Green Tips

Reduce*Reuse*Recycle

1. 1. Take leftover plastic bags to local grocery stores where they are collected to be recycled and make plastic lumber; or save the trip and buy reusable grocery bags!
2. 2. Recycle junk mail by using it as scratch paper. To opt out of receiving junk mail from certain mailing lists, go to http://opt-out.cdt.org/.
3. 3. Styrofoam does not degrade, so try to find replacements as often as possible.
4. 4. Try reusing objects as everyday household products. For example, use plastic grocery bags as trash can liners or use empty egg cartons as a container for plant seedlings.
5. 5. Hold a garage sale to dispose of old or unused products. Many neighborhoods have community garage sales in the summer that are a great way to recycle as a community. Remember that one person's trash is another person's treasure!
6. 6. Discarded paper can be stapled together to make notepads for to-do lists, notes and shopping lists.
7. 7. After children's drawings have been displayed, they can be used to wrap presents for a memorable covering; comic strips too!
8. 8. Recycle your aluminum cans - one can saves enough energy to run a computer for three hours!
9. 9. Donate! Used furniture, books, kitchen ware and many other products can be donated locally for reuse and resale. The ReStore accepts many of these items with open arms. Plus, donating products is a tax deductible act!
10. 10. Recycle aluminum cans at Habitat ReStore! Cans will be recycled into reusable aluminum and with your help they will be kept out of the landfill. Your recycled cans will also fund the building of Habitat homes in Montgomery County.
    For more information, visit Habitat ReStore’s Cans for Habitat.

Recycling Mercury Thermostats

Make sure to recycle used mercury thermostats when being replaced. It is now illegal in the state of Maryland to simply throw away a mercury containing thermostat. Help eliminate the toxic side effects of mercury items. Bring it to the ReStore for proper disposal.

Recycling Batteries

Batteries can and should be recycled when no longer in use. Many batteries carry toxic properties and must be disposed of correctly.
Local Businesses that accept old batteries to be recycled:
Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples, MOM's Market, Batteries Plus, Home Depot, Sprint PCS, Advanced Auto parts, Radio Shack