this thread is making me feel so good. I didn't think of all my re-using as recycling, but i must recycle 80-90% of practically everything. I was trying to break myself of it, lol.
let's see...my mom gave me all her sewing, quilting, crafting books, she can't see anymore. I kept gift bags to 'copy' pics to applique and embroider. I use cereal boxes for everything...laces, bias tapes i make, templates, also butter lids. Jars - buttons, etc. oatmeal boxes, cookie tins, shoe boxes.
I always have a plastic wal mart bag hanging from the lamp by my sewing chair to put all threads in for stuffing pillows. Snippets go in ice cream buckets for landscaping wall hangings. Strips go in another bucket to wrap around wire clothes hangers, crumbs go in a see thru bin for appliques...some strips go in a bowl bc i use to them to tie quilt bundles for each future project.
mcdonalds milk containers become snowmen. boxes that colas come in hold my ufo projects...i could go on for days. I cut up clothing, especially old prom dresses. somebody put some clothes on a table at our post office and not only did i get some that fit, but i got a prom dress that will become a ballerina/princess dress for my granddaughter. jeans go into tote bags. old towels become wash rags and sometimes i double them and use as bath mats. wow, i am greener than i even knew........