your Holiday cards!

St. Jude's Ranch for Children will upcycle your holiday...or other occasion cards!  This is a great project for school kids as it's an upcycling project that helps kids and young families in need. Just send along the front of the card (with no writing on the back)....and they ask that you not send along Disney, Hallmark or American Greeting cards due to copyright issues.  I've started a card collecting program at work and then just mail in a batch once or twice a year!  You can also buy these cards! It's a great green way to start the New Year!

We can not accept Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards - See more at: https://stjudesranch.org/about-us/recycled-card-program/#sthash.4RnazGB5.dpuf

We can not accept Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards - See more at: https://stjudesranch.org/about-us/recycled-card-program/#sthash.4RnazGB5.dpuf

DCRecycler 2013 Green Gift Guide: help someone break the plastic habit!

Seems that I hear more and more stories

about the evils of plastic - its negatives impacts on humans, wildlife and the environment. Help a friend take a bit more plastic out of circulation. Glass storage containers are a great and welcome gift....and they're microwaveable. OK, so they have a plastic lid, but that means they don't leak in your backpack or purse!  Buy a set for a friend and help save the world!

DC Recycler 2013 Green Gift Guide: composting service

If you read this blog, you know

I'm a HUGE fan of composting. Composting has reduced my garbage by more than half..o..and coupled with recycling and free cycling, it means I throw out trash (minus dog poop) about once a month.  BUT, what about apartment dwellers?  There are two door to door composting companies here in DC.  Why not buy a composting subscription to one of them?

CompostCab offers doorstep composting in DC for less than $8 per week and a composting start up kit that includes a countertop compost bin, a larger collection bin, compostable liners, a composting guide, a CompostCab tote bag and a one pound bag of worm castings.....all for $49. Meanwhile, while FatWormCompost offers service for about the same price (as low as $30 per month). Get someone else hooked on composting!

DC Recycler 2013 Green Gift Guide: Give a Membership!

Memberships: Gifts that keep on giving!

Another great gift for the person who has everything is a membership to one of their favorite organizations.  Many of these memberships keep on giving! For only $35, Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA) Membership gets you a 10% discount on purchases at bike shops around town.  THIS ADDS UP!  Meanwhile a $120 membership to WAMU, one of the local NPR stations offers discounts to over 63 yoga studios, museums and eateries (most offer 2 for 1 dining) in DC alone.  Buying a membership is a great way to support these local groups - and provide your friend with a gift that will give throughout the year!

DC Recycler 2013 Gift Guide: What to give someone who has EVERYTHING?!

Update! I love it when I learn about new options from readers!  Check out PaperKarma for unsubscribing from mail. 

We all have those folks on our list who really don't need - or want anything. But you can't just leave them high and dry while others enjoy the day.           

Soooo, what are you going to get them?  Why not give them a huge and precious gift that will make them happy and help save a few trees and a bit of carbon?  

This used to be a tree.

UNSUBSCRIBE THEM

With the "Unsubscribe" gift, you take the time to unsubscribe them from all the junk mail and calls they receive.  This gift is particularly attractive to older folks and young parents who just don't have the time or savvy to do this. It will take some time, put there are a few tools to help make this an easier task.  

• Catalog Choice is a great starting point.  You can create a free account and opt out of most of the catalogs, credit card offers, etc that you receive.
• The National DO NOT CALL Registry is another jewel. While you may have signed up a few years ago, registration expires after 5 years, so you may need to reup. For any other calls that get through, I kindly ask them to remove me from their lists. 
• You can opt out of the YellowPages by going to this website. 
• Then, there are those mailings that are addressed to no one, only to your address.  Click here to opt out of those pesky RedPlum Coupon mailings. Call (202) 334-7730 to stop receiving the Washington Post Shopping Guide.
• As for all that mail you receive from the non profits you love - or have never heard of, I find it best to call them individually.  You can usually find a phone number on their mailing, or look it up.  It's tedious...but you can get rid of the mail.  

Most people will recognize the true value of this gift, and be ever grateful for your efforts!  Happy no junk mail holidays!

2013 DC Recycler Gift Guide: Where to Shop this Weekend? Community Forklift Green Gift Fair

It's going to be rainy and cold and you need to shop for people who already have plenty of things. Community Forklift is a DC Recycler favorite.  You never know what you'll find there...a $3 hammer, a $20 dog gate, a push button phone or literally - a kitchen sink!  For the holidays, they're having a Green Gift Fair.  I was there last weekend. There was live music and some hot cider and snacks.   They had a wide array of upcycled goods and some great lotions and soaps made of beeswax.  As importantly, I also found a used handle for my rake!  And it's a home renovator treasure trove! It's in Hyattsville, MD ...but that's just outside the DC line.  (Who knew?)!

2013 DC Recycler Gift Guide - Bike Lights

So, since it "tis the season", I thought I'd share some of my favorite gift ideas with you for this year.  

If you follow this blog at all, you won't be surprised to see that the top of my list this year...as in other years..is BIKE LIGHTS! But before you move on to another website, consider that  despite the biking craze in DC, many cyclists don't have good lighting on their bikes. Any cyclist will be happy to have one more bright light!
  

My newest favorite bike lights are these ThunderBolts.  They strap on (and off) to almost any part of a bike...and they're rechargeable by just plugging them into a USB port.  There are front and back lights...and they are BRIGHT!!! I bought mine LOCALLY at Capitol Hill Bikes on 8th St SE..but I'm sure other local stores sell them as well.
 
If you REALLY want to go nuts (which I do) check out these (awesome) Cosmic Brightz and Wheel Brightz lights!  I bought the wheel lights..and even the Capitol Police think they're cool! I bought mine at the Container Store in Tennleytown.