As this is my first article as the new San Francisco Recycling Examiner, I'd like to introduce myself and share some of my favorite "recycling" blogs and sites I frequently visit.

My name is Cindi and I live in Humboldt County, which is extreme northern California.  Let's just say I am closer to Oregon than I am to San Francisco.  I've lived here all my life and grew up learning frugality.  Part of that education was recycling, reusing, and repurposing things that had perhaps worn out their usefulness in one area, but could still be used in another way.

I learned to shop at thrift stores and yard sales and use what I found there in new ways.  Now, as a 40-something, remarried mom, recycling, reusing, and repurposing are a way of life.  My church has a free clothing ministry that I am involved in and through this ministry I have become even more passionate about not wasting things that still have some usefulness. 

I hope to be able to use this space to educate others on what I have learned, share when I learn something new, and highlight those individuals and businesses in northern California that have found innovative ways to use things no one wants anymore.  I would also like to keep you informed on what is happening in the larger world in regards to recycling, reusing, and repurposing; from the smallest individual to the largest corporation.  Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, suggestions, or information I can share.

Below are some of the places I stop by frequently when browsing online.  I hope you find one or more favorites.

How Can I Recycle This?  Although this website is based in the UK, they have some interesting ways of recycling items.  They often make suggestions for turning one thing into something else.  For example, a reader recently asked how to reuse/recycle commercial-size ice cream containers.

blah to TADA!  This blog's subheading is "a crafty recycling blog."  This blog is set up in a simple format.  There is a theme, a few pictures; first of blah items, then a few pictures of the TADA.  Right now there is a theme of postcards going on at blah to TADA.  Each day there is a craft on how to make a postcard from a different item.  There have been postcards made from a piece of old jeans, sayings from raisin boxes, and a gift card envelope.

Junk Mail Gems  Gretchen is an artist that uses junk mail to create jewelry, wallets, paperweights, and more.  There is also a DIY section and a blog written by Gretchen, which includes more DIY projects, information on products made from recycled materials, and anything else that seems important to a junk mail genius.

Two northern California businesses committed to reusing, upcycling, recycling, etc. are listed below; if you know of others please comment or send me an email so I can mention them in a future article.

Bay Area Bikes is located at 2424 Webster St. in Oakland and can be reached at 510-763-2453. 

Heritage Salvage is located at 1473 Petaluma Blvd. So. in Petaluma and can be reached at 707-762-6277.

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