Super Eco

Photo credit: durham skywriter, flickr

It's reusable day on Super Eco and we're uncovering new uses for old things.  So what about those of you in the midst of remodeling, who have old light fixtures kicking around?  In addition to the always-popular Ebay, there are other options for unloading your old fixtures.  Hang on to your brass chains, people.

If you have professional fixtures (such as those used for theater or other types of performances) you can sell your wares on My Gear Space.  If you're like the rest of us, just trying to unload old fixtures, flea markets are your best best.  Old fixtures don't garner much money at secondhand or consignment stores.  To find local listings of flea markets by state, try Bargain Supply Wholesale or Key's Flea Market.

If your fixtures are vintage or antique, you can also try local antique shops.  What they take will vary by location, but scope your local yellow pages for listings then e-mail photos before you make the trip. The National Antique Shop Directory and National Antique Classified Ads are a great place to start. Make sure, again, that you've taken your glamour shots to show off your fixture from several angles before listing your ad.

If you can't find anyone to buy your old fixtures, next examine them for parts. My father-in-law sells scrap metal pretty regularly. To sell brass, for example, try Scrap Metal Prices and Auctions.  Also check the yellow pages for local listings.  Many communities have the resident "scrap metal guy," such as the fellow who services my father-in-law.

After you've disposed of the metal, you'll probably have ceramic or glass or some charming combination of the two.  You'd be amazed what people will do with used light fixtures.  I'm half tempted to try some of these ideas.

You can make:

• Bird feeders
• Halloween decorations
• Table lamps
• Vases

After you've exhausted all the other possibilities to no avail, consider donating your old light fixtures instead of throwing them away.  Organizations such as Habitat for Humanity collect used fixtures in good condition to use in building new homes, and Goodwill sells the old fixtures in their stores.  Goodwill, unlike other thrift stores, uses 84 percent of profits for charitable work.  Here is local information for:

• Goodwill
• Habitat for Humanity Restore

Just make sure your fixture isn't broken or missing some really important part (other than maybe a lightbulb).