This page lists a few of my favorite links for salvage stores and recyclers, many with a gardening or textile component. If you would like to suggest a link, please email me!  

Alchemy Goods
A Seattle based company that turns old bike innertubes and grocery store banners into handmade, one of a kind totes and bags. Not just for bike messengers! The tote I bought was made from a grocery store banner, has padded handles, holds a full paper-bag ful of groceries, and is absolutely the most durable bag I have every owned. Check out the Alchemy Goods logo. There’s a numeral in the upper right hand corner. It’s a tiny number with big significance, since it represents the percent of recycled materials, by weight, of your bag. The number varies by product, depending on the make-up. Check their website for details about their recycling programs.

Aurora Glass
There was a small mountain of glass growing off I-5 near Portland, Oregon and it needed to go somewhere... St. Vincent de Paul took note, and from that the Aurora Glass Foundry was born. Aurora Glass has become an innovative resource for the community, recycling old windows and other waste glass. All profits aid the homeless and low-income through emergency services, housing, and job training.

Bedrock Industries
Another 100% recycled and handmade art glass company, this one in Seattle, Washington. They have a wonderful tradition of making heart shaped glass stones for lover's to skip across the waters of Puget Sound, every Valentine's Day from 3-7 PM at Godlen Gardens Park. They also use 100% recyclable materials for product packaging and shipping. Bedrock Industries is a for-profit company and operates several community-based programs including a bottle drive for the parents and students of a local elementary school. Earnings from the school drive have helped to pay for student field trips and other educational activities.

The Re-Store
Their booth at the Seattle Garden Show a few years back was one of my favorites. Their non-profit used building material stores in Bellingham and Ballard Washington are dedicated to preventing still useable building materials from going to waste. Their licensed and bonded deconstruction crews can salvage up to 80% of building materials for re-use and re-cycle. Other services include salvage and materials removal and garden salvage.

Second Use
Second Use Building Materials strives to divert reusable building materials from the landfill, thereby preserving resources and providing cost-effective supplies for Northwest homeowners, contractors and artists. Their location in the South Seattle takes advantage of their proximity to local landfill, by raising awareness on waste and reuse. They also have a boutique area that includes many older lights, bath fixtures, hardware, and stained glass, which reflect the architectural history of Seattle and the region.

Scrapmonster - NEW
Get the latest recycling news, prices and information for the scrap industry worldwide. ScrapMonster.com connects buyers and sellers of both local and global markets for safe and profitable business transactions.

ecobly
ecobly (e'-ko-blee): making products locally, sustainably, responsibly. A directory of producers who use local, green materials. Shop this site to reduce your carbon footprint, find safe toys, green building products and personal items, and create demand for the most ecofriendly products. Lao Hats is proud to be listed in the Clothing section of this directory.

By the Yard Inc.
As seen at the Seattle Garden Show 2005, this virtually indestructible lawn furniture is made from recycled milk jugs! Their product requires no painting, does not need to be stored in the winter, is UV stabilized, ideal for desert and coastal climates, and comes in six colors. Their decking has been in use commercially for nearly 30 years. . The company is based out of Jordan Minnesota.

Green Roofs
A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof which involves a high quality water proofing and root repellant system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants. It has been used in Northern Europe for several years and is slowly starting to introduce itself to the US as an eco-friendly architectural element. Green roof technologies not only provide the owners of buildings with a proven return on investment, but also represent opportunities for significant social, economic and environmental benefits, particularly in cities.

Wholly Rags
Wholly Rags mission is "to piece together and rethread the fabric of our community, gathering the cloth of the past to conserve the culture of the future." They maintain the Taos New Mexico Community Free Box, where textiles are gathered for reuse in the form of donations to needy people and disaster victims in need of clothing. They also research new products from textile waste, including paper, insulation and construction materials..

Eco Encore
Eco Encore raises funds for environmental organizations in the Pacific Northwest through the online resale of books, CDs, DVDs and software donated by individuals and academic institutions around the country, while increasing awareness of reuse as a vital practice for resource conservation and waste reduction.

Group Health Pharmacy Medication Disposal
Now you can dispose of your expired OTC and prescription medications in an environmentally friendly way through Group Health Cooperatives. This program is funded through government and private sources through the end of 2008. You may also call the Washington State Department of Ecology hotline (800-732-9253) for additional resources.

The National Recycling Coalition
The National Recycling Coalition is a membership organization dedicated to maximizing recycling. The NRC, through a cooperative agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a searchable database of recyclers, reuse organizations, and municipal programs that accept electronic equipment.

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation
The RBRC is sponsored by manufacturers of rechargeable batteries and the appliances that use them, including cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote control toys. RBRC recycles the following battery chemistries: Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion) and Small Sealed Lead* (Pb). RBRC is dedicated to keeping rechargeable batteries and cell phones out of our nation’s solid waste stream and preserving natural resources. "If it's rechargeable, it's recyclable..."