| We do everything we can to do our part in the | | | | you have trouble finding a drop-off location, please |
| effort to protect the environment. We recycle. | | | | visit for information on businesses and centers |
| We take extra care to combine errands so we | | | | willing to accept used peanuts or call the Plastic |
| don't waste gasoline (especially at these prices). | | | | Loose Fill Council's Peanut Hotline at |
| We even make purchases online to save energy | | | | 800-828-2214.Get your creative juices flowingNow |
| and keep the paper catalogs at bay. And if you | | | | we know how to recycle those pesky peanuts, |
| are like me, you just love getting packages in the | | | | but before we get rid of them, let's ask ourselves |
| mail. Except... when I open the package and find | | | | what other uses we might find for the peanuts. |
| that my item has been protected from damage | | | | Can we think of ways we can convert our trash |
| in shipping with the dreaded polystyrene packing | | | | into treasure? Here are a few ideas to get us |
| peanuts! Not only do these pesky peanuts make | | | | started.-The holidays are fast approaching, so any |
| a huge mess, they are utterly indestructible. When | | | | peanuts we have left |
| these things end up in landfills, they NEVER | | | | over after using them to safeguard the gifts |
| degrade. Future inhabitants of our planet will be | | | | we're shipping can be used for decoration. Use a |
| able to study our culture using these suckers.So | | | | needle and strong thread to string the peanuts |
| what do we do?1. The best alternative is to | | | | like popcorn to use as a garland for your |
| simply not use these peanuts. There are | | | | tree.-Place a few peanuts in the bottom of a |
| alternative packing peanuts available made from | | | | planter before inserting your plant to conserve soil |
| starch that almost instantly dissolve in water. Ask | | | | and to help drainage. Be sure not to use too |
| your online retailer to begin using this more | | | | many or to block the drainage hole |
| environmentally friendly alternative to | | | | completely.-Use an old zippered pillowcase and fill it |
| polystyrene.2. When you receive a package | | | | with peanuts. This |
| packed in peanuts, test them by | | | | makes an inexpensive pet bed or a "bean" bag |
| running one under water to see if it dissolves. If | | | | chair.-Dip the peanuts in paint and use for creative |
| so, you can simply dump them in your sink a little | | | | stamps. Many |
| at a time and run the dissolved peanuts down the | | | | peanuts look like letters or you can cut them into |
| drain. They are safe for the water supply since | | | | whatever shape you'd like. If you are a |
| they are made from vegetable and other organic | | | | scrapbooker, this is a great way to add a |
| matter.3. When the peanuts don't dissolve, there | | | | creative splash to a page.-Crumble the peanuts |
| are a few things we can do. When you have a | | | | into pieces and use them as faux snow in our |
| package to ship that requires a bit of | | | | winter decorations.Even simple actions can help us |
| protection, use the peanuts. Ask your recipient | | | | protect our environment. The more we do, the |
| to do the same. At least they don't end up in a | | | | more we help, the more our world benefits.Dawn |
| landfill immediately.4. If you don't like the idea of | | | | Bates is a busy wife, mother, environmentalist, |
| keeping the peanuts around the | | | | and webmaster to the highly informative recycling |
| house, there are several centers and stores that | | | | website, A Recycling Revolution. For both basic |
| will take them to reuse. Many UPS Stores, | | | | and extensive information on recycling, |
| Mailboxes Etc., PostNet, and other small packing | | | | composting, reusing, and reducing, visit A |
| and shipping centers will accept your peanuts to | | | | Recycling Revolution. |
| reuse. Contact your local store for verification. If | | | | |