Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo: An Eco-friendly Dress for Cinderella

Have you ever wondered what to wear to your friend's wedding, prom, or your work Christmas party?  You want something unique and attractive, but you don't want to spend a fortune.  Some people shop at consignment or thrift stores to find that perfect outfit and to do their part to be eco-friendly.  But have you ever considered making your own dress...out of trash?!? 

There was a high school girl in the news recently, who had her mom sew her a prom dress made out of Starburst candy wrappers.  What a cute, colorful, and definitely original fashion statement.

Environmental educator Nancy Judd has created a multitude of outfits and fashion pieces out of trash and has them on display at Recycle Runway.  There are dresses made from popcans, plastic bags, junk mail, rusty nails, and many more.  Visit her website and see if you can guess what trash items are used to fabricate the various designs.  Her goal is to promote conservation and increase awareness of environmental stewardship.  Okay, so some of these clothing pieces took hundreds of hours to assemble, but it's the thought that counts, right?

What about you:  Can you figure out what Nancy Judd used to make the coat in the photo at the top of this post?

Going Bananas

Ever wonder what to do with that banana peel after you’re done eating the banana?  Most people toss it in the trash; or if you’re trying to help the environment you would put it in your compost pile.   But scientists have discovered a new purpose for this seemingly useless food scrap.  According to National Geographic, researchers have shown that they can pull heavy metal contamination from river water using banana peels. 

Metals such as lead and copper are introduced to waterways from agricultural runoff and industrial wastes, amongst other sources.  Once there, heavy metals can contaminate soils and pose health risks to humans and animals.  The current materials used to remove the metals have potentially toxic side effects.  Bananas, on the other hand, appear to be a safe and natural solution.