1/14/14

Even with the best care, an old cast iron skillet may need to be replaced eventually. Whatever you do with it, don’t throw it away. Cast iron pots and pans are 100 percent recyclable and can be given to scrap metal dealers to made into new metal products. Iron is one of the most predominant materials in steel, and old cast iron is coveted to be recycled. Almost 50 percent of steel foundries use recycled scrap metal in their furnaces to make steel, so cast iron can be recycled forever.

1/13/14

Ever open a desk drawer or the ubiquitous junk drawer to find a mangled mess of abandoned or broken cords for things like digital cameras, printers, computers and cellphones? Instead of throwing them away, take them to Best Buy. The electronic store makes it easy to recycle them: It has free recycling bins at the front of the store into which you can deposit the old cords. Best Buy sends them off to be recycled -- the plastic and metal parts are stripped and separated and made into new consumer products. Learn more at bestbuy.com.

1/12/14

Ever wonder what to do with a metal cookie sheet when it’s time to replace it? If it’s aluminum, the easiest way to dispose of it is to simply toss it in your curbside recycling bin. Just like aluminum soda cans, the cookie sheet will be melted down and made into new aluminum products. If you feel like doing something crafty, try this upcycling idea: Paint a few layers of chalkboard paint on the sheet, and turn it into a message board. It’s quick, quirky and fun way to keep messages and to-do lists handy in the kitchen.