The Sharing Tree accepts over 500 different types of materials.  Any material that can be viewed as "reusable"-can be transformed into educational material or works of art, are accepted.  Go to TheSharingtreeFl.org  for a material donations list and other important information.

Goodwill accepts electronics.  They are either refurbished by trained employees and resold, or broken down and recycled.  Leon County Landfill also accepts all electronics.

Leon County Landfill will take all hazardous materials, such as incadescent/flourescent light bulbs, paints, spray paints, etc.  They maintain a sharing room where residents caan go to find items that are usable, and free of charge.  Paint is given away free on Thursdays.

Old sneakers can be donated to  /or Converse  and are recycled as sport courts, carpet padding and new Nike Products.  Drop them at Nike or Converse stores.  www.reuseashoe.com 

Unused, or older eye glasses need to go to Lens Crafters for rehabbing, and will be given to one of millions of children in need.  Look for their donation boxes.

Donate cell phone to HopeLine through Verizon.

Batteries, auto/boat, can be recycled at Sam,s Clubs, and or Wal-Mart.

Battery Place accepts all used batteries for recycling.

Outdated electronics such as your iDevice can be sent back to the manufacturer.  If the product is still functional, you might ev en receive a gift card.  www.apple.com

Terracycle accepts used wrappers, juice pouches and shampoo bottles, among others.  The change them into brand new products.  This nonprofit offers fundraising to schools and other organizations.

Loew's accepts all those plastic pots that the plants you put in your yard came in.  Look for the rack in the garden center. 

Ford Motor Company uses recycled carpet to make the engine-part covers in some of their vehicles.

The Freecycle Network is a wonderful online resource that connects local people who want to recycle or reuse old/used items.  It's basically donating to or seeking donations from your neighbors. Think "one person's trash is another's treasure." Check it out HERE.

Give unwanted treasures a fresh start at a non-profit thrift store.  Donating provides affordable clothes and household items-and jobs, too-to those who might not be able to get them otherwise.  Donation centers annually divertmore than 2 billion pounds from landfills.

Basically, trash is a failure of our imagination.  Think about what you are throwing away.  Can your child's school use some of those plastic containers?  Summer programs usually beg for help with supplies. Faith based programs for kids also require lots of items.  Check with them to determine what you can do to help.  Old t-shirts for instance, can be worn by kids as they finger paint, or work with messy things like clay.  Your shirt, even worn in-side out, will keep some child's clothes clean. 

Always support your environmnet!!!