by Erin Walsh

From washing disposable plates to cutting a tiny bit of mold off an otherwise perfectly good block of cheese, we all occasionally find ways to extend the life of household items that were bound for the trash. Eco-conscious, thrifty—call it what you will, but as waste piles up in our landfills, we need more of it. So before you toss those bread bags and banana peels, get a little eco-inspiration from these resourceful iVillagers and their stories of good old-fashioned frugality.

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