Conserving Resources-Repair/Recycle/Restore-(non-scuba items)

[emt]

I try to delay adding items to the land fill as long as possible; thus I often repair/recycle/restore items. Please list some items/ideas you have done. It may motivate all to try it too.

1. While having a steering alignment, the mechanic said he noticed a lot of power steering fluid leaking. He then quoted $1,400 to replace power steering pump, hoses, & steering gear for "the boat hauler" 1996 GMC Safari Van. I considered buying another due to repair quote vs. van replacement cost.
I cleaned everything & found it to only be a steering pump hose leak $31.99 + $5.18fluid + tax = $39.59 and I replaced/repaired it last night.



P.S. A Seperate Thread exists in Scuba Diving Section-How to Fix It- Just for Scuba Items with technical help.

[Foo2]

I don't repair much...but instead of throwing things away, I offer them on The Freecycle Network It's a great website to give things and receive things for free. Their goal is to cut down waste. There are local forums everywhere.

[emt]

Well thanks FOO2, I just joined my local club on the freecycle network.

It's a good place to delay items like the analog TV's from reaching the land fills as rapidly as expected this spring. Hopefully someone can use them for video game viewing or for the people with digital- to -analog tv capable devices.
About a month ago I took an unopened CRT monitor to donate to the school garage sell, unfortunately no one wanted it for free. I sat it on a chair in the front yard with a "new" "unopened" free sign on it. It was gone in 2 days, hopefully by someone other than the garbage collector.

[calwolf]

I try to reduce/reuse/recycle (in that order) whenever possible, I've managed to fix a number of things that would have otherwise been tossed or would have had to pay someone else [too much] to fix.

When I needed a new range hood, I got a $300 model for $30 on ebay... someone had tried to install it and broke a bolt... not too hard to fix, and it doesn't even show when installed.

On my budget (college student), a lot of it's about the cost, but there's also ethical reasons. I just like the old pioneer mentality:

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!"

[emt]

This evening, I repaired the van more by replacing the exterior passenger door handle on the safari van, it was a pain getting to that top nut on the handle with the 10mm wrench; Then screwing it back in, I probably dropped it 3 times. But all's well now and she opens & closes just fine.

[CWSWine]

Last weekend found that my battery was dead on my 1935 Ford 5 window coupe. Charged the battery and found that the tail lights were on staying on unless you lift up on the brake pedal. Had to adjust the brake light switch – fix and ready to drive.

[fanatique]

Does forever handing down old computer stuff that I've made obsolete (they're not really obsolete unless you're a tech geek) by buying newer stuff to a younger sibling count? Because you name it I've handed it down, from thumbdrives to dvd-writers, even my old 17" LCD monitor and non-gaming optical mouse.