firecat

My town has a lot of antique shops. One of them has a sign in the window that says "Going green? Buy antiques!"

Why does that make me happy?

I used to read several "green" blogs. Eventually I stopped because I got really sick of the blogs advertising all these green products you could buy, mostly for very high prices, and rarely ever reminding people "But actually, buying new products, even green ones, isn't as good for the environment as not buying new products."

So I think the sign is a good reminder: "Hey, if you buy this thing that someone already made, it's better than using up even more resources to buy something brand new."

And it's a clever form of marketing. (Well, in theory. I haven't actually bought anything in that shop, and I don't even remember which one it is. I just smile when I drive past the sign.)

While I'm on the subject of reusing things, I'll put in a plug for http://www.freecycle.org/ — another way to get things that someone already made into the hands of people who will put them to use. It's an organization that supports a lot of local mailing lists where you can post that you are giving something away or that you want something. I've had both good and bad experiences with my local groups—mostly reasonably good.

Some of the folks on my friends list talk about barter, which also seems like a good thing. I've never done it myself except for informally with friends.

What are your experiences with freecycle / barter / other ways of redistributing things?

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From:

pir-anha.livejournal.com

most of the green products i buy are for cleaning, so they get used up.

my experiences with the local freecycle and craigslist have been great, both giving away and receiving (and buying some things). i've also used kijiji once.

bartering -- *meh*. i suck at that. i don't really know how to find a fair medium, i always feel like i walk away having given too little in return.

i give clothing to local charity stores, and books to a local store in support of literacy programs.

it's too bad most computer stuff is so hard to get rid of -- we have lots of older equipment, but nobody seems to want it (it's usually quite a bit older than what's cutting edge). we finally found a home for the indigo, but that's probably because it's more rare than the average PC.

i'm tempted to try and make art from the innards.

From:

firecat

Thanks for the tip, I've never heard of kijiji.

Around here some companies have figured out that old computers contain salable scrap and there have been multiple "recycle your old electronics" drives.

I'd love to see what you could make from the innards!

From:

marea93.livejournal.com

I carried around a box or two of computer innards for years with the notion of making art out of them, but then I finally gave up on having enough space to do that in the foreseeable future. But I sure would like the time and space to play along those lines. I also love the styrofoam packaging units with all the little compartments in them. :-)

From:

pir-anha.livejournal.com

*heh*. yes, that's likely how i'll end up. or maybe i'll make a few pieces and then store the rest for "later" -- like so many other things.

those styrofoam thingies are neat! what did i see recently.. damn, i didn't bookmark it. an artist was making miniature landscapes from them with real plants.

From:

mjlayman.livejournal.com

My city has an electronics recycler come in once a month (the same Saturday as hazmat) and we can drop them off then.

From:

pir-anha.livejournal.com

oh, that's nice. we have that once a year, which is really not often enough, and i don't plan things on an annual basis, so i usually just forget about it.