I own a 1997 VW Golf that threw a rod in 2004 and has been sitting (inside a garage) ever since. Donating it to charity has no tax benefit for me. It needs to go. Does it have any cash value at all? If so, how much? [more inside]
posted by anastasiav on Nov 10, 2009 - 14 answers

Can I recycle a dirty tissue or napkin? [more inside]
posted by ben242 on Sep 9, 2009 - 12 answers

What’s the probability that I have drunk the same molecule of water more than once in my life? [more inside]
posted by crapples on Aug 28, 2009 - 17 answers

Laptop battery recycling: no nearby location will accept mine so far because it's degraded and puffed up. What are my options? [more inside]
posted by randomstriker on Aug 10, 2009 - 8 answers

How can I dispose of hundreds of CDs in an environmentally sound manner? [more inside]
posted by Blazecock Pileon on Jul 12, 2009 - 14 answers

I have gotten into recycling in a serious way, to the point of courting others' contributions and working with an outfit (that pays well enough to pay for the longer trip) some miles away. I would like a press -- hydraulic, Archimedes screw, or something that hasn't occurred to me -- that I could use to compress cans, scrap metal, and various plastics into dense cubes, so that I'd only have to load up the gas-guzzling pickup truck once per redemption trip. [more inside]
posted by quarantine on Jul 8, 2009 - 11 answers

Will a recycling depot accept my waxy bottles? [more inside]
posted by futureisunwritten on Jul 5, 2009 - 2 answers

What should I do with old comics and magazines (that may not be school/retirement home friendly)? [more inside]
posted by JoanArkham on Jun 8, 2009 - 9 answers

A tree that I was sentimentally attached to has died. What long-lasting thing can make out of its wood? [more inside]
posted by sciapod on Jun 1, 2009 - 26 answers

I just rented a place in Pasadena, California that doesn't have any recycling. Other than piling mounds of recycling in my tiny kitchen before driving it to a recycling center, what are my options? [more inside]
posted by stewiethegreat on Jun 1, 2009 - 10 answers

Tell me about the best and worst elements of recycling in your town so you can help me set up my recycling (collection) business. [more inside]
posted by HopStopDon'tShop on May 26, 2009 - 31 answers

In honor of Earth Day, help me find a creative way to encourage my my neighbor to recycle. We have curbside recycling once a week and they never recycle anything. Their trash is an amazing collection of plastic water bottles, aluminum cans and lots and lots of paper. I hate to see all of this stuff go into a landfill when we have recycling and they have so much to be recycled. Can I do anything to gently prod them into maybe recycling? Is it even my business?
posted by Leezie on Apr 22, 2009 - 28 answers

When it comes to re-purposing old laptops, it seems like the only option people really talk about is to turn it into a picture frame. There's got to be more that an old iBook can do... right? [more inside]
posted by alexherder on Apr 2, 2009 - 20 answers

I'm looking for a better garbage bag. [more inside]
posted by nax on Feb 26, 2009 - 14 answers

Surveys on attitudes toward and behaviors of recycling and environmental concern? [more inside]
posted by k8t on Feb 9, 2009 - 2 answers

Trying to get rid of a printer, some battery packs and an old PDA, without simply throwing them in the black bag. How does one recycle electronics ethically in London? [more inside]
posted by marmaduke_yaverland on Jan 26, 2009 - 5 answers

An acquaintance mentioned there are paper recyclers who would actually pay by the pound for while printed office paper. An initial google search yielded info on something called Recycle Bank on the East coast, as well as companies that will pick up and shred my documents for a fee (rather than pay *me* for the paper). If anybody knows specifically where to look in Los Angeles, that would be awesome. Otherwise, any suggestions about what key words to use to narrow down my search to appropriate organizations would also be helpful. [more inside]
posted by gigimakka on Sep 3, 2008 - 3 answers

Why do we recycle paper? [more inside]
posted by jbickers on Aug 11, 2008 - 29 answers

Where can I recycle corrugated plastic in New York City? It appears to be the dreaded plastic #5 (polypropylene). I have about 35 sheets.
posted by the jam on Jul 20, 2008 - 5 answers

Where can I recycle DVDs, CDs and other electronic media in Santa Monica, CA?
posted by PostIronyIsNotaMyth on Jul 10, 2008 - 4 answers

Where can I get rid of a old donut-type spare tire? The tire shop won't take it because it has a rim. [more inside]
posted by ilyanassa on Jun 27, 2008 - 10 answers

How dangerous is throwing out old financial records, really? Don't want to pay to shred, and lots of peoples' trash is mixed with mine... [more inside]
posted by paultopia on Jun 15, 2008 - 41 answers

Many townships don't seem to accept plastic bags for recycling. What is so special about them? What places do accept them for recycling?
posted by bargainhunter on May 14, 2008 - 11 answers

I drink a lot of diet soda. I tend to buy it in one of two formats: 12-packs of aluminum cans (which come in paperboard cartons), and individual two-liter bottles. If I were to buy one format exclusively and recycle the packaging, which would be the greener choice? [more inside]
posted by wheat on Apr 25, 2008 - 32 answers

Strategies for greening the work place? [more inside]
posted by InstantSanitizer on Apr 7, 2008 - 11 answers

Old sneakers as planters. Has anyone done this? I'd like some advice on what kinds of plants work best. Other than one article stating to use hearty plants, the tubes have not provuded much. I'm going to talk to the the person at the garden shop as well but figured I'd try here first. Oh, and I live in Centralish Florida, if that helps narrow the choices. Thank you!
posted by Epsilon-minus semi moron on Mar 29, 2008 - 11 answers

How can paper be bleached of its text? [more inside]
posted by fjardt on Feb 26, 2008 - 10 answers

Commingled recyclables: What are they? [more inside]
posted by jmd82 on Feb 3, 2008 - 8 answers

What can I do with my old wetsuit? [more inside]
posted by nekton on Jan 27, 2008 - 18 answers

Do you or anyone you know make use of graywater. If so, how? [more inside]
posted by bonobo on Jan 9, 2008 - 35 answers

Looking for tips on implementing a recycling program during a two week "event". [more inside]
posted by a_green_man on Dec 7, 2007 - 7 answers

You can make an interesting "fabric" (tutorial here) by ironing plastic bags together but I am pretty sure that doing this releases molecules of Something Bad into the air that I am then breathing. Am I right? Do I need a respirator?
posted by tingting on Dec 7, 2007 - 9 answers

I have a couple of half-full bags of stale coffee beans that no longer make good coffee. Aside from throwing them in the trash, what can I do with old beans? [more inside]
posted by lindsey.nicole on Dec 1, 2007 - 28 answers

In the UK, what percentage of material that you're supposed to put in the orange recycling bags actually ends up getting recycled? I've read stories that one of the reasons for separating out tins/certain plastics/paper is because regulations about exporting these to other countries for dumping are more lax. I've not been able to find any hard numbers, are there any statistics (probably per-material) available? [more inside]
posted by fvw on Oct 29, 2007 - 8 answers

Where can I return bottles in New York City? [more inside]
posted by oaf on Sep 13, 2007 - 8 answers

How to recycle a futon mattress (in Toronto)? It's had daily use for 15 years so it's at the end of it's ability to be a comfortable bed or sofa. Used stuffing can't legally be used in stuffed products for sale. But surely it's good for something (anyone need a bunch of dog beds?). It's 8 inches thick and IIRC there's three layers of cotton alternating with two layers of foam. It's a really big thing to be sending to the landfill. [more inside]
posted by winston on Jul 17, 2007 - 14 answers

Whats up with these postage-paid cell phone and ink cartridge recycling baggies I see everywhere? [more inside]
posted by wfrgms on Jul 15, 2007 - 20 answers

I need to get rid of a bunch of photos. Can they be recycled? [more inside]
posted by Ookseer on Jul 13, 2007 - 8 answers

What should I do with a large quantity of unused but unneeded insulin syringes? [more inside]
posted by otherwordlyglow on Jun 26, 2007 - 21 answers

How to recycle old paint canvases? I'd like to do some sort of photo transfer onto them, but how? [more inside]
posted by DenOfSizer on May 26, 2007 - 6 answers

Are there alternatives to the Philadelphia city recycling program? [more inside]
posted by catesbie on May 23, 2007 - 4 answers

How do I properly dispose of my computer? [more inside]
posted by skepticallypleased on May 11, 2007 - 11 answers

What do you do with extra pillows? We were on a kick for a while where we just couldn't find bed pillows of the right thickness, so we bought a bunch that didn't work and now we don't want. Can they be recycled? Donated? Is it considered unhygenic to donate them, even to shelters? Do shelters want them? (We're in Seattle.) Most are barely used or never used. The only thing I can find on Google suggests cutting them apart and using the stuffing as packing material.
posted by GaelFC on May 2, 2007 - 13 answers

Beautiful sculptures of "sealife" made from discarded water bottles. Help me find the link! [more inside]
posted by donovan on Apr 13, 2007 - 3 answers

Can glossy inkjet photo printer paper be recycled? [more inside]
posted by aubilenon on Apr 8, 2007 - 4 answers

Why do you throw away bottled water you haven't finished? [more inside]
posted by Rash on Jan 6, 2007 - 34 answers

What creative use can I put all this sheet metal to? [more inside]
posted by lekvar on Dec 11, 2006 - 16 answers

As someone who used to live in recycling nirvanna, Seattle, I find living in New York City, with it's limited recycling program kind of frustrating. Is there any place in the city that accepts #5 plastic?
posted by brookeb on Nov 14, 2006 - 3 answers

I have little under-cabinet space and and am looking for a somewhat elegant solution to trash/food waste/recycling. Because of the lack of under-counter space, I need something free-standing and preferably with a small footprint. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Manhasset on Oct 20, 2006 - 10 answers

Give me some ideas about what can be done with those disposable chopsticks at Chinese restaurants once they've been used (I live in China, so there's lots of 'em). [more inside]
posted by saysthis on Aug 24, 2006 - 17 answers