We Like You, Do You Like Us?

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Planet Green Recycle

We love learning more about the organizations and individuals that participate in our recycle fundraising program. One of the best ways for us to have engaging conversations and get to know our peeps is via social media.

In fact, Facebook has become one of the easiest ways for our participants to pose a questions/comment about the program and for us to provide a super fast response (from a real Planet Green team member).

By “liking” us on Facebook, you’ll get info on exclusive offers, giveaways, contests and so much more. Plus, you will also be joining a community of like-minded people who are passionate about important causes and saving the environment.

Join our community and “like” us on Facebook.

“Only by working together can we make a difference.”

- Team Planet Green Recycle

Five Inspiring Outdoor Living Spaces

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Planet Green Recycle

Part of why we all work so hard to reduce, reuse and recycle is to preserve the environment and enjoy the outdoors. As summer approaches many of us spend a whole lot more time outside either at parks, beaches, lakes, mountains as well as our own backyards. So why not make our outdoor spaces just as comfortable and beautiful as our indoor spaces? Here is a roundup of great ideas to spruce up your backyard, patio and even balcony to make soaking up a little fresh air even better.

1. Creating a space outside doesn’t have to be expensive when you can reuse old materials. Here is a great affordable outdoor kitchen via Better Homes and Gardens where older materials were used to make the space eco-friendly and fun.

2. Kate of Centsational Girl is amazing at creating spaces indoors and outdoors for less. She recently finished a one day makeover at her friend’s home to spruce up the sitting area in her backyard. Read how she created this amazing space and see all before and after photos here.

3. Make your patio feel like a real room with curtains made for outdoor use, wall decor and comfortable seating. Here is a beautiful example via House Beautiful.

4. For a more contemporary design, here is a great set-up with furniture built with sustainable harvested wood from West Elm.

5. For your front porch or balcony, hang up a hammock and relax away. Even small spaces can be beautiful. We love this idea below from This Old House.

Enjoy creating your dream outdoor space!

- Team Planet Green Recycle

Upcycled Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Planet Green Recycle

We love the idea of handmade gifts for our moms on Mother’s Day. Better yet, if we can make a gift out of recycled materials.

Here are few wonderful ideas for Mother’s Day gifts either made from or with recycled materials.

Mother’s Day Card Printable Card on Recycled Paper from The TomKat Studio

Choose from a variety of printables from the talented team at The TomKat Studio. Present your mom with a card that is from the heart and from recycled products.

DIY Coasters with Frozen Juice Containers from Crafted Spaces

Such a great idea from Yvette-Michelle of Crafted Spaces. Who doesn’t need a coaster? Sky’s the limit for design options too since you can use any kind of fabric or paper in your project.

Mini Container Garden from Reused Paint Cans from Colorbök

Recycle that paint properly (check out where via Earth911) but try to keep the can so you can make this fantastic garden or just plant some of your favorite flowers. The team at Colorbök takes you through how to decorate your can and make it can-tastic! (couldn’t help myself)

Upcycled Wine Bottle Découpaged w/ TIME Magazine from Annette of gr3een on Etsy

The super crafty and talented Annette of gr3een made this awesome vase by using a découpage technique with an old TIME Magazine. Such a fun piece to look at especially if it has interesting articles to read.

Handmade Wind Chime with Upcycled Pieces from Rebecca Sower

Most of us have a few odds and ends laying around that we can’t bring ourselves to get rid of. Take all of those treasures and turn them into something your mom can show off and appreciate each day.

To have your upcycled handmade crafts featured and added to our Pinterest board DIY Projects, email us at info@planetgreenrecycle.com.

To all of you wonderful moms, Happy Mother’s Day!

- Team Planet Green Recycle

Four Great Tips to Win the Spring Recycle Challenge

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Planet Green Recycle

Have you mailed in your entry for the Spring Recycle Challenge yet? We are checking in to give you some great tips to spread the word and help you win a $250 Donation Bonus!

So far we have already received over 38,000 items to be recycled!
Let’s work together to keep these items out of landfills and save the environment!

If you haven’t entered already, it’s easy. Go here for full details.

Here are four great tips to help you spread the word:

1. Send an email with the flyer below to your supporters or print (on recycled paper) and post in visible locations. Have great volunteers? Ask them to forward the email to friends and family and pass out flyers!

(click here to download or email info@planetgreenrecycle.com and we will be happy to send one over)

2. Include information about the challenge on your website. You can even use the following snippet of HTML to include an image that will link directly to your Planet Green Recycle website. Just copy and paste the code into the appropriate section of your website.

<a href=”//planetgreenrecycle.com/<< Test URL (unique website) >>?recycle_only.php” target=”_blank”>
<img src=”//planetgreenrecycle.com/images/spring_recycle_challenge2.jpg” border=”0″>
</a>

<a href=”//planetgreenrecycle.com/<< Test URL (unique website) >>?recycle_only.php” target=”_blank”>

<img src=”//planetgreenrecycle.com/images/spring_recycle_challenge1.jpg” border=”0″>

</a>

3. Share on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and your other favorite social media platforms. We are happy to RT so please include @PG_Recycle in your tweets!

4. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce or attend a meeting and share your good efforts to raise funds for your program and save the environment. Most are happy to include links right on their website!

Each box of 20 or more accepted items will count as one entry into the challenge. No limit on entries.

Inkjet Cartridges
Cell Phones/Pagers
iPods/MP3 Players
iPads/Tablets
eBook Readers
PDAs
Digital/Video Cameras
Mobile Hot Spots
GPS & Radar Detectors
Calculators
Video Games & Accessories
Video Game Consoles & Handhelds

(click here for a detailed listing of accepted and payout values)

Send in recycling submission entries by Friday, June 14th 2013!

Keep up the good work!

-Team Planet Green Recycle

Recycler Spotlight: Debbie Schector – Relay for Life Team Semtech

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Planet Green Recycle

Debbie Schector signed up for the Planet Green Recycle Program in September 2012 and is raising funds for a great cause. Debbie and her coworkers created a Relay for Life team (Team Semtech) and they collect inkjets, cell phones and other small electronics as a way to raise funds for the annual American Cancer Society Camarillo overnight walk.

The team gathers the inkjets and other electronics throughout the whole year leading up to the Relay for Life walk. Debbie realized that the Planet Green Recycle Program was a perfect fit: her team will raise funds and at the same time help keep electronics out of landfills.

Now let’s get to the full interview:

Planet Green: Tell us how you are working with Planet Green to raise funds for your Relay for Life team?

Debbie: The American Cancer Society Relay for Life Camarillo is an organized, overnight community fundraising walk. ACS is a non-profit organization that raises much needed funds to spread awareness to save lives from cancer and to provide services to those people fighting cancer. Our team hosts several kinds of fundraisers prior to the big overnight event. We like to vary the types of fundraisers we have, and to find unique ways to raise money without always asking directly for cash.

Each year, our Relay for Life team has a large Electronics recycle event. We gather many cell phones and printer cartridges at that event and we continue to gather those items throughout the rest of the year. We heard about Planet Green our first year and knew that we had to partner with them year round to eliminate unnecessary electronics ending up in our landfills.

Planet Green: What made you want to sign up for the Planet Green Recycle program?

Debbie: Recycling is a way for us to be environmentally friendly. Planet Green was a great way for us to be responsible and to raise money for our American Cancer Society Relay for Life Team.

Planet Green: How have you and your team encouraged others to support your effort?

Debbie: Our Relay for Life team is a corporate team based in Camarillo and the company we work for is very sensitive to being environmentally responsible. We start spreading the word internally at work a few weeks before our big recycle event. We also have an Intranet page that has links to Planet Green to purchase recycled cartridges. Our Relay for Life community has meetings at least once a month during the entire year and we are constantly reminding all the other teams to collect the items.

Planet Green: What advice can you give to other individuals and organizations who are trying to raise funds by recycling?

Debbie: It is super easy to spread the word and gather the items. We find that everyone likes participating in events that help the environment. And even better, we take the money raised and donate it to a worthy cause like the American Cancer Society.

***

A big thank you to Debbie and her whole Relay for Life team for raising funds for great causes! It really is a win/win and we wish you the best of luck with your recycling and fundraising efforts!

-Team Planet Green Recycle