Today is America Recycles Day - Take the Pledge

My husband and I are the kind of people who have a hard time throwing anything away. There comes a point, however, when it makes more sense to just toss something than to keep on re-using it. I mean, you eventually realize that the water you are using rinsing out old ziploc bags might just be a little more valuable than the bag itself.

As gardeners, a lot of great things can be recycled in your own garden or with your gardening friends. Seedlings, cuttings, seeds, thinned out plants and used pots are welcome by other gardeners. Ask your friends or post a message on one of the many seed/plant swap forums on the internet. The Northern Virginia Gardeners have a site for swapping and there are others available through Yahoo groups. And here's a great post by Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine, about seed swapping.

Of course, almost any type of plant material, such as leaves, mowed grass or plant trimmings can be added to a compost pile. Large limbs and tree trunks can be saved for burning in firepits or fireplaces.

The truth is, almost any item, inside or outside the home, can be recycled. To find the right place to recycle, use the listings on Earth911.com. Just input the item and your zip code and Earth911 returns a list of the closest recycling centers.

Now that you've made the decision to do you part, why not take the America Recycles Day Pledge