The Posh Space

Where to Recycle: Light Bulbs

{Photo from Upcycle Magazine}

In honor of Earth Day (April 22nd), we’re thinking a lot about how to recycle and upcycle common household items once they’ve outlived their original purpose.  Today, let’s take a look at some creative ideas for old light bulbs and where you can recycle light bulbs if you don’t have time to be crafty.

{Photo from Art Drops}

No matter what kind of light bulbs you use, they should always be recycled rather than tossed, as they often contain traces of mercury.  Although one tiny light bulb may not seem like such a big deal, collectively the mercury from the thousands of light bulbs thrown away each year can cause big problems for the environment!

That’s where LampRecycle comes in.  Check out their website for information about recycling light bulbs (both personal and commercial), including information about local recycling laws and recycling centers near you that accept light bulbs.

{Photo from Trahy Wench: The Queen of Creative Reuse}

You can also find light bulb collection bins at most IKEA, Home Depot, and Lowe’s locations.  These recycling centers often take a variety of light bulb types, from small lamp bulbs to large fluorescent tubes, but check with your nearest location to verify before hauling in your light bulbs.  Each store has different recycling policies.

Of course there are tons of neat ideas for repurposing your old light bulbs too like the ones seen above from Upcycle Magazine and Art Drops.  There are a lot of great creative ideas on the Trashy Wench blog, so if these photo’s have inspired you check out her page for more inspiration.

Happy recycling!

Where to Recycle: Wine Corks

{Photo from Two Twenty One}

It's April and we are honoring Mother Earth.   One sure fire way to start your organizing process is by eliminating excess.  Have you been stashing away all those extra corks from your favorite bottle of Merlot?  Maybe you have made a cork board with some or even a lovely centerpiece like the one above that Chelsea made from Two Twenty One .  If you're crafty the options are endless for repurposing old wine corks.  But there may come a time when the corks just have no place to go.  You have used them in your decor enough and you don't want your friends to start questioning your wine drinking habit...kidding!  It's good to know that you can turn those old corks into something new.

One option is to send them off for recycling rather than just tossing them.  Yemm & Hart takes old corks and turns them in to durable flooring, wall treatments, and veneers.

Be sure that you only send corks made from cork.  They can't take synthetic stoppers.  However, those may be recyleable locally in your area.

The Cork Forest Conservation Alliance  has also teamed up with Whole Foods Markets who has recycling collection boxes in their stores.  How easy is that?!  When you start reading about this precious renewable resource I think you will jump on the cork recycling band wagon.