Gazelle: Beautiful creature, nimble recycling service

It may be true that nothing runs like a Deere, but I would chance to argue that nothing recycles like a Gazelle. I read about Gazelle.com in a magazine a few months ago, but I just got around to visiting and making use of it. My post-supper mission: Test out the site as a means of recycling my 2003 iPod mini (R.I.P., January 2009) and my Motorola Razor phone (so old that I cannot remember when we met, only when we broke up so I could start going out with my iPhone).

My mood at the outset of this endeavor was one of gladness, knowing already that Gazelle would not only send me a box in which to ship my goods-gone-bad, but it would cover the costs of shipping them. Turns out, that's nothing. What's really something is how simple and streamlined the whole process is - and the fact you can make money along the way.

A search/listings setup makes it easy to identify the exact products you're ditching. (There are pictures to help, too, in case you need a visual.) The site then asks you to rate the functionality and condition of your gadgets in order to assess and assign value. Whether they are or aren't worth a dime, you still get to recycle the unwanted goods in a nearly hassle-free fashion.

What's cooler than that cool - and no, "ice cold" isn't the answer this time - is how Gazelle ends your transaction by letting you know that one of your items could be deemed of value upon arrival and inspection, and if so, Gazelle asks you how you would like to be compensated. In addition to offering standard options (PayPal, Amazon.com, etc.), it lets you donate your dollars and cents to charity and goes on to give you gads of non-profits from which to choose.

Recycling your unwanted electronics at Gazelle.com is an eco-friendly and effortless chore, and it can also be a money-making or charitable endeavor. It's fair to say Ecosaurus has a crush on Gazelle effective immediately. ~ A.F.

Buy now, save big: 2-for-1 sale on Ecosaurus recycled gift wrap

ECOSAURUS CELEBRATES JOLLY HOLIDAY SALE IN JULY WITH “BUY ONE, GET ONE” DEAL ON RECYCLED GIFT WRAP

The holidays are always around the corner, which is why Ecosaurus, LLC is holding its Christmas sale a little earlier this year - in July! The online paperie is offering a “buy one, get one free” deal on recycled/recyclable gift wrap from July 1 to July 31. When consumers buy one roll of eco wrapping paper ($7), they will get a second roll of the same pattern free. This offer is limited to purchases made at www.shopecosaurus.com.
 
“While winter is far from the minds of some, the holidays are already on the minds of many. For all the eco-conscious planners out there, this is a great opportunity to pick up our high-quality recycled gift wrap at an unbeatable price,” said Juliana Swenson, co-founder of Ecosaurus.
 
Ecosaurus recycled and recyclable gift-wrap collection features green-and-white color schemes and six timeless designs. Available by the roll, Ecosaurus wrapping paper is printed with vegetable-based inks on paper that is 100 percent recycled, 50 percent post-consumer waste, processed chlorine-free, FSC Certified and Green-e Certified. Rolls of gift wrap feature two 24x36-inch sheets of luxuriously thick eco-friendly wrapping paper. (No torn corners here!)
 
“Our eco-friendly gift wrap features fresh, modern designs that can be made seasonal or occasion-specific with the touch of ribbon. This means people who buy now can hold onto it till December or use the wrapping paper right away,” Swenson said. “The best part, however, is that no matter when people use it, our gift wrap can always be placed in the recycle bin, a rarity in the world of wrapping paper.”
 
Ecosaurus also designs and sells boxes of green note cards. Six card designs coordinate with the available gift-wrap patterns. Like the wrapping paper, all Ecosaurus note cards are recycled and recyclable. Cards are printed with vegetable-based inks on paper that is 100 percent recycled, 100 percent post-consumer waste, processed chlorine-free, FSC Certified and Green-e Certified. Each box of recycled cards features 9 cards and 9 white envelopes ($12 per box). The cards, envelopes and packaging are all recyclable; the box can also be repurposed for storage and gift-giving.