Recycling by Crafting- the "11th Way to Rise Above Plastics"

I'm big into trying to do that Reduce-Reuse-Recycle thing as much as I can, and I think crafts are a great way to be resourceful with plastics and other trash in our lives we're forced to use and dispose of in short order. Around here, unfortunately, this stuff gets into our lagoon and ocean easily, and we also get a lot of wash up trash from out in the ocean that ends up here, especially with the close by eddy swirl current in the ocean created by our Cape.
I don't think you need to be a die-hard activist to appreciate cutting back on extra crap, or saving money by reusing stuff as craft bits.

From Surfrider's Website:

Top Ten Ways to Rise Above Plastics

Here are ten easy things you can do to reduce your 'plastic footprint' and help keep plastics out of the marine environment:

1. Choose to reuse when it comes to shopping bags and bottled water. Cloth bags and metal or glass reusable bottles are available locally at great prices.
2. Refuse single-serving packaging, excess packaging, straws and other 'disposable' plastics. Carry reusable utensils in your purse, backpack or car to use at bbq's, potlucks or take-out restaurants.
3. Reduce everyday plastics such as sandwich bags and juice cartons by replacing them with a reusable lunch bag/box that includes a thermos.
4. Bring your to-go mug with you to the coffee shop, smoothie shop or restaurants that let you use them. A great wat to reduce lids, plastic cups and/or plastic-lined cups.
5. Go digital! No need for plastic cds, dvds and jewel cases when you can buy your music and videos online.
6. Seek out alternatives to the plastic items that you rely on.
7. Recycle. If you must use plastic, try to choose #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE), which are the most commonly recycled plastics. Avoid plastic bags and polystyrene foam as both typically have very low recycling rates.
8. Volunteer at a beach cleanup. Surfrider Foundation Chapters often hold cleanups monthly or more frequently.
9. Support plastic bag bans, polystyrene foam bans and bottle recycling bills.
10. Spread the word. Talk to your family and friends about why it is important to Rise Above Plastics!

I believe they forgot one:
#11: Craft with trash plastics whenever possible, find projects online or make up your own. It's a limitless byproduct resource of crafting material that's FREE (by way of purchasing the original item)!

The best thing is that if I can find ways to recycle junk I already have in the trash or recycle bin, it keeps me from going to the evil craft store where I get sucked into the ultimate craft vortex, where the fluorescent lights beckon me to "stock up" during the Sale-of-the-Century-of-the-Week.