Recycling Plastic Gift Cards

I've been doing this for a few years now, but as you can see from my stash, I'm a little behind in mailing out my plastic cards for recycling.

I stumbled upon this company a while ago and began mailing small packages of gift cards. You can actually get several in a standard sized envelope before you go over the weight limit for the cheapest postage. Up until the point that I found this information, I had just been throwing them away...which is also what stores do when you allow them to keep an empty card.

Local recycling companies don't take this type of plastic. Today, I googled the generic "recycle plastic gift cards" and Earthworks is still the only company that comes up even after about four years.

So yes, it will cost me a few dollars to mail all of these out, or I can do them a few at a time, but I'll have the assurance of knowing that they are definitely going to be recycled. And before you ask, yes...the best way to reduce the amount of cards in landfills is to simply reload them. The problem with that is I purchase them solely because my Kroger store gives gas points and discounts per gallon of gas when I purchase gift cards. Over the years, we have saved hundreds of dollars on gasoline simply by budgeting our purchases through gift cards.

I also found another site on ideas for reusing empty cards. I didn't see anything I could personally use there, but if you're crafty...and evidently have better scissors than I do...she offers several possibilities.

Visit Our Etsy Shop

TheCraftyBarthauers

Our Etsy.com shop is up and running. We're thrilled to see a lot of activity being generated for our recycled cardboard bead bracelets and crocheted items. We opened the shop as yet another endeavor to support ourselves as we seek to assist single moms and their families in our community and around the world. Purchases of our homemade items provide financial support for us so we can continue to serve others and show them the love of a God whose Love is Boundless.


If you don't need a bracelet, baby afghan or handcrafted dish cloth, you may know someone who does...feel free to forward this link and share with them. Also, remember us when it comes to gift giving. Why give your money to some large anonymous mulitnational corporation? Buy local and support artisans and crafters as they create works of beauty that will last. If not from us, check your local craft fairs and farmers markets...they're out there! Our link will remain at the top of the right-hand side of the blog from this point forward.

Last thing (I promise!): We ship too! Through our Etsy.com shop, you can have your item shipped domestically or internationally. We have extensive shipping experience from our previous eBay sales and have kept the shipping fees down as low as possible. Handling fees only include shipping supplies...they're not jacked up for gas, etc.

Take a gander and start making a list of everyone you know that you'll be buying for. We probably have something even for that hard-to-by-for person. Enjoy!

TheCraftyBarthauers

Support Single Moms and Others Through Their Businesses

On the right side of this blog, you'll find a new permanent page link to a listing of home-based businesses run by single moms, supporters of Boundless Ministries and our own family. It's appropriately entitled

Support Single Moms and Others Through Their Businesses

I'll repost the link from time to time because one thing I've learned over time, one of the best ways to assist someone is to empower them to do it themselves. Great organizations like Samaritan's Purse and Master Provisions have seen this come true for many years. If World Vision and others can promote micro-finance loans (at least I think that's what they're called) to impoverished people in developing countries in order to lift them out of poverty, why don't we do the same? Unfortunately I think our trust in big business is higher than in our fellow man and we are more concerned with a good bargain instead instead of investing in the lives of others. Don't believe me? Who made the last birthday cake you bought? Wal-mart or the sole-proprietor who may cost a little more...but it will probably taste better too?

So if you're shopping from bread, purses, accessories and jewelry, books, weight loss shakes, a good mechanic, a house cleaning service, a photographer or baked sweets and spreads take a look through the links and information provided. Shopping with one of these families can make an even bigger impact than you might think.