Give up? They're all scrap materials being made into new products, thanks to King County's LinkUp Recycling program.

"Recycling doesn't work unless we buy products like those manufactured by LinkUp partners that are made with the materials that we put out on the curb," says the program's manager Kris Beatty.

She says the inner tubes are turned into courier pouches and bags, the neckties get woven into rugs, the seatbelts are used for the straps of tote bags and the broken glass gets made into beautiful new glass tiles.

If you're planning to do some remodeling, you might want to check out the local retailers who specialize in salvage building materials. Beatty says they have some fantastic stuff: Windows, doors, tiles, dimensional and architectural lumber, plus fixtures of all kinds.

"Just about anything, you name it," she says.

Here are the local companies selling products made from recycled materials featured in my TV report:

Bedrock Industries 1401 W. Garfield ST. (Near Magnolia Bridge)
Seattle,WA 98119
206-283 7625
bedrockindustries.com

Stunning tiles in several colors and styles, luminous dinnerware, a wide range of unusual gift items and garden products. Bedrock uses recycled post-industrial and post-consumer glass.

Alchemy Goods 206-484-9469
www.alchemygoods.com

Their Messenger bag and Haversack bag are made from recycled bicycle inner tubes. The Ad bags are made from recycled vinyl advertising banners.

The straps for each bag are salvaged car seat belts from junk vehicles.

Custom Handweaving Phone: 206-524-9058
www.customhandweaving.com

Owner/weaver Susan Snover uses scrap textiles from clothing and furniture manufacturers and discarded fabric items from hotels and restaurants, businesses and individuals to create colorful, durable, handcrafted rag rugs.

Big Shrimpy 206.297.7918
www.bigshrimpy.com

Beds and feeding bowls for dogs and cats. Big Shrimpy recycles excess fleece scraps from local clothing manufacturers. Their whisker-wide bowl for cats is made of 100% recycled glass.

For More Information:

King County's LinkUp program.