In this day and age recycling has become very important.  Year and years of disregarding our waste has added up to a major environmental issue.  However, we now have technology that allows us to turn that waste into something useful.  How many times have you stood staring at a blue, a green, and a black waste can trying to figure out if what you’re holding is recyclable, compostable, or just trash?  Take a little time to figure out the proper receptacle and know that you are helping preserve the world for future generations.

Just a few decades ago, recycling was not nearly as prevalent, but that didn’t stop people from finding creative ways to turn their waste into something useful.  In the 70s, a few folks in New Mexico figured out that they could use empty beer and soda cans to build the walls of a house.  The pictures in this photo documentary speak to the power of human innovation and remind us that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.