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Welcome to the 18th "Green" Tips Message. This message is sent to all subscribing users on a weekly basis providing simple tips on becoming more Green! This article is part of Earth911’s “Green Eight” series, where they showcase eight ways to green your life in various areas.This week's message provides simple tips on:

8 Ways & Whys to Reuse Plastic

1. Getting Every Drop: Plastic Bottles

These little puppies are everywhere. In fact, they are a valuable part of most U.S. communities’ recycling stream since PET (#1) and HDPE (#2) make up 96 percent of all plastic bottles produced in the U.S. Since 1977, when the first PET bottle was recycled, plastic bottle recycling has increased to more than 2.3 billion pounds annually.Today, more than 80 percent of communities collect plastic bottles. So, recycling this product is most likely a common practice for most. But if you shoot for more long-term reuse projects, it can definitely be worth it.

• • Lamp - Light up your home with some creative artistry. This example from designer Sarah Turner shows how much beauty and polish a reuse project can have.
  • Juicer - This simple reuse gadget is inventive, practical and just plain fun. Check out how Jeff Yeager did this one.
  • Purse - Still lugging around the cloth purses of yesteryear? Well, welcome to the 21st century with this fabulous reuse trick that is both impressive and practical.  Instructables.com has done it again with this funky piece of fashion.
  • Everything and then some – Everyone stand back , we saved the best for last: These awesome design ideas cover everything from candle holders to piggy banks.

2. Thinking Twice: Plastic Bags

This plastic product is probably one of the easiest  to reuse. Since a typical plastic carryout bag weighs approximately 4 to 5 grams and can hold up to 17 pounds of product – nearly 2,000 times its own weight – they can usually withstand a few rounds as a carrier. But what’s next?

If you do have access to one of the nationwide stores that offers plastic bag recycling, that’s a great option. But if you want to flex a little craft muscle, there are plenty of reuse projects for these bags.

• • Messenger bags – Though not that far off from its original use, a messenger or tote bag adds more sturdiness, durability and lifespan to these plastic sacks. Check out the below video by Bre Pettis for more details.
  • Yarn – On the same note as fusing plastic layers together (did you watch the video?), you can also get more out of plastic bags by turning them into yarn, and the creative sky’s the limit! Check out Helle Jorgensen blog for step-by-step details.
  • Art - As any artist, craftier or school project participant can tell you, art supplies can get pricey. Next time, turn towards your plastic bag drawer and pull at handfuls and handfuls of colorful supplies.  As Design-Crisis.com pointed out, Austin artist Virginia Fleck did just that, and they turned out great (if we may say so ourselves).

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