Recycled Building Materials Made from Trash

UltraTouch Denim Insulation

UltraTouch insulation is made in Chandler, Arizona with 80 percent post-consumer recycled denim and recycled carpet fibers. The manufacturer, Bonded Logic Inc., also coordinates the Blue Jeans Go Green program where retailers such as J. Crew, Madewell and American Eagle Outfitters collect old jeans to be made into the insulation, which is then donated to school and library construction projects and Habitat for Humanity. There’s no reason household cast-offs should be destined for the dump—plenty of nearby agencies are more than willing to give your old stuff a second life. UltraTouch, which has an R value of 6.7, is $37 for a six-roll case at The Home Depot.

Here’s a list of 30 ways to recycle just about anything.