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When did we all decide we needed so much STUFF? It can be a little suffocating when we look around at everything we've accumulated, much of it sitting uselessly day after day.

Giving our old stuff new life is not only good for our overflowing landfills, it feels good too. And with more and more people taking action, there are more ways than ever to de-clutter our lives and help others at the same time.

For example, did you know that you can recycle your hair? The hair from your hairbrush or from your pet's coat that usually ends up in the trash is full of useful nitrogen that can be thrown in the compost pile. Or for a more global and noble destination, San Francisco nonprofit Matter of Trust http://www.matteroftrust.org/ collects human and pet hair to create booms that soak up oil in oil spills. Currently, warehouses are full, but you can be placed on the email alert list when the need arrives again.

What about those jeans that never fit quite right? If they've lost their wearability, how about turning them into natural fiber insulation for interior walls and ceilings? Green Jeans Insulation and Bonded Logic do just that. You won't cry the blues when you know that your old denims are busy keeping someone else warm. http://greenjeansinsulation.com/ and http://www.bondedlogic.com/

When ReCORK America says "Put a cork in it" they really mean it. They collect wine corks and partner with others to recycle them into flooring tile, building insulation, shoe soles, fishing rod handles, bulletin boards, and soil conditioners. Next time you polish off a bottle, keep the cork. Once they start adding up, check their website for a local drop off location. They're all over the place. http://recork.org/

I have unlocked many doors in my life and I have the keys to prove it; however, most of them are old, unmarked and I don't have a clue where they go. Until now. Keys for Kindness wants our old keys so they can recycle them for the Multiple Sclerosis society. This small family-run organization has made it their mission to help find a cure for MS. It's such a worthy cause I don't think anyone will mind paying the postage. http://www.keysforkindness.com

Once you get into the habit of recycling it's almost impossible to stop. If we use our imaginations and creativity, we can find new uses for just about anything. The rewards are many, including the feeling of freedom when we let go. Sending something on it's way to have a new life in the service of others is a pretty special gift. Recycling gives back, in more ways than one.