The recyclers are out in force. Whether it's using a local recycle centre or a council-provided green bin, it's never been easier to get your household waste processed back into useful raw materials. But that takes energy - and why spend that energy when this "rubbish" can be turned into something useful in its present form?

Here are some of our suggestions for making the most of what you have already.

"Grease the inside of a pan", so many recipes start. The best way to do this is with butter-smeared greaseproof paper - the kind butter is wrapped in. So always have some handy by storing your used butter paper in the fridge (you can even freeze it if you're overflowing).

Big fan of bacon? (Organic, of course!) All that liquid fat running down the plughole will probably be slowly constricting the drain of your sink. A better option is to pour it into a jar, add unwanted food crumbs and a length of string, refrigerate and hey presto! - bird cake to hang from the washing line. 

There are plenty of things to do with old clothes that aren't wearable any more, such as turn them into dusters or a quilt. But if you want to make the greenest use of them that you can, turn them into wrapping paper (or rather wrapping cloth), the Japanese way. A great way to say "sayonara" to all that expensive gift paper.

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Everything becomes clearer when your glasses are on, including a commitment to save the earth. ICU Eyewear has a line of reading glasses made from sustainable bamboo and ...Read More

Sometimes I wonder if the small eco-efforts I make each day actually affect anything at all, let alone the larger eco-atmosphere. At other times I haven’t a worry or a wonder, and am grateful to carry on with my day changing what I can.

I do know that the green movement is firmly established as a lifestyle choice, and not ...Read More

Skeptical at first, I’ve come to embrace the bootie look. Good with jeans, great with skirts, the versatile style will have you trotting stylishly through the season. I’ve been scoping the scene in search of the perfect pair and I’m proud to report that my favorites are also the eco-friendly options. Here are my picks, so you can hit the ...Read More

Designer Lara Miller says she is “stimulated by a vast architectural landscape, a woman’s need for function, and an aspiration of sustainability, each piece is an exercise in versatility."

Many dresses in her line can be twisted, wrapped, and flipped upside down to reveal an entirely new garment, a great way to expand your ...Read More

I’ve always been a vintage devotee. In high school when everyone was conforming to the Gap and J. Crew mainstream, I was hunting for unique, secondhand finds. Over the years, I’ve matured from polyester hippie button-downs and lilac corduroys to Prada trenches and Dior skirts. I’m willing to pay a pretty penny for a rare designer find – ...Read More

I sometimes wear my music, but usually it's just the iconic white earbuds of an i-pod.

With Vling! earrings and pendants, I can now wear my music in the form of reclaimed vinyl records. Because of the cutting process and the fact that the grooves are unique on each records (literally), each ...Read More

A salvaged light fixture becomes a stylish tabletop candle holder; a used vinyl receptacle mount is fitted with Plexiglas to create a one-of-a-kind wall frame. There’s also a fruit bowl crafted from reclaimed United Airlines knives that have been mounted onto scrap wood. 

These are a few of the items one might find during a visit to ...Read More

There is nothing more stylishly natural than décor that emphasizes the inherent beauty of wood, and it's clear that the designers who created the Reclaimed Tree Trunk lamp appreciate this truth.

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If you ask me, it’s a good thing that privacy screens evolved past strictly living up to their name. Through innovation and creative brainpower, these functional pieces now serve as decorative accents that go beyond traditional décor because our walls and tabletops aren’t the only areas in need of versatile style.

For bare corners ...Read More