Reuse
Giving another life to an item beats using energy to recycle
"Reuse" is a step to consider after "Reduce" and before 
"Recycle". Reusing is really just extending the life of an item or material by using it again or finding another use for it. Reusing doesn't require energy as recycling does because it is not reprocessed or reproduced the item into another product.
You can boost your ability to reuse by purchasing durable goods instead of one-time use items, buying and selling used goods, borrowing, renting and bartering. Reuse is also keeping up with maintenance and repair of durable goods.
Antiques stores and thrift stores are a form of reuse - Although businesses like these use energy and resources to reuse or resell items it is a form of "passing it on". Ebay and auction sites as well.
Plastic bags, zipper top bags and sandwich bags - Using the heavy zipper top bags and throwing them away after one use is wasteful and expensive. Finding ways and circumstances when plastic kitchen bags can be reused.
- One time use - Far sanitation reasons one time use for zipper bags falls under the area of liquids, raw meat and any thing else that might seep into the plastic and contaminate another item.
- Multi use - Plastic zipper bags are strong and made to last. With a little thought you can stretch the life of a bag, save plastic, reduce garbage and save money.
Plastic (T-shirt) grocery bags
Information Links:
Reuse It Network
- Locate your local group
Craig's List - Free items
Choose your location and navigate to"free" under "for sale"
