Despite valiant attempts to extend the life of our electronics, eventually they pass the point of no return and bite the dust. Environmental responsibility prevents us from dumping them in the trash to be carted off to the local landfill (thank goodness), but what do we do with them? The National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER) has some answers.

NCER, an organization responsible for tracking such things, claims that “except for California, every [electronics recycling] program tracked by the NCER saw a per capita increase between 5 and 50 percent.” In other words, people appear willing to recycle old or broken answering machines, computers, printers, monitors, TVs, and so on if they know where to dump the stuff.

Many larger cities and towns have “e-cycling” programs in place with standard pick-up or drop-off times each month for residents who want to clean out the attic or garage of the wiry junk they’re not using. If your township doesn’t have a standing schedule, NCER still might be able to hook you up. Enter your zip code the homepage of its website to get the 411 on local recycling centers in your area.

To get a broader overview of the e-cycling process, click around the website and check out some of the links. For instance, there are two main ways to recycle electronics. The first involves manually dismantling each product and re-purposing the components whenever possible. Oddly, the second method is to simply shred them in a giant machine. Who knew?

Just about any type of electronic product can be recycled, but if it’s old cell phones you’re trying to get rid of there might be a better way than dropping off wherever old toasters go to die. Consider donating them to Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine to be updated, fixed, and given to victims of domestic abuse.

Image: Extra Ketchup

Judge these belt buckles by their covers and all you’ll come up with is a serious case of eco, clever and fun. And maybe an urge to go to the library.

I’m a serious book lover, and these one-of-a-kind Literary Belt Buckles are too cute for words.

I call them the bookworm’s belt buckle because each one is made using a small part of the covers of various vintage library books – books long forgotten, discarded and headed right for your nearest landfill.

There’s the Studious Boy buckle and the Pediatric Nursing Textbook buckle. My favorite is the Firefly buckle (shown).

The cover images are set in pewter and protected with a thick layer of resin. Each buckle measures 2 ½” by 3 ¼” and fits a 1 ½” or 1 ¾” belt.

Maxine, Dear is the brainchild behind these buckles, which are yet another example of going green by resurrecting the old into something new and useful. Bravo!

Find your favorite buckle online for $32 at Rare Device or Maxine, Dear’s Etsy store.

via Poppytalk

I’ve always identified with the simple beauty of neoplasticism. And, it is this appreciation that has inspired me to embellish my walls with Mondrian, Doesburg and Bolotowsky prints. Well, in my dreams anyway. Fortunately, I can give my pad a geometric makeover with some of the looks from Brave Space Design. These skilled designers hold the corner on modern furniture, and we’ve raved before about their unique Light Block, modish Hollow Dining Chair and colorful Tetrad Shelving. Here’s one more to add to the wishlist: the Prism Stool. Made from repurposed walnut, this sharp piece is a stunning myriad of various shapes and hues. (Available at Brave Space Design for $795.)

What’s a girl to put on her fingers if diamonds or their counterparts are off-limits or out of her budget? All kinds of green options exist to glam our hands without gouging the environment or supporting civil warfare – from vintage to recycled to reused to repurposed.

The jewels created by Los Angeles designer Amanda Loos are all that and more. Her company is called KYYOTE (pronounced Kai-oat) and her pieces are unique, dramatic and architectural with a twist of the natural, but you won’t find a stitch of granola here.

Loos uses found objects, recycled and rescued woods, vintage fabrics and plastics, humanely harvested and organic feathers, as well as all natural and non-toxic sealing oils and dyes. Each KYYOTE piece is hand-crafted, simple and divinely inspired by Loss’ commitment to caring for the planet. And for each piece she sells, she plants two trees via Trees for the Future.

I’m a fan of simple and sophisticated so the Admiral ring ($218) is currently on my most wanted radar. Made from rescued purpleheart and rosewood with vintage bakelite plastic, it’s smooth surface and graphic components remind me of a Mondrian. Contact KYYOTE for more information and to purchase.

Her designs also include jewels for the ear, neck and soon, the wrist – which means more eco-eye candy for more parts of the body.