Repurposing an item can be better than dropping it in the recycling bin! A little creativity can give single-use items a second life on as new, extended-use items. This is long-termism at its best!
For large organizations, consider getting some help. Check out Repurposed Matierials, Inc.!
For the DIYs, the Queen of repurposing, or "upcycling" as she calls it, it Laura Spencer! Her television game show, Flea Market Flip, requires contestants to purchase items at flea markets and reinvent them into new or renovated items, and then sell them for a profit. In the end, it's not just about the money, it's about the renewed life in a sometimes old, rusted, item that could have easily found the landfill.
So before you decide something is junk, take a second look to see the swan that could come from the ugly duckling. Still not seeing it? Here are some links to people who do!
15 Creative Uses For Wood Pallets
Old Office Furniture Repurposed
25 Ingenious Ways to Repurpose Old Junk
12 New Uses for Old Furniture
50 Creative Ways to Repurpose, Reuse and Upcycle Old Things