Some types of paper aren't desired or accepted by recycling companies. Fortunately, they can be perfect for creative reuse! The I.D.E.A. Store accepts and stocks many of these papers for your art and education projects. They are sold by the pound, too, so you can choose just what you need at a great price.

 What papers do we prize that the recycling industry does not?

 

'Prized' papers include greeting cards embellished with glitter and 'pop dots.'

Tissue paper and clothing patterns, gift wrap, pulped paper egg cartons, file folders and newsprint, for starters. These materials are made from short cellulose fibers, which are weaker than the long fibers used for high-quality office paper. However, we know that they are great for collage and decoupage, composting,  book-making and other endeavors.

 

Colored papers are visually appealing and inspiring, but they must be de-inked with water-polluting chemicals during the recycling process. Eye-catching fluorescents and intense saturated colors 

are especially hard to lighten, so they require repeated washings. You'll find construction, scrapbooking, and origami papers, color-ful new envelopes and report folders, and intriguing ephemera at The I.D.E.A. Store.

 

Contamination is an ongoing problem for the paper recycling industry. Paper is contaminated when it comes in contact with other materials including glitter and foils, glues, adhesives, wax, and plastic and metallic coatings. The I.D.E.A. Store accepts these contaminated papers for your reuse: crepe paper, photographs and photo paper, carbon paper, mailing labels, stickers, jigsaw puzzle pieces, plastic-coated playing cards, embellished greeting cards, wallpaper, paint samples cards, post-it notes and more.

 

In making arts and crafts, we may cause paper contamination by using adhesives and tape, pop dots, paint, glitter, crayons, metallic foils and dimensional embellishments. These artworks should not go into your recycling bin, but you can choose to salvage pieces of these creations for reuse. It's also easy to make a project fully recyclable. Look for tips in the next The I.D.E.A. Store newsletter!

 

We really love and appreciate the high quality of the donations we receive at The I.D.E.A. Store! The sensational stuff we routinely take in is what keeps shoppers coming through the doors - and returning again and again.

With home clean-up/garage-sale season in progress, please take a moment to reacquaint yourself with our acceptable-donations list on our web site. The list also can be found in the printed brochures available at the store's check-out counter.

Lately, we've been receiving a number of bags and boxes of items we can't stock and resell (clothing, appliances, housewares, yard waste, etc.). When that happens, The I.D.E.A. Store volunteers must sort and transport the materials to other nonprofits that DO accept them.

So, before simply packing up and unloading ALL of your garage-sale leftovers, it would be VERY helpful to us if you could sift through your items and target your cast-offs for donation to specific organizations that can best use them.

If you're still not sure if what you have is well-suited for The I.D.E.A. Store, or a better fit for another nonprofit, give us a call at 352-7878. Also check with other area organizations that accept clothing, housewares and other items we can't use; links to some of them are listed below.

*  Goodwill 

* Habitat for Humanity ReStore

* Salvation Army

* Salt and Light

* Transitions Resale Store (operated by The Center for Women in Transition) 

* Twice Is Nice (thrift shop run by First Presbyterian Church of Urbana

The Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation saw a need in the community to accomplish several things: 1.  Support the arts and arts education, 2.  Support environmental education in our communities, 3. Impact the environment by reducing the rate of waste disposal, 4. create a place for everyone to have access to quality materials and 5. Support itself in light of the difficult economic times.  So donate your discards and shop re-use.  Its about making a difference!

 www.cuSchoolsFoundation.org