"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle at PaulaWalla" May 22, 2005

PaulaWalla Imports, a Windsor, CT based online gift shop, does everything it can to keep "trash" out of the landfills.

PaulaWalla is a big recycler. We reuse all packaging materials we can. When we have to buy packing peanuts we only buy the biodegradable kind or those made from recycled materials. We encourage you to send your packaging materials back for reuse as well by regular mail (or call the Peanut hotline to find out what local businesses in your area collect peanuts for reuse.) We do send a free gift with a future order to all those who send their packaging back.

We also recycle any broken or damaged items as best we can. There is a local artisan here in Connecticut who uses broken and chipped pottery in her mosaic artwork so we send her any Chinese porcelain cups that break in transit. She makes lovely designs with them!

Freecycle is another way PaulaWalla keeps "trash" out of the landfills. Paula M. Pierce, founder of PaulaWalla Imports, is the moderator for the Windsor, CT branch of Freecyle. The Freecycle Network^TM is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is run by a local volunteer moderator (them's good people). Membership is free.

To find your local Freecycle group, go to http://www.freecycle.org