What are your green lifestyle habits?  Expand your knowledge of ways to help the environment with these green tips about plastic gift cards.

You’ve used up the balance on a physical gift card and the cashier inevitably asks, “Would you like to reload the card or can I toss it in the trash for you?”

Before you choose the later option of letting the store throw the card into the garbage for you, consider these green options.

Add the zero balance gift card to your compost pile.  Walmart gift cards, Target gift cards, and REI gift cards  are made from corn-based material and are thus, biodegradable in your backyard [or the landfill] – your choice!

Ship gift cards off for recycling.  As of January 2009, stores and individuals can mail old gift cards to Earthworks System to be recycled into new plastic cards.  Earthworks is an ecofriendly manufacturer and recycling company.  Recycling gift cards is like giving your beloved gift card a second, third, and fourth… life!  If you have a gift card with a zero balance, seal it in an envelope addressed to:

Earthworks System, LLC
33200 Bainbridge Road, Suite E
Solon, OH 44139

Repurpose old gift cards.  Unlock the next season of your gift card’s life by adding money to the card to gift to a friend or to help with your own personal budgeting.  My neighbor and I recently started running errands for each other after we noticed we shop at many of the same stores.  Having a loaded gift card handy allows her to do some of my shopping for me without her having to upfront the bill.