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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD At the ReStore Home Improvement Center the phrase "re-gifting" takes on a new meaning. The home improvement recycling store at 250 Albany St. has a display of ideas from making gifts from materials available at the store to how to wrap gifts without buying wrapping paper. Tammi McBath, the store's marketing and outreach coordinator, said the annual holiday display is to remind people that they don't have to create waste at Christmas. She added that an estimated five million additional tons of trash is generated between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Wrapping paper, ribbons and tape can not be recycled, unlike newsprint and cardboard. McBath's display shows how gifts can be wrapped in outdated calendars, Sunday comics pages or old maps. Baskets and fabrics can also be used to present gifts as well as re-usable bags and boxes. The display also includes gift suggestions made from materials available at the store. An attractive picture frame can be made with the molding on sale at the store from 10 to 65 cents a foot. Ceramic tiles can be customized into trivets. A square foot of the tile is $1. A coat rack can be made with three drawn knobs attached to a drawer face. Other suggestions at the ReStore to recycle this holiday season include: Make a contribution in their name of a family member or a friend to charity; Give something you own that you no longer need or want; Shop at thrift stores, used book and music stores for gifts; Give movie, theatre or concert tickets; And buy a new gift that has recycled content. For additional recycling ideas call restore at 788-6900 or log onto www.restoreonline.org. |