I was up early (5:00 AM) this morning watching a rerun of the Nate Berkus show on OWN.   (No, I do not own a TiVO).    I get great ideas from his show, so I really don’t mind .

One of the studio audience members was on the hot seat.  She had a spare bedroom filled  with  old electronics, clothes, lamps and 35 RPM records.  Her challenge was getting rid of something that she thought someone else may be able to use.

Nate’s guest came up with some really great ideas.

Best Buy will recycle almost any electronics.  Here are some of the things they recycle:

TV/Video, Stands, Mounts and Furniture,  Portable TV and Video, Car Video, Audio, Car & GPS, Cameras & Camcorders, Computers, Mobile Phones & Office, Music, Movies & Books, Video Games & Gadgets, Home & Appliances.

He also suggested the website Recyclebank.  I visited the site and there are tons of great ways to earn points for earning rewards.  And the list is not too shabby.  You can use your rewards for things such as clothing, entertainment, health and beauty and much more.

The next site he recommended was Freecycle.  It is a free membership site that boasts over 9 million members worldwide.  You can find a group near you where you can barter for items that you have or you can just give them away.  I visited the site and people in my area were offering everything from Christmas wrapping paper to vacuum cleaner parts.  Others were asking for children’s clothing, furniture and even a Netbook.  There was even a request for furniture for a military family.

I don’t see myself as an environmentalist, but I was raised in a family that had to recycle out of necessity.  I am happy to see sites that are offering people to join in recycling while enriching their lives and those of others.

Check these sites out.  You will be pleasantly surprised.

 

Leslie