• Gifts made of salvaged materials rescue usable items from the trash.Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  When it's time to find the perfect gift, it's nice to make it a special present for the Earth as well. Instead of purchasing something made from new, raw materials, give a gift made from salvaged ones, like old vintage fabrics, aged wood and recycled plastics. Such items make use of materials that would otherwise go to waste, saving the Earth's resources while avoiding yet another contribution to crowded landfills.
  
  

Recycled Clothing

• Plastic bottles can be turned into warm clothing.Girl proposing a bottle of water image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the Every Monday Matters website, people throw away an average of 68 pounds of clothing every year, meaning plenty of great stuff is tossed in the trash heap yearly, contributing greatly to unnecessary waste. However, some crafty companies and individuals are making use of unwanted clothes and turning them into hip new threads. Patagonia, a manufacturer of outdoor and athletic clothing, makes jackets and other items from recycled materials, including plastic soda bottles, which are turned into soft polar fleece. The craft website Etsy features clothing and other items handmade by enterprising artists, including clothes made from salvaged materials which are fashioned into new dresses, shirts, pants and the like. For instance, the Etsy shop Recycled Memories sells clothes for women and girls made from old linens, tablecloths and bedspreads which might've otherwise ended up in a dumpster.
  
  

Items Made from Recycled Plastics

• Items made from recycled plastic require less energy to produce.a blue recycle symbol image by wayne ruston from Fotolia.com
  
  Plastic can seem like a great material. It can be made in any color, washed easily and stands up to plenty of abuse. However, the manufacturing of plastic is hard on the environment and it is extremely slow to decompose if discarded, which countless plastic items are each day. To cut down on this waste, purchase presents made from recycled plastics. There are many different items made from recycled plastics, from plates to toys, so you have a range of options to choose from when purchasing gifts for young and old alike. Recycled plastics help the environment by using dramatically less water, oil, coal and electricity in their manufacture. Also, according to Green Student U, not only does using recycled plastics reduce carbon emissions, but the plastic recycling business employs over 200,000 people in the United States alone.
  
  

Reclaimed Wooden Furniture

• Wood taken from old barns can be used to make new furniture.old barn 2 image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
  
  Though wood is an easily recycled and reused material, it often goes to waste when houses are torn down and items made from wood are tossed out. However, enterprising and creative individuals can turn such unwanted wood into new furniture pieces, creating sustainable goods for the home. Such items also have the added bonus of coming with a built-in history and may be made from wood salvaged from unique places, like an old church or barn. Get With Green recommends using reclaimed wood as a way of preserving old growth forests, which might otherwise be cut down for timber. Aged woods may also be better able to withstand the elements as they have already been exposed to different weather conditions and have adjusted to suit them already.