ReUse Industries

2008-05-02T13:23:00.001-05:00

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2008-04-23T22:59:00.003-05:00

ReUse at Final Fridays!

ReUse Industries is sponsoring a sustainable art show in the 1879 Gallery at Stuart's Opera House this Friday!

Come check out the cutting-edge (re)fashions from Project ReUse, other-worldy junk art created by Jamie Lewis and Erica Sutherland, and Infestation: Love Swarm, an amazing collection of collages made by Athens Middle School students. Infestation: Love Swarm was created with the guidance of Athens Middle School art teacher Pandy Reiser and Ohio Arts Council Artist-in-Residence Patty Mitchell. This project was made possible with support from the Ohio Arts Council, Athens Business Machines and the Dairy Barn.

In conjunction with the ReUse Art Show will be a wonderful offering of delicious local food provided by Food We Love. Also, come kick off the Athens International Film and Video Festival at Stuart's with an 8 pm showing of the documentary King Corn! This is going to be one event you won't want to miss.

This art show is a part of Final Fridays on the Square, an event that happens on the last Friday of every month in Nelsonville, Ohio.

What: ReUse Art Show
Where: Stuart's Opera House, Nelsonville, OH
When: Friday, April 25 at 6 pm

See you there, and bring your friends!

2008-04-16T11:05:00.004-05:00

Community Yard Sale Update!

We are excited to announce that plans for our Third Annual Community Yard Sale are underway. ReUse Industries would like to extend an invitation for you to participate in this upcoming event.

We plan to have food vendors at the yard sale as well as canoe rides on the Raccoon creek. This yard sale is a great opportunity for those living in rural areas who can't hold "traditional" garage sales and want to meet others in the community.

It will be held at the Albany location on Saturday, May 17th from 10 am to 5 pm. Pre-registration is required and free. Tables and chairs are available to rent for a minimal fee.

To sign up please contact our Albany receptionist at 698-8200 x 10. If you have any additional questions or would like more information please contact Emily Camm at emily[at]reuseindustries[dot]org.

2008-03-28T10:03:00.003-05:00

This Weekend's Highway Cleanup Postponed

We have decided to postpone the highway cleanup scheduled to take place this Saturday due to weather concerns.

The cleanup will be rescheduled for an undetermined date in the near future. If you are interested in volunteering, please send an e-mail to Emily Camm at emily[at]reuseindustries.org. She will be able to give you information on the cleanup.

2008-03-21T13:57:00.006-05:00

Project ReUse Photos!

A bit late, but here are some excellent photos that our volunteer photographer, Annie Fischer, captured at Project ReUse on March 8. Click on the thumbnails for larger view!

You can view even more photos by going to our Project ReUse Flickr page. Enjoy!

2008-03-21T12:13:00.003-05:00

Floods won't keep us down!

The Raccoon Creek has spilled over its banks and onto the ReUse property in Albany. The water has not reached any of our buildings, and we don't expect it to, but it's a sight to see all the same. Don't worry, however, because we are still open for business. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 740-698-8200 x 10.

Above: Rusty Salvage is partially submerged, but stands strong.
Above: Despite the flood waters, we're still working hard!

2008-03-11T12:20:00.002-05:00

Project ReUse - THANK YOU!

We would like to thank all of the local businesses, organzations and people who came together this past Saturday to make Project ReUse a great event!

Thanks to our designers and models: Rachel Aling, Kari Eavenson, Cara Varney, Olivia Dawson, Lauren Budin, Sophie Borazanian, Allie Nordman, Becky Kozar, Cynthia Bettcher, Beth Miller, Mary Howell, Liz Drabik, Emily Webb, Carla Maragano, Chelsea Dieck, Emily Miller, Caitlin Seida, Sarah Warda and Natalie Lombardi.

Thanks to Patty Mitchell, Pandy Reiser and especially the 7th and 8th grade classes at Athens Middle School for allowing us to show their wonderful art.

Thanks to ARTS/West, Emily and Dan Prince, Suzanne Seesman, Annie Fischer, Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl, Liz Pahl, Tamara Young, Paul Kristofco, Andrew Lampela, Brian Koscho, Tommy Tabatowski, John Knouse, Sarah Burstler, the ReUse Industries AmeriCorps*VISTAs and everyone else who was kind enough to give a little bit of their time.

The following businesses and organizations were generous enough to donate goods and services:

Athena Grand
Athens Area Chamber of Commerce
Athens Book Center
Athens Do It Yourself Shop
Athens Medical Massage
Athens Underground
Attitudes Salon
Bali Karma
Blue Eagle Music
Casa Nueva
China Fortune
The Coffee Cup
Cycle Path
Della Zona
Donkey Coffee & Espresso
Flipside Skate Shop
Haffa's Records
G'Bloze Glass
Interior Concepts
Jackie O's
Jana's Soul Food Cafe
Little Professor Book Center
Mountain Laurel Gifts
Nelsonville Quilt Company
Noir
O'Betty's Red Hot
Rocky Boot Grill
Salaam
The Standard Salon
Stuart's Opera House
Studio 4 Art Gallery
The Union Bar and Grill
Wild Mercantile

2008-03-11T11:52:00.003-05:00

Come Help ReUse Industries Keep Ohio Beautiful

We will be holding a highway cleanup on Saturday, March 29. This cleanup is in conjunction with the Keep Ohio Beautiful and Ohio Department of Transportation Roadway Cleanup, which is a part of the Great American Cleanup. We'd love to have you come out and volunteer with us that day! Volunteers should meet at ReUse Industries' main facility, located at 74815 US Highway 50 (just west of Albany) at 10:45 AM. The cleanup will begin at 11 AM and last until 3 PM. Lunch will be provided to all volunteers. For more information, contact emily@reuseindustries.org. See you there!

2008-03-10T19:09:00.006-05:00

Project ReUse - a snowy success!

Despite the winter weather this Saturday, we went forward with Project ReUse and it was a blast. Almost one hundred brave souls trudged through the snowy streets of Athens to support ReUse Industries and watch a great fashion show. We made almost $500, all of which will go toward funding ReUse Industries projects such as free pickups of reusable items, which are available in Athens and select other cities. We would like to congratulate our winners:

Sarah Warda, who won our grand prize with her beautiful blue evening dress. Here is Sarah's description of her creation:

This outfit is all about color. Originally a choir robe, the dress definitely sings its own tune. With additional materials from a floor length nighty, the subtle tone-on-tone blue hues are sure to please. Her custom handbag was made from an old pillow, creating a striking contrast. Inspired by 40's starlets, Sarah hopes to make a splash on the runway.

Rachel Aling, Kari Eavenson and Cara Varney won first runner up with their lovely Asian-inspired dress. Rachel, Kari an Cara had this to say about their look:

East meets west with this sexy kimono, formerly a night gown and dress shirt. Modeled by Rachel is a classic Asian dress with a twist. Encompassing plunging necklines and dramatic flowing sleeves creating fashion zen. Inspired by nature, this design takes industrial Japanese culture back to its traditional roots for a unique fusion of function and style.

Emily Miller, Carla Maragano and Chelsea Dieck took second runner up with their funky shift dress. Here's what Emily, Carla and Chelsea had to say about their design:

Here we have Chelsea, modeling as the "Value City Vixen". Although she looks pretty in pink, her once-drapery dress, complete with sexy slip, dyed cotton stretch leggings and pearls of a different color, she is actually ready to rock and roll through the night! This ensemble was created solely from materials collected at the ReUse $4 bag sale! Now that's a vicious deal!

(pictures courtesy of Megan Louttit)

2008-02-20T12:23:00.002-05:00

Project ReUse Update!

Just a reminder: The second annual Project ReUse Fashion Show is coming up on Saturday, March 8th. It'll be at ARTS/West, 132 W. State St. from 6-8 pm. This is a big fundraiser for us so we're asking for a $6 donation at the door.

The event will be judged by Ohio Arts Council Artist in Residence Patty Mitchell, local musician Liz Pahl and Angela Keslar of Project Runway fame.

Later that night there will be an after-party at Casa Cantina, from 10 pm until 1 am (remember this is the night Daylight Savings Time begins). Local bands Casual Future, Silo Circuit and Russenorsk will provide the entertainment. Show up early because things will begin promply at 10.

2008-02-01T15:26:00.000-05:00

First Annual Trash Dance - TONIGHT!

February 1 @ 8 pm, Baker Center Ballroom B

The Ohio University Office of Sustainability is holding their first annual Trash Dance in Baker Center Ballroom B. Come out for a fun night with music provided by DJ Self Help, as well as food and prizes for best outfit, including a $100 gift certificate to ReUse Industries! Dress up in things you already have and add some trash for good measure; it makes the best accessory! There will be rewards for best outfit, so get creative! Ticket costs: $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Buy tickets in advance on the first floor of Baker on Friday until 5 pm. Contact Sarah at dewitt@ohio.edu for more information!

Good Works Walk for the Homeless Pictures

On Saturday January 19, AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers from ReUse Industries joined over 400 area residents to take part in Good Works' Annual Walk for the Homeless. This year's walk participants raised over $32,000 for Timothy House, the homeless shelter run by Good Works located on the West side of Athens.

Here are some of the pictures we took that day:

Above: Good Works founder and executive director Keith Wasserman speaks to the crowd about the reality of homelessness in Southeast Ohio.

Above: A group of walkers listen as former residents of Timothy House share their experiences.

Above: The participants in the walk visit a homeless camp and listen to the stories shared by former residents of Timothy House.

For more information on Good Works, please visit their website at www.good-works.net

2008-01-15T10:51:00.000-05:00

Walk for the Homeless

Five AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers from ReUse will be helping out this Saturday at Good Works' 6th Annual Walk for the Homeless. The walk serves to educate the public about the reality of homelessness and poverty in southeastern Ohio and to generate needed financial support for the Good Works Timothy House, a shelter for the rural homeless in Athens, Ohio. The Timothy House serves homeless people from nine southeast Ohio counties.

If you would like to participate in the Walk for the Homeless, please go to the official website for more information. We hope to see you Saturday!

2008-01-03T11:01:00.000-05:00

Thank you!

ReUse Industries would like to thank all of our donors and customers for making 2007 such a wonderful year. With the donations of 5000 community members, ReUse was able to divert roughly 500,000 pounds of reuseable materials from the landfill. Amazing!

2007-12-19T21:28:00.001-05:00

Tips on charitable donations and income tax deductions

As 2007 comes to a close, we ask that you remember ReUse Industries if you are planning on making year-end charitable contributions. Whether a donation of a reusable appliance or a cash gift, all donations to ReUse Industries are tax-deductible. Everyone wins!

Also, in that vein, we at ReUse Industries would like to thank all of our generous donors in 2007. Your donations make our mission at ReUse a reality, and our gratitude is without bounds. Thank you!

(Following article from MSN.com)

If you contribute to your church, your college, the local dog pound, United Way or organizations contributing to disaster relief, make these donations by Dec. 31. And make sure that before you file your tax return, you have a receipt from the organizations that benefited from your generosity.

If you don't have the cash, find out if the organization can process a donation via credit card. As long as the donation is made by Dec. 31, it's valid as a 2007 deduction.

Separately, any contributions of clothes or household goods must be in good condition or better to qualify for a deduction. If a single item has a value of $500 or more, you will need an appraisal. The Internal Revenue Service can deny deductions for items of minimal value.

Complicating any deductions will be new requirements on record keeping. This is important.

To deduct a cash donation, regardless of the amount, you must have a bank record or a written communication from the charity showing its name and the date and amount of the contribution. Acceptable bank records would include canceled checks or bank or credit union statements containing the name of the charity, the date and the amount of the contribution.

Also, from MSN Money, check out "Give and grow rich with charitable deductions".

2007-12-16T19:34:00.000-05:00

Green holiday tips from around the web

How to have a green Christmas (from Newsweek)
A Green Christmas: Holiday Tips from the Sierra Club
How to have a green Christmas (from Time Magazine)
We're dreaming of a green Christmas (from the Independent)
Mother Nature likes gifts, too (from the Rochester Post-Bulletin)

Remember, one of the best things you can do for the environment and for the local economy is to keep all of your holiday shopping local! There is no better place to put this into practice than ReUse Industries. Our Athens Thrift Store is located at 100 Columbus Road, and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. Our Wellston Thrift Store is located at 102 S. Ohio Ave in Wellston, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. We also have items for sale at our farm in Albany, which is located at 74815 US Highway 50, about 2 miles west of Albany. The farm is open from 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

Not quite sure what to get a certain someone? ReUse offers gift certificates in the denomination of your choice good at all three of our retail locations.

2007-11-28T13:58:00.002-05:00

Deconstruction in Southern Athens County

On Friday, November 16 a group of ReUse employees and volunteers performed a deconstruction on a house in Southern Athens county. We were able to salvage a good number of windows, doors, carpets, and other items from the property. As we've mentioned before, we are always interested in deconstruction projects, so please let us know before you tear down your house!

above: ReUse yard manager Eric Wilson and AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer Duane Bogart

2007-11-19T11:31:00.000-05:00

Project ReUse 2

It's that time of year again - we're getting preparations started on Project ReUse! We are currently seeking artistically inclined folks to design outfits made from materials found in the ReUse Thrift stores.

Here’s how it works:

We give you and your team a ten dollar gift certificate good at any ReUse Industries location. This is your budget for your outfit. The materials for your outfit are to come solely from the ReUse inventory – this is supposed to be focused on reuse fashion, after all. And the more creative, the better!

The fashion show will be taking place at ARTS/West in Athens this year, with an after-party at Casa.

We only have a limited number of spots for designers, so if this is something you’re interested in, please e-mail me at sherri[at]reuseindustries.org!

2007-11-13T15:22:00.000-05:00

Reuse art show in Athens!

By Mike Ludwig
Athens NEWS Campus Reporter
Monday, November 12th, 2007

Can "trash" be both functional and aesthetically pleasing? Three local artists think that it can, and they are setting out to prove the point this week with a gallery of unique and thrifty sculptures, paintings and "inkies" at UnionArts, a new alternative art space at 15 W. Union St., room 101 B.

"When you are paying for classes, you have a lot of materials to use," artist Tessa Evanoksy said Friday while setting up pieces for the show at UnionArts, which opens Tuesday evening. "For me, it's about kind of finding what I can and throwing it together."

Evanosky and her fellow artists Erica Sutherland and Jamie Lewis are not students and live on a budget. They say they have spent years scavenging for materials and creating "trash art" together in their spare time. Their mediums include surreal junk treasures, ranging from a used traffic cone and plastic dolls to serving trays and traditional inks used to make abstract, two-dimensional "inkies" of exotic worlds and ethereal figures.

"Most of the stuff that I make, I don't think people with money like," Lewis joked while taking a break from adjusting the position of an ornately beaded mobile during Friday's set-up. Lewis said that many of the materials she and the other artists use to make art were rescued from dumpsters and thrift stores.

(For the full article, click here.)

2007-11-12T14:48:00.000-05:00

Athens residents take advantage of hazardous waste collection day

article by Kristin Heinichen
Athens Messengers Staff Writer

More than 300 Athens residents took advantage of an opportunity Saturday to dispose of their household hazardous waste by participating in the first such collection in the city in more than 10 years.

The Athens Community Center parking lot served as a drop-off location where people could get rid of old paint, batteries and other items.

“There’s a lot of stuff out there — you can’t start your barbecue with it — and the question is how to get rid of it,” said Mayor-elect Paul Wiehl, chairman of City Council’s Environment Committee. “It is quite obvious there is a need (for proper disposal).”

Hired to dispose of the materials was Environmental Enterprises Inc., a company out of Cincinnati specializing in industrial and hazardous waste management.

Wiehl dropped off gasoline, old paint and one tire at the event. “The tire was sitting in back of my garage. I’m trying to remember what car it even belonged to,” he said with a chuckle.

The city entered into contract for the collection day with the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District. When contacted by the city, the district had already established its 2007 budget and was unable to shoulder the cost of the project. City officials appropriated $15,000 for the collection.

Taking advantage of the event was Athens resident Bernhard Debatin and his neighbor, Bob Klein. Both have collected many years worth of household hazardous items — predominantly batteries from flashlights and children’s toys.

“Batteries are a big problem in Athens — they are one of the most toxic things on earth,” Debatin said, explaining that the two have been lobbying the city to institute used battery drop-off locations.

Debatin is from Germany, which he said has an “amazing recycling program.”

“Our landfills are not filling up as fast or with toxins (as the United States),” he said. “I think Athens has one of the best recycling programs in Ohio, but it still has its problems.”

Debatin said Germany places the responsibility on the vendor instead of the buyer. If companies want their product to hit the shelves, it must be packaged in recyclable containers, he explained.

“It’s not certified unless the packaging materials are recyclable,” Debatin said. “Every store that sell batteries has to have a container to drop off batteries.”

Employees of Environmental Enterprises Inc. separated thousands of pounds of toxins, flammables and corrosives into big barrel drums on Saturday.

“We recycle as much as we can of the materials we receive, but some doesn’t lend itself to recycling. We dispose of those materials by incineration at our treatment facility,” said Dan McCabe, president of Environmental Enterprises Inc.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, the company serves 15 counties in Ohio and serves four other states. McCabe explained that the volume of toxic waste just his company undertakes is mind-boggling.

“We might get over 5 million pounds of household and industrial waste yearly,” he said. “It’s necessary for these types of events because it’s difficult for people to get rid of it (toxic materials). If it is disposed in the environment, it would be detrimental to it. It would simply ruin the watercourses.”

Michael Gosnell is the solid waste control officer for the city.

“Athens has great natural resources all around it, such as the Hocking River and the woodlands — the Hocking River and the aquifer is our drinking source,” Gosnell emphasized. “Safety-wise — in case of a fire — this collection gets things that are dangerous out of people’s houses. Environmentally, it keeps it from leaking out of houses and puts it into a safer waste system where it gets recycled or disposed of properly. And it keeps it out of municipal landfill, too.”

(photo by Duane Bogart of ReUse Industries)

This article appeared in the Monday, November 12, 2007 edition of the Athens Messenger.

2007-11-10T12:51:00.000-05:00

In and Around Athens Today

The Hazardous Waste Drop Off is going strong at the Athens Community Center! Athens City residents have until 2 pm to take their hazardous waste to the drop off site. We encourage city residents to take advantage of this great opportunity! AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers Duane Bogart, Emily Camm, and myself, Sherri Oliver, were there this morning to help with the collection. I was very happy with the amount of Athens community members who came to dispose of their hazardous materials, and it looks like today is going to be a great success!

Also, our friends at Stuart's Opera House, who are celebrating their 10th year of being re-opened, are having their annual fall fundraiser today. The rockin' Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks will be headlining the show, along the the Firecracker Jazz Band, who will be opening things up.

In addition to the show, there will also be a silent auction in the lobby of the Opera House which will be starting at 7:30 pm. There are lots of great items donated by area businesses, and it's definitely worth checking out! Please support our friends at Stuart's!

2007-11-08T11:14:00.000-05:00

GoodShop for ReUse

Do you need to send someone flowers? Would you also like to make a donation to ReUse Industries without spending any extra money? Thanks to GoodShop and 1-800-Flowers, you can now do just that. Just go to www.GoodSearch.com, click on the GoodShop logo, and find 1-800-Flowers in the list of participating merchants.

For every online purchase you make with 1-800-Flowers, ReUse will recieve 5-6% of your total purchase as a donation.

And don't forget to designate ReUse Industries as the charity you would like to support!

2007-11-06T10:34:00.000-05:00

Attention Athens City Residents!

There will be a Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off Day on Saturday, November 10 at the Athens Community Center from 10 am to 2 pm. Some items that will be accepted include:

cell phones
passenger car tires
e-waste (including computers, printers, scanners and other components)
household batteries (dry cell and Ni-cad cell)

For further questions on what items will be accepted at the Hazardous Waste Drop Off, please contact these people:

Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District
Roger Bail, Operations Coordinator
(740)797-4208

City of Athens
Paula Moseley, Asst. Service Safety Director
(740)592-3340

City of Athens
Michael Gosnell, Solid Waste Control Officer
(740)592-2222

And please remember, the Hazardous Waste Drop Off Day is open only to Athens City residents. Proof of city residence will be required to drop off materials, so make sure to bring a valid photo ID with your current address or a current Athens City utility bill.

Bag Sale in Athens

Due to its popularity, the $4 bag sale at the ReUse Thrift Store in Athens has become a monthly event! This sweet sale will now happen during the second week of every month. Stop in, visit Charlie, and score some great deals!

A Note About Donations

While we always welcome your generosity in giving items to ReUse, there are a few guidelines that we request you follow in donating items, especially in regard to clothing donations:

Clothing must be clean and dry (please, no wet, damp, or mildewed clothes!)
Please make sure that your bags/boxes of donations contain only reusable items, and not trash

We also cannot accept the following items:

broken electronics
broken windows
car parts
ceiling tile
central air units
cleaners/solvents
cracked plastic items
dimensional lumber less than three feet long
dishwashers
drywall
furnaces/heat pumps
oil/antifreeze
rotten wood
text books
tires
waters heaters

Fortunately, some the the aforementioned items can be taken to the Athens City Hazardous Waste Drop Off on Saturday, November 10!

2007-11-01T10:34:00.000-05:00

Make a Difference Day 2007

On Saturday, October 27 volunteers from ReUse completed a service project at the Veteran's Park ballfields in Wellston. A team of six AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers, armed with paint brushes, revamped the dugout and announcers box. The project went very well, and we would like to participate in future projects that benefit the Wellston community.

AmeriCorps*VISTA Emily Camm, who organized this year's Make a Difference Day project, would like to thank the following people and organizations who made this day a success:

Scott Sturgill, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Wellston for his help in coordinating our project and providing the paint, rollers, and other materials necessary for this project
Domino's Pizza of Wellston, for donating lunch for our volunteers

Here are a few of the pictures we took of the action that day. To see more photos, you can check out ReUse Industries' MySpace profile.

Above: AmeriCorps*VISTA members Ben Frese and Scott Spice paint down low.

Above: AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer Duane Bogart pays attention to details!

Above: AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers Emily Camm and Sherri Oliver are making a difference!

Above: AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer Jenn Squires tells Ben Frese, "Hey! You missed a spot!"

2007-10-30T10:31:00.000-05:00

Thanks for your service, VISTA Jenn!

Jenn Squires finished her second year as an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer at ReUse Industries on Saturday. Here's what Jenn had to say as her time at ReUse came to an end:

So long! After nearly two years as a VISTA at ReUse Industries it's time for me to move on. Being a part of ReUse Industries has been an enriching learning experience. I've helped organize student moveout, the community yard sale and participated in various community projects and fundraising events. It has been rewarding, fun and I've made many good friends along the way. I'm sad to leave but also really looking forward to starting a new career as an environmental specialist with Austin Powter. Thanks to everyone who helped to make my VISTA experience special and good luck!

2007-10-18T19:10:00.001-05:00

The New York Times on deconstruction

(from the New York Times)
By Kristina Shevory

IF the idiosyncratic, ’40s-era cottage Alice Keller bought in Shoreline, a small city just north of Seattle, had a style, it might be called classic teardown. The ceiling in one room was so low she couldn’t stand up under it. A downstairs bathroom was so narrow she had to wiggle sideways to get to the toilet. None of the windows matched. “It was livable, and quirky,” Ms. Keller said, “but in ways I didn’t find amusing.”

The place was crying out for a wrecking ball, but Ms. Keller, a 63-year-old retired teacher of English as a second language, who has an environmentally aware conscience, didn’t want to scrap the building materials only to buy new ones. Instead of having her 1,300-square-foot house bulldozed, she hired Jon Alexander, a contractor who shared her environmentalism and was willing to dismantle the home shingle by beam, and build a replacement with the same two-by-fours.

(For the full article, click here)

ReUse Industries loves deconstruction!

The staff and volunteers at ReUse are always looking for an opportunity to do deconstruction projects! If you or someone you know are planning on tearing down a house or business, let ReUse know, and we'll make sure to salvage the reusable materials from the property and keep them out of the landfill.

Please call AmeriCorps*VISTA Ben Frese at 740-698-8200 ext. 14 with tips on upcoming deconstruction possibilities.

Tips for a green Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner, and while it can be one of the most fun-filled days of the year, it can also be incredibly hard on our environment. Luckily, we've assembled this list of handy tips to ensure that your holiday is both fun AND green!

Our friends over at Treehugger have compiled this great list of ideas for reusable trick-or-treat bags!
About.com has a ghoulish guide that covers green Halloween ideas from do-it-yourself costumes to composting jack-o-lanterns, and everything in between.
"Buy pumpkins, apples, and other seasonal items from a local farmer's market," says MSNBC.com.
The people over at the Supplies Buyers Blog encourage cra fty reuse, such as turning old pantyhose with with runs into spider web decorations.
The Environmental Defense Fund encourages you to save your Halloween decorations so that you can reuse them year after year.

And remember, you can always stop in at our ReUse Thrift store locations in Athens and Wellston for great do-it-yourself costumes as well as Halloween decorations. Our thrift store hours and locations are as follows:

Athens ReUse Thrift Store
100 Columbus Road
Athens, OH 45701
Open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Wellston ReUse Thrift Store
102 S. Ohio Avenue
Wellston, OH 45692
Open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.