Where can you recycle crayons?  First of all, I never would have thought to ask the question in the first place, let alone know the answer.  I suspected that green elves would be involved somehow, but in truth, there is someone out there who will recycle crayons for you.  And there's a whole lot of other things that I never expected could be recycled that can be: sneakers, cell phones, VHS tapes, and bikes, for example.  Below is a sampling of the places that will take your stuff and many of them, for a good cause.  The first two are amongst my favorites as the experience was good and it benefits one of my favorite causes!  (A list of the links mentioned below can be found for future reference on our page devoted to recycling links.)

• Electronic Gadgets of all Types!:  A wonderful way to sell or recycle your gadgets!  Log into the website (www.gazelle.com), type in information about your gadget and they will give you a quote of what it's worth.  If it isn't worth anything, you can ship it to them for free for recycling anyway.  If it does have some worth, you can make some money.
• Books:  Local libraries often take books as donations to sell.  Also, check www.Cash4Books.net where some books will earn you money.  Type in the book's ISBN number to see what it's worth, then print out a prepaid mailing label, pack up the books and send them in.  In a few days, you'll receive CASH for your books!
• Batteries:  ACE Hardware, some retailers (such as Walgreen's in some areas).  Also, Battery Solutions (www.batteryrecycling.com) is a mail order company that will recycle them for 85 cents per pound.
• Bikes:  Pedals for Progress (www.p4p.org) gives old bikes to charities in countries like Uganda and Guatemala which in turn distribute them to those in need.
• Cell Phones:  Calls to Protect (www.donateaphone.com) sells old phones and uses proceeds to help victims of domestic violence.  Also, www.CellforCash.com and www.Flipswap.com.
• Cell Phones, Video Games, MP3 Players, etc.:  Try Staples, Office Depot or Radio Shack.  Also, ship to CollectiveGood (www.collectivegood.com) which will recycle them and donate the proceeds to the charity of your choice.
• CFLs:  You can recycle your Compact Fluorescent Lights at ACE Hardware and Home Depot stores nationwide.
• Digital Cameras:  Operation Homefront (www.operationhomefront.net) provides military families with cameras so they can stay in touch with a family member.
• DVDs, CDs, VHS Tapes, Floppy Disks, etc.:  Alternative Community Training Recycling (www.actrecycling.org) is a nonprofit Missouri company that provides jobs to people with disabilities by employing them to refurbish these items for resale.  Workers erase the tapes, reselling the ones that are in good shape and recycling the plastic parts of the rest.  Also, for CDs and DVDs, Back Thru the Future (www.cdrecyclingforfree.com).  Mail discs to this electronics recycling and data destruction company.
• Hazardous Waste, Community Recycling:  www.Earth911.org or 1-800-CLEANUP for free information on municipal and commercial recycling and hazardous waste disposal facilities across the U.S.
• Shoes:  Soles4Souls (www.soles4souls.org) collects gently worn shoes and distributes them to the needy in 60 countries worldwide.
• Sneakers:  Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program.  Check out their website (www.nikereuseashoe.com) to find a drop-off location or to find out how to ship your used sneakers to Nike's recycling center.
• Everything Else!:  The Freecycle Network (www.freecycle.org) is a nationwide program facilitating giving your stuff to others instead of the landfill.
• CRAYONS!:  How could I forget this one?  Crayon wax spends an eternity in landfills!  Instead, put them in a small box and send them to the recycling program run by Crazy Crayons (www.crazycrayons.com) where they will be melted down and turned into new crayons.