Urban Waste Reclamation Project

D.I.Y. repurposing trash into textiles.

2012-01-20T15:39:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia
Watching this first video of a young Peruvian spinning and weaving trash makes one think of the two fold benefits of doing such. Not only is it an attractive but also a utilitarian way of recycling/reusing/repurposing old discarded plastic waste and trash, but in order to do so you must first go out and actually PICK UP THE TRASH. A concept that is so simple, yet so awesome.

Here are a couple of uses for such repurposed plastic textiles and video tutorials on how you can do it at home.

This first one is a great way to not only recycle/reuse but also a nice way to reach out and help the less fortunate in our communities. It is brought to you by Community Action of Southern Kentucky's RSVP and it shows you How to make sleeping mats for the homeless from recycled plastic bags.

This last video is from Tarrot Lady Lissa over at YouTube and it shows how she turns plastic shopping bags into "plastic yarn" and crochet them into a reusable shopping bag that you can reuse so that you never need make another one again!

I hope that these videos have inspired you as much as they did me!

SNAP gardens!

2012-01-11T19:50:00.001-05:00

Since 1973, food stamps (now known as SNAP) have allowed for the purchase of food-producing plants and seeds. However, very few people know that the choice exists when deciding how to spend SNAP benefits.

SNAP Gardens is growing awareness and working to cultivate gardening successes.

Everyone has a role to play! Are you a gardener who can help SNAP recipients learn how to grow some of their own food? Do you have land to share? Are you a farmer who wants to sell more seedlings to SNAP recipients?

Are you a SNAP recipient who is using your benefits to garden...whether it's only a basil plant or two on your windowsill or if your garden is feeding your whole family...we want to hear from you! Please get in touch at http://www.SNAPgardens.org

Let us entertain you!

2011-08-07T20:08:00.001-04:00

We have 19, that's right 19 great movies for your viewing pleasure for the ridiculously low price of just $20.00!

All of the DVD's come in their original cases and have been tested and do work.

The condition of the disc vary from "like new" to "used".

There is something here for everyone!

***

What you get:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2 disc widescreen edition).
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (widescreen edition).
Spiderman 2 (widescreen 2 disc special edition).
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (widescreen 2 disc).
2 fast 2 furious (fullscreen).
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (fullscreen).
Varsity Blues.
Rudy (special edition).
Brokeback Mountain (widescreen).
City of Angels (special edition).
Love & Basketball.
Good Will Hunting (widescreen collector's series).
Blue Crush (collector's edition).
Elizabethtown (widescreen edition).
Take Home Defensive Driving.
Swimfan.
Chasing Liberty (widescreen edition).
Freedom Writers.
The Last Kiss.

Now that is entertainment that you can't beat for less than the price of going to a movie!

***View listing here!!!***

Feeling crafty?

2011-07-26T14:23:00.001-04:00

Got a neat idea for a cool t-shirt? Well make your own with this crate full of silk-screening supplies.

We even got the paper to draw your design on! We just listed both the silk-screening supplies and this large assortment of quality art paper on freecycle.

Grab your pencils and paints and head over to freecycle to grab this stuff up!

I.U. e-waste recycling is more harm than help.

2011-07-15T15:06:00.000-04:00

Image via WikipediaApril and August mark the beginnings of the two major dumpster diving seasons here in B-town. Those are the two months when the students clear and leave four years of junk at the curb for big trash pickup. All of this “stuff” eventually would end up in our landfills contaminating our soil and environment if it were not for those of use who dumpster dive and reuse/recycle these items.

This year, however, (to my dismay and disappointment) there were an absence computers and electronics being found in the dumpsters and on the curbs of Bloomington. Had the economic hardships caused these students to actually waste less, and hold onto these items? Nope.

The reasons for there being less e-waste present in those items being discarded by students this year was not due to any sense of frugality or financial hardships, but rather it was a direct result of Indiana University offering free e-waste recycling days for the first time this year.

Electronic Waste Collection Days, a free electronic waste recycling drive hosted by IU Bloomington and IUPUI, took place in both Bloomington on April 30-May 2.

The following is an excerpt from the Indiana University Home Pages web site at… http://homepages.indiana.edu/web/page/normal/10536.html

Toxic materials are extremely common in E-waste. Lead, for example, can be found in cathode ray tubes in many televisions and computer monitors. If improperly disposed of, E-waste can cause harm to the environment beyond the negative impact of adding clutter to landfills.

"Millions of pounds of electronic waste from Indiana residents and businesses end up in landfills every year," said Kristin Hanks, an IU sustainable computing graduate assistant. "Unfortunately, most people don't know where to drop off used electronics or even what's recyclable. But I think if you give the public an opportunity to do the right thing, they will."

Sounds good and “green” doesn’t it? Until you read scroll on down the page to read the following statement.

None of the electronics will be processed for resale. Anything that could potentially contain sensitive data, such as cell phones or computers, will be shredded.

Shredded? Well, where the hell do you put the “shredded” materials at? How does “shredding” e-waste translate into recycling? And what happens to all of the toxic materials contained in the e-waste? Surely “shredding” does not make these toxins and less harmful to the environment.

Then I went on to read that “Recycling services are provided by Apple.” I smelled a strong odor in the air, and it was not the dumpsters!

So what does happen to all this “shredded” e-waste after it is donated to Indiana University and their “free e-waste recycling program”? What does Apple do with all those toxins? I did a little research and this is what I found out about Apple’s recycling program.

Apple’s recycling program, which operates in 95 percent of the countries in which it does business, takes back old computers, monitors, printers and other e-waste at no charge.

Many companies ship their e-waste overseas. Apple says it doesn’t. Its policy reads, “No waste from Apple’s U.S. recycling program is shipped outside North America. All recovered materials are processed domestically, with the exception of some commodity materials that can be recycled for future use.”

But some people think that the bit about “commodity materials” gives Apple a loophole. BAN is trying to pressure Apple and other tech companies into explicitly promising not to export hazardous e-waste to developing countries. Specifically, BAN wants these companies to sign its Manufacturer’s Commitment, a straightforward pledge not to export hazardous e-waste to developing nations, either directly or through third-party recyclers.

At press time, of the major tech companies BAN is targeting, only Sony had signed the Commitment; Apple, as well as Dell and others, had not.

Apple counters that it audits its recycling partners closely and that it does not export hazardous tech trash. Environmentalists would like to know who these partners are, but Apple and other manufacturers aren’t saying. “Most companies have not been very straightforward about who’s in their recycling chain, and what they actually do with the material,” says Sheila Davis, the executive director of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC), which has been tracking the electronics industry since 1982.

This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess Apple’s e-waste operation. “It’s very difficult to track, and you almost have to have internal knowledge of what their operations are,” says BAN’s Puckett. “If we knew which recyclers they use, if they could tell us that, then we could find out where the (e-waste) is going.”

I will give this to the folks over at “Crapple”, despite the fact that the majority of the products that they produce are inherently disposable due in part to the limited battery life and thus they are products that will end up in the waste stream as soon as they are no longer shiny and new, they are the leaders above Microsoft and Dell not only in the area of e-waste recycling but also in developing products which contain less toxins to begin with.

But none of this answers my questions. Where does the “shredded” e-waste go? And how are the toxins disposed of? Could this whole “free e-waste recycling day” thing just be another way for I. U. Bloomington to maintain that P. C. appearance of being small town environmentally conscious and green while helping huge corporations such as Apple ensure that their trendy products NOT get reused. By creating devices with non-replaceable batteries, Apple has a planned obsolescence strategy that essentially requires your iPhone to begin a slow death from the very moment you pull it out of its ultra-designed box. This means that the consumer is forced to purchase a new version of their products as soon as the battery runs out. In order for this strategy to work, big corporations like Apple would need to insure that their products are not being reused, what better way than to offer “free e-waste recycling” where the discarded product gets “shredded” beyond any usefulness rather than being refurbished and reused?

These insidious practices not only deprive financially challenged local citizens from obtaining these everyday benefits of modern technology and communication, but also leaves some big questions concerning the where and how these “shredded” e-waste materials are being recycled and what is being done with the toxins contained in them. A lot of serious questions with no answers being offered by the campus or Apple.

This strikes me as yet another example of how Indiana University has partnered with Big Corporations to stick it to the local people! Bigger apartments, more parking lots and strip malls and to hell with Mom and Pops!

Doesn’t it make more sense to reuse these items, by wiping any personal information from the items and refurbishing them to factory settings? In this way, we can not only keep the items from truly ending up in our landfills, “shredded” or not, and also provide impoverished families and children with technology and tools that they might not otherwise be able to afford or obtain.

If you are a Bloomington resident, or locally owned business that has any old laptops or computers that you are throwing out or no longer in need of and would like to see the items be refurbished and reused here locally and truly kept out of the landfill, rather than being “shredded” and shipped off to some undisclosed location then please consider donating them to the Urban Waste Reclamation Project!

R U A Freegan?

2011-07-03T20:19:00.000-04:00

According to freegan.info, "Freegans are people who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed."

Do you fit that criteria? I don't know if all of the above applies to me personally, but I have been climbing into dumpsters throughout this great nation to acquire everything from personal hygiene items to laptops, and yes often for meals, for most of my life. I did so out of NEED, not GREED. When I was very young I made a conscious decision that I no longer wanted to participate in a system which puts a profit over the very people that it was designed to work for, or a society which accepts greed and gluttony as the norms. I didn't hear about any one calling themselves "freegans" out here in the alleys until a few years ago. Now I am not one to put on labels despite many having been put upon me, so I wouldn't call myself a Freegan, but rather that I am "Freeganish". That is to say that I agree with much of the Freegan lifestyle, as I have been living it before the term was even coined, even if it is not always for the same reasons.

To find out more about the Freegan philosophy and what their practices are please visit freegan.info for more infrormation and facts.

America Recycles Day: America Recycles Day: A Keep America Beautiful Program

2010-11-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

America Recycles Day: America Recycles Day: A Keep America Beautiful Program

“I Recycle” is the theme of the 2010 America Recycles Day (ARD), which takes place on November 15. Millions of Americans have pledged to increase their recycling habits at home and at work over the 13-year history of ARD, a nationally-recognized initiative dedicated to encouraging people to recycle more at home, at work, and on the go.

National nonprofit Keep America Beautiful is proud to lead the celebration, providing resources and supporting the activities of over 1,500 grassroots event organizers across the country.

“Recycling is the easiest thing that any individual can do to reduce his or her carbon footprint, save energy and protect natural resources,” said Matthew M. McKenna, president & CEO of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. “While we celebrate the power of recycling on this special day, it’s something we should all make a conscious effort to do every day of the year.”

"On America Recycles Day, EPA encourages all Americans to consider their role in creating a healthy environment by being responsible consumers. By making smarter choices, consuming less, and reusing and recycling, each of us can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable environment," said Mathy Stanislaus, EPA's Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response.

More than 2,000 events have been registered in 2010 ranging from electronics recycling events and paper drives to contests and art exhibits. You can find events near you by visiting americarecyclesday.org, which features a search-by-zip code tool. Even if there’s not a formal event in your area, there are lots of ways to take part.

Take the America Recycles Day Pledge and commit to recycling as often as possible. Spread the word and tell your friends.

Download the America Recycles Day badge and show your support by featuring it as your Facebook avatar for the day.

Find out what you can recycle in your community and where – you might be surprised at your options. Visit Earth911.com and simply type in your zip code for the most comprehensive listing.

Are you a recycling pro? Take it to the next level with the America Recycles Day Challenge.

Join Disney’s Friends for Change and, on America Recycles Day, take an old tee shirt to a Disney store to be recycled and turned into paper.

Download the Aluminate^™ iPhone App to help boost your aluminum recycling efforts. Alcoa will donate $1 to Keep America Beautiful for every download!
Commit to recycle, and ask your friends to as well, by making a Dream Machine ‘Bottle Promise’ at www.facebook.com/DreamMachine.

Get more recycling facts, tips and tools at americarecyclesday.org.

Cleaning House!

2010-11-06T13:11:00.001-04:00

Things were getting cluttered around the U.W.R.P. headquarters, so we recently decided to clean house!

After cleaning and sorting we found that we still had a lot of items that were in great condition and still had a lot of use left in them. The books were boxed up and hauled to the local Red Cross to be resold in their annual book fair in order to raise funds for the great programs that they host both locally and world wide.

The computers and electrical appliances were reused and those that could not be repaired were stripped down and recycled. Still faced with a huge amount of reclaimed items, we decided to invite over all of our friends and had a "free for all" of sorts.

We gave away PCs, games, electronics, software, toys, clothing and so much more! It was a lot of fun!

Even so, when all was said and done, there was still one last chance for what remained of the items in the form of some of our neighbors who got to shop at our dumpster that week!

Dumpster Haul "Hall of Fame" (Summer 2010)

2010-11-06T10:17:00.004-04:00

This Summer was a beautiful and bountiful one for reclamation in B-town! Along with the routine seasonal rushes of dumpster riches caused by students moving in and out throughout the warmer months here in Bloomington (IN), we also came across some exceptionally unusual and rare finds as well.

The "most unusual" dumpster find for this year would have to go to our good friend "Hippie Dave" for finding this heart stent.

What Is a Stent?
A stent is a small mesh tube that's used to treat narrowed or weakened arteries in the body. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from your heart to other parts of your body.
You may have a stent placed in an artery as part of a procedure called angioplasty (AN-jee-oh-plas-tee). Angioplasty restores blood flow through narrowed or blocked arteries. Stents help prevent the arteries from becoming narrowed or blocked again in the months or years after angioplasty.
You also may have a stent placed in a weakened artery to improve blood flow and to help prevent the artery from bursting.
Stents usually are made of metal mesh, but sometimes they're made of fabric. Fabric stents, also called stent grafts, are used in larger arteries.
Some stents are coated with medicines that are slowly and continuously released into the artery. These stents are called drug-eluting stents. The medicines help prevent the artery from becoming blocked again.

Dave sure looks serious about this stent, doesn't he?

Technically, it wasn't found IN a dumpster, it was found laying in the street. I know that "Cook Pharmaceuticals" manufactures such devices and assume that it was dropped by some inattentive employee. None the less, it is this year's "most unusual" find. Congratz to you Dave (with the long hair).

Our next "score" takes the number #1 slot for this year's "Dumpster Haul Hall of Fame"!

"Some friends of mine went dumpster-diving the other night and it was one of those rare occasions when I did not go with them. Despite being an advid dumpster-diver and aspiring "freegan" I had stayed at home that night to get some work done online. Imagine my suprise when I opened the front door a couple of hours later to see my friends carrying this "beast"!

I could hardly believe my eyes! It was the stuff of legends! They had scored an Alienware gaming p.c. tower in the trash! For those of you who don't already know, Alienware is a high-end gaming p.c. (starting at around $1,700) from Dell that has reached mythical status for it's reputed performance and power! Granted, that upon closer inspection, much of the internal hardware components such as the CPU and cooling units had already been stripped from the still intact motherboard and the locks had been busted (as can be seen in the pictures) it was still a rare find.

I knew that there was very little chance that I would have the time or financial resources to refurbish the unit (the CPU alone start at $400ish) and storage space is always an issue as well. I briefly thought about converting it into a shelved case to store game disc in, or maybe even building a less powerful but more affordable gaming p.c. and housing it in the tower. In the end I decided to give it to a good friend who would appreciate it for what it is and might be in a better position to actually restore it or to utilize it in some way. Regardless it was an awesome dumpster score that I thought was worth sharing!"
-figment'68

Well with the cold chill of fall and the coming winter we bid a farewell to this year's "Dumpster diving Season", but for many of us the "season" never really ends. Keep recycling, keep re-using, and most of all... "Keep it REAL"!

Night of the Living Dead (1968) on DVD!

2010-08-22T14:54:00.031-04:00

Condition:    Excellent (no scratches and plays great!)
Format:    DVD< style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" />Edition:    Hollywood Classics   Leading Role:    Judith O'Dea
Rating:    NR
Director:    George A. Romero
Release Date:    Jun 30, 1998
Genre:    Horror

If you wish to pick up locally please indicate which item you are interested in.

Detailed item info:
Movie description
George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is a low-budget,
homegrown classic that had great difficulty finding a distributor at the time of its release in 1968, and has since become one of the most influential horror films of all time. (Aside from its visceral impact years before realistic gore became the fashion, the film is also important for its portrayal of a black man as the protagonist during a time when race was an extremely sensitive issue in the United States.) The plot is simple: seven people secluded in a Pennsylvania farmhouse face relentless attacks by reanimated corpses seeking to eat their flesh. The group, which includes a married couple and their daughter, a pair of young lovers, and an African-American man, try to keep their sanity as the living dead keep trying to enter the house. Radio news reports tell of the plague taking over the eastern United States, while the ever-decreasing band of survivors rapidly loses ground in the battle to both keep peace with one another and stay alive.

Actual item in pictures.

Credits
Writer:   John A. Russo
Producer:   Karl Hardman, Russell W. Streiner
Cast:   Judith O'Dea, Judith Reilly, Karl Hardman, Keith Wayne, Marilyn Eastman, William Hinzman
Details
Edition:   Hollywood Classics
Sound:   Stereo Sound,
Notes

DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Additional Release Material:
Lobby Poster
Biographies
Interactive Features:
Trivia
Scene Access
Theatrical release: October 1, 1968.
Filmed in 1964 in the countryside around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1999.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was director George Romero's first feature film.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD produced two sequels, DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) and DAY OF THE DEAD (1985); one remake, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990); and countless imitations.
William Hinzman, who appeared as the Cemetery Zombie at the beginning of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, also served as cinematographer on Romero's THE CRAZIES.
The film was made for $114,000.

The Urban Waste Reclamation Project.

2010-08-22T10:28:00.001-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Making some changes so please bear with us!

U.W.R.P. is a locally based grassroots project aimed at the beautification of our city and the betterment of ALL individuals living here by developing and promoting economically feasible and environmentally friendly ways to recycle and reuse discarded items and resources for the benefit of our community as a whole.

What does The Urban Waste Reclamation Project do?

Aluminum can and scrap metal pickup and recycling services.
Portions of the proceeds from the recycling of aluminum and metals will be donated to local homeless shelters and community centers in our community.

Old laptop pickup and reclamation.
Used and discarded laptops will be repaired and donated to low income families and individuals in need here locally in our community.

Clothing reclamation.
Gently used clothing will be distributed to low income families and individuals in need here locally in our community.

Unopened, non-perishable food reclamation.
Reclaimed foods will be distributed to the homeless and hungry living here in our community.

Unopened household cleaning supplies reclamation.
Supplies to be distributed to low income households in our community and local homeless shelters.

Unopened, non perishable hygiene products and toiletries.
Items will be donated to local shelters and community centers.
These are just a few things that the Urban Waste Reclamation Project currently does, and more is in development.

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Recent Dumpster Finds.

2010-05-13T16:14:00.163-04:00

Well it is May in Bloomington, Indiana. Which means that it is time for the annual exodus of IU college students from our fair city and that means that the dumpsters will be ripe for the pickings. Here is a great little introduction to dumpster diving on one of our affiliate sites. Here are just a few things that we have reclaimed from the dumpsters over the past week.

First of all, we didn't have to go far to hit our first dumpster score because as we were mounting our bikes to head out for a little dumpstering we noticed a cornucopia of goodies laying about the dumpster in our apartment complex. Like the reclamation opportunist that we are, we dove right in. One of the first things that we came across was this nifty looking little case. There were no dings or dents and the latches appeared to be in working order so I snatched it up and had a look inside.

To my surprise and joy, the case was a nearly full artist kit!

Although we did not discover any major finds on that day we did find some interesting items that were in like new condition such as this (vintage looking) hanging lampshade, or this sweet Dr. Suess T-shirt.

Some items were even still in the packaging, making them prime candidates for redistribution and resale here online and/or at the Urban Market in front of People's Park on Kirkwood in downtown Bloomington.

This toiletries bag and this laptop satchel were both clean and in excellent condition.

Then there was the usual plethora of toys and junk!

We reclaimed some of this "junk" for our own use as well. I mean who throws out perfectly good clown makeup? These empty Play-Dough containers make great little storage containers.

As usual we reclaimed even more books. I am always astounded by the amount of books I find in the trash in a college town like Bloomington. You would think that these IU students would recycle more. Upon opening an old, raggedy, green suitcase we discovered a butterfly!

Well, maybe not a real butterfly, but it was a nice find none the less.

Then there were what we like to call our "FEATURED FINDS"!

Such as this beautiful baby blue prom dress. I guess it could be used as a brides maid's dress or for any formal occasion as well. I am sure that this elegant piece of clothing will be at the Urban Market soon!

In the electronics department we reclaimed this Mac Apple home PC! It fires right up without a hitch but is in need of a mouse and keyboard, so if any of you fellow recyclers or dumpster-divers run across either please contact us. We also came across this Compaq tower which was once part of a security system and has six hookups for video surveillance camera's, but again is in need of a keyboard and mouse.

Other than various odds and ends, that is the U. W. R. P.'s dumpster loot so far for May of 2010. There are still plenty of dumpsters to be pillaged and we will be sure to keep you posted of what we find! Happy and safe dumpster-diving to all!

Bloomington: The Town Around Indiana University: Dumpster Diver Nervana.

2010-03-01T18:12:00.000-05:00

An interesting post I found while browsing the web.

Bloomington: The Town Around Indiana University: Dumpster Diver Nervana.

Colossal Comic Book Giveaway Contest!

2010-02-04T20:19:00.015-05:00

We have over 1,500 RECLAIMED comic books that all must go!

Click the picture to see our Craigslisting
for bulk boxes of comic books.

We also will be offering special, hand picked and carefully inspected, boxed collections of some high quality, independently published comics and collectible from the 1980s and 1990s throughout the month of February as part of the "Amazing B-town Comic Book Blow-Out"!

Click on the pictures for complete listing. More will be added regularly.

Every week we will be giving away stacks of comic books
for FREE locally here in Bloomington!

Our first contest begins Friday February 05, 2010 and
ends on Friday February 12, 2010.
Winners will be announced on Saturday February 13, 2010.

HOW TO ENTER?
Entry in this first contest couldn't be easier. Simply fill out the U.W.R.P. contact form HERE on our contact page and your name will be entered into the drawing and that's it. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY! It's not all about profit here at the U.W.R.P. , making sure that things get reused or recycled in order to reduce the amount of waste going into our local landfill is always first priority, supplying people with a means by which they may obtain gently used items that they might not other wise be able to obtain is another high priority with us, all proceeds obtained from any sales go back into assuring that the U.W.R.P. can continue to provide these and other valuable services to the local community.

This weeks prizes are (drum-roll please)...

Click the pictures for a detailed listing.

Well, what are you waiting for? Go sign up now!

For those of you who just can't wait a whole week to get your hands on these amazing comic books, we will be passing out stacks of them for free all around B-town all month long!

Click the picture for details of the event!

That's not all good citizens of Bloomington!
Well, it is the "AMAZING B-town Comic Book Blow-Out" event. We will also be randomly placing stacks of some of our more unusual comic books on the FREE rack at Boxcar Books all month long as well. So support local business by stopping in Boxcar Books and snatching up a FREE comic book from the Urban Waste Reclamation Project today!

I have a two headed kitten sitting in front of me.

2010-01-14T15:03:00.003-05:00

Literally, it is curled up in a pickle jar next to my laptop. That's something that you can't say every day. How do you put a price on something like that? I mean sometimes things are just so awesome to me that putting a dollar value on it is nearly impossible. I can't wait to begin typing down the history of this little... girl I believe. I know that she is at least 35 years old. Assembling the provenance on this one should prove to be interesting indeed!

We reclaim the strangest things.

2010-01-14T08:04:00.008-05:00

A friend and I went out to do a little scrap metals reclamation yesterday here in B-town. We ended up scrapping 3 pounds of sheet aluminum, 1 pound of cast aluminum, 63 pounds 0f #2 heavy melts, 1 pound of painted aluminum, 33 pounds of baling #3 scrap, 5 pounds of #2 copper and 4 pounds of #1 insulated copper in about 45 minutes. The 100+ pounds load put our bike cart to the test, and I am proud to report that the bike cart held strong.
While sorting through one dumpster for the aluminum beverage cans I noticed my friend tossing aside what looked like a Fez hat . "Whoa there!" I exclaimed and pulled the hat from the depths of the rubbish. Not only was it a Fez hat, but it turned out to be a genuine Shriner's Fez hat! Upon gazing at the dark burgandy fabric adorned with glitzy costume jewels I was overcome with a tingling vibration. The "vibe" was calling out to me, telling me to take the Fez. I mean, come on, how often do you find a genuine Shriner's Fez hat in the trash? So I stashed the Fez in one of my packs and continued with the reclamation route. By the time that we had cashed in the load and headed home thoughts of the Fez had left my mind.
It wasn't until later that evening when we had friends over that the Fez once again came into play. One of our friends mentioned the fact that they had been talking about trying to find a Fez hat to wear as a sort of fashion joke. Viola! "Hold on one second." I said as I went to retrieve the Fez. Our friends were smiling as I showed them the pimp-a-licious Fez that I had reclaimed that day. Immediately they offered to purchase the Fez, but some things are just destined to be and money has no value when it comes to Dharma. The only thing that I asked in return was that our friend pose for this handsome portrait.

HAPPY NEW YEARS! (huge reclamation score!)

2010-01-01T11:58:00.007-05:00

The new year has started out with a huge haul for the U.W.R.P. ! Reclaimed items include over 1,500 books on every subject imaginable, 175+ movies on VHS, a number of CDs, screenprinting supplies (which we will make good use of ourselves), 200+ cassettes, large assortment of board games, large assortment of electronic accessories, kenwood dvd player, psp, and more! I couldn't think of a better way for the U.W.R.P. to kick off the new year. Needless to say, we will be busy over the next few weeks.

P.S. I think I have unwittingly turned Kira's apartment into the U.W.R.P. headquarters. LOL

Stuff up for grabs!

2009-12-27T14:43:00.115-05:00

This is where you can find all of the great reclaimed items that the Urban Waste Reclamation Project has to offer.

All items are in excellent and working condition!
Don't forget to check out the FREE section!
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Click on links to view details of the item. All items offered for purchase are listed on Craigslist and will remain available for a period of 30 days at which time if the item has not sold it may be listed as free on either Craigslist or freecycle and will be shown in the free section here.

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HELP SUPPORT THE U.W.R.P. AND HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AT THE SAME TIME!

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iMac G3 (Indigo Blue)

This is a fully functioning (Indigo Blue) iMac G3. The unit has been thoroughly tested and is in PERFECT WORKING CONDITION! Boots up without any problems. The unit itself is in EXCELLENT CONDITION with no scratches, cracks or any sign of damage (actual unit in photo).

(Click picture to find out more!)

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Wild Cards (sci-fi series) book collection.

(Click on image to find out more!)

Wild Cards is a science fiction and superhero anthology series set in a shared universe. The series was created by a group of New Mexico science fiction authors, and mostly edited by George R. R. Martin. Wild Cards was inspired by superhero comics, and many of the authors play with the conventions of the medium, while some characters are based on existing heroes (for example, Jetboy was modeled on the Hillman Periodicals' character Airboy). Major contributors to the series include Roger Zelazny, Lewis Shiner, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Walter Jon Williams, Leanne C. Harper, Chris Claremont, Victor Milán, John J. Miller, and Martin himself.

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Anubis Comic Books (MINT CONDITION) from the 1990's!

This is one of my personal favorites! I love the art work and the story line in engrossing. I was thrilled to have come across these in a large estate reclamation recently. Seeing them brought back memories of my younger years.

(Click on any of the images to find out more!)

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RARE "OAK" comic books!

Fat Cat comic's presents "OAK". Created by M.F. Mangione and A, Diaz. Printed in Canada in 1996 these are the first 3 issues of this out of print and independently published comic book series. These comics are in MINT CONDITION and all three come inside a protective plastic sleeve. These comics are VERY RARE and even harder to find them in such great condition. The storyline is captivating and strong with astounding illustrations. A must have for any die-hard comic book collector or fan!

Click for details

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NEW UNOPENED Madden NFL 10!

An awesome opportunity for any gamer with an X-BOX! This is a NEW, UNOPENED X-BOX 360 game that is still SEALED in the ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS PACKAGING! We are offering this game at less than 1/2 the local retail price!

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE!

Here's what Scott Alan Marriott from All Game Guide had to say about this game.
"A video game staple for two decades, EA's best-selling football series rumbles onward with Madden NFL 10. Headlining the new features in this installment is the ability to take your franchise online. Madden NFL 10's franchise system supports up to 32 teams and allows owners to manage their organization away from the console via Internet browser or iPhone application. Online franchise play includes authentic NFL schedules, transactions, live drafts, adjustable depth charts, and stat tracking. Another key addition is the option to play a game cooperatively with a friend against the computer. Instead of sharing the same viewpoint, however, you will play from a position-specific perspective.

Other changes involve tweaks to the play mechanics. Quarterbacks now automatically drop back behind the line of scrimmage to follow a three-, five-, or seven-step motion. The physics have been reworked to improve on the areas of tackling and blocking, while hot and cold streaks will dynamically influence a player's on-field ratings. Enhancing the television-style presentation is the all-new "The Extra Point" highlight show after each week in franchise play. Hosts Fran Charles and Alex Flannagan will give you a rundown of the week's top performances and highlights. Customize the game using an assortment of sliders, master the new wildcat formation on offense, and listen to broadcasters Chris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond call the action from the booth."

(HERE ARE A COUPLE OF SCREEN SHOTS)

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FREE stuff!
If you are interested in anything in the free section please go to my listings at FreeCycle.

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Holiday offerings.

2009-12-27T14:13:00.004-05:00

With the hustle and bustle of holiday over-consumerism coming to a slow end many people will be tossing out the old for the new after December 25th. That coupled with the fact that many I.U. students have completed their finals and are packing up to head back home will ensure that the dumpsters and sidewalks will be over flowing with discarded treasures and unwanted items over the next week or two here in Bloomington. And although the forecast is for temperatures below 40 degrees, you will still be able to see the U.W.R project's purple and green bike trailer in the allies and byways of Bloomington's back streets over the course of the next week sorting through societies waste and reclaiming all of last years discarded Holiday offerings. Then there is the approaching New Year's celebrations with all the parties and discarded beer cans that should yield some easy revenue for the U.W.R.P. as well over the next few weeks.
The U.W.R.P. is still in grave need of bike trailers or child carrying bike trailers that could be used to construct additional cargo bike trailers for reclamation and deliveries. So please if you, or anyone you know, has an old child carrying bicycle trailer that is no longer being used consider donating it to the Urban Waste Reclamation Project.

Contact the U.W.R. project.

2009-12-07T17:34:00.004-05:00

Our normal Business Hours are Mon. - Fri. 9am-5pm and Sat. 12noon-3pm by appointment only.

In the beginning. . .

2009-12-07T16:47:00.003-05:00

Aluminum can and scrap metals reclamation operation was scheduled for today. The day got off to a late start today due to weather. The first snow of the year fell during the night, and although it was mild as far as snowfall goes, there were concerns regarding the possible hazardous conditions of the roads due to freezing temperatures. When it was decided that conditions had improved enough to allow for the reclamation operation to finally begin and it was time to hitch the bike cart up, it was discovered that someone had heisted the bicycle. Well it looked like it was time for another kind of reclamation operation! After a bit of scouting the bike was located nearby and promptly liberated from it's captors. As for the despicable individual who stole the bike, may his or her dharma bring swift retribution against them for their actions. After those minor glitches in the plan were overcome, everything went exceptionally well.

I would like to unveil the U.W.R. project's first bicycle trailer built completely from reclaimed parts and materials without the use of power tools (or hardly any tools at all actually).

Click the pic for a closer look.

The Urban Waste Reclamation Project is in need of more bike trailers. If you or anyone you know has an old child bike trailer that is no longer being used and would like to donate it for use in the construction of additional trailers for the U.W.R. project please contact the U.W.R.P. with details via the Contact page.

Thank you to everyone who has shown and continue to show support for the U.W.R.P.!

Friends and Resources.

2009-12-06T08:35:00.007-05:00

Friends.

Stinklin' Pinklin'.

Welcome to a place filled with glittery cupcakes, candy sprinkles, rainbows of colors and kawaii monsters! Have fun looking through my exceptional resin jewelry, hand sewn creations, and other items!!

Useful Community Resources.

U.W.R.P. on Big Tree Top
BigTreetop is a unique web platform for local merchants to engage their customers in an active social community around their business.

Monroe County Solid Waste Management

The Monroe County Solid Waste Management District proactively works to reduce the amount of waste going to final disposal (landfills and incinerators) through education, source reduction, reuse, and recycling with Monroe County residents, businesses, and community organizations. The District strives to ensure that recyclable material and environmentally harmful material is handled in an environmentally safe, socially responsible, and economically responsible manner.

Bedford-Bloomington, IN Freecycle™
Freecycle is made up of people, non-profits and businesses giving away things rather than throwing them out. We all have things in our garages, closets, attics, offices, etc., that we don't need. Freecycle™ lets you find someone who does. No item is too big or too small but ALL must be 100% FREE with no strings attached. A perfect consumer/earth friendly circle is no overhead, no money, no waste and no catch!

Craigslist for Bloomington, IN.
Craigslist provides a collection of online resources, including classified ads, forums, and various email services, that can be utilized to sale or give away unwanted or unused items in the Bloomington, Indiana area.

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I have a two headed kitten sitting in front of me.

We reclaim the strangest things.

HAPPY NEW YEARS! (huge reclamation score!)

Stuff up for grabs!

iMac G3 (Indigo Blue)

This is a fully functioning (Indigo Blue) iMac G3. The unit has been thoroughly tested and is in PERFECT WORKING CONDITION! Boots up without any problems. The unit itself is in EXCELLENT CONDITION with no scratches, cracks or any sign of damage (actual unit in photo).

(Click picture to find out more!)

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Wild Cards (sci-fi series) book collection.

Anubis Comic Books (MINT CONDITION) from the 1990's!

(Click on any of the images to find out more!)

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NEW UNOPENED Madden NFL 10!

Holiday offerings.

Contact the U.W.R. project.

In the beginning. . .

Friends and Resources.