everyday zero-waste :: responsible disposal

Responsible disposal is a big part of zero-waste. Keeping things in use for as long as possible...or from doing harm to the environment...often requires creativity. Ace & Jig is a brand that tries to make use of every last scrap of their beautiful textiles. They have sold gorgeous, scrappy scarves + garlands, offered patches for repairs at swap events, and done collaborations that put scraps to work as patches on vintage jeans. The bundles above are about to be made into quilt squares that will become part of a collection of community-made quilts! 

I've found some ways to make the most of a few of my own discards lately...or at least get them into the right places...so I thought I'd share.

Julia + I needed new glasses this year. We both still liked the glasses we were wearing, but couldn't do without them in order to just get replacement lenses put into them. We went ahead + ordered new glasses, and are keeping our old ones as backup. Next time we need new glasses, we may just get replacement lenses put into the backup glasses + let the cycle repeat between these two pairs. That would be a great way to reuse + avoid waste!

Julia had an even older (too small) pair of glasses that we needed to let go. I wrote about one way we had passed on our old glasses a few years ago...but I recently learned that we can also donate them at the optical booth in Target (no postage needed). Lens Crafters, Pearl Vision, + Sears Optical also collect used glasses. The glasses are then passed on to One Sight which strives to provide vision care + glasses to those in need around the world.

Jo graduated last weekend!! She had to buy this lovely, polyester gown + hat...and as soon as the ceremony was finished...Jo was finished with them. I looked online for a place that might collect graduation gowns for reuse. I found one...but it is no more. Each school wants their own color + sheen...so it is probably tough to amass enough to outfit + match a school's/student's need.

Jo has a friend who will graduate in December + is about the same height, so she is passing this gown + hat on to her. Passing this garb on to someone a year behind at the same school...who can then save the money...may be the best way to keep it out of the landfill. Chances are the same color + sheen will be used at the school again next year.

Rechargeable batteries are so much better these days than they used to be. They hold a charge for longer periods of time + can be recharged many more times. I've made the transition where I can, but still have a few batteries that get used up from time to time.

I've been collecting those batteries + trying to keep them out of the landfill for years. Our battery store will take them, but they charge by the pound...and batteries are heavy. They told me to just dump them in the trash, but I'd like to do my best to make sure that they cannot leak into the ground. Our hazardous waste disposal center does not take batteries. The last time I was in Ikea, I noticed that they are now collecting spent batteries as well as spent lightbulbs, paper, + plastic bags for responsible disposal. Thank you, Ikea!

Taking a little extra care to keep things out of the landfill can create beauty...or opportunity...or generosity...or protection that we would not have experienced otherwise! It's exciting to see more + more mainstream options for reuse + responsible disposal! And I always welcome the opportunity to use a little creativity! 

Love,
​Jane