Want daily green tips? Check out Ideal Bite. I loved today’s…I mean I’m eco-crazy and I’ve just tossed old (organic Gaiam) towels in the compost (instead of our overburdened landfills) after they’ve served their duty. Still, this is a much better solution, especially in such a tough economy.

Via Ideal Bite:

Take used items such as towels or Granny’s fur coat to a nearby animal shelter, where cats, dogs, rabbits, and other animals can use them as bedding. You save landfill space and get closer to losing your buzz-kill reputation.

• Sheltering shelters from the financial crisis. Donating will help free up needed funds for other uses, such as health care.
• Fur-getting guilt over trash. Tattered towels might otherwise end up in the landfill.

Personally Speaking
In haste, Jen bought a big, cheap, puffy poly-fill jacket when she moved to chilly MT a few years ago. When it came time to retire it, it was too shabby for Goodwill, but not for her local animal shelter.

• Find a shelter and call ahead to see which items it accepts, then take blankets, furs, jackets, pillows, and towels their way.
• Humane Society – its Coats for Cubs program accepts used furs through the mail. Or bring them to anyBuffalo Exchange store and it’ll donate them for you.

Many animal shelters will also accept cleaning supplies, pet food, plastic bags, and used gloves.

If 10,000 Biters take three used jackets to an animal shelter, we’ll keep the weight of 258 adult male Great Danes in materials out of landfills.