Baltimore’s largest independent bookstore recycles old books…and just about everything else!

Located across a mesh of strip malls and corporate consumer stores, Ukazoo Books is a cornucopia of used and new books, independent artwork and friendly faces. Known as Baltimore’s “premiere independent bookstore,” Ukazoo (pronounced You-Kuh-Zoo…just to be unique) offers a wide spectrum of “recycled” reading material, including literary classics, sci-fi adventures, vegetarian cookbooks and young adult novels.

When I’m not writing as The Green Groove for Greenopolis, I work part-time for Ukazoo. What I love most about the store, besides all of the awesome books that it sells, is its desire to practice the 3 R’s - reducing, reusing, recycling - on an everyday basis. It’s good to know that I’m working for a company that cares about good books and a healthy planet!

So, how does Ukazoo reduce, reuse and recycle? Here are a few pictures that show the store’s efforts.

Recycling Paper
Ukazoo offers a book buyback system that allows customers to bring in their used books for cash or store credit. The books that are left at the store, which are deemed damaged or un-readable, are then placed in hardback and paperback recycling bins. The bins get picked up once a week and are sent to a local paper recycling facility.

Here’s Rebecca in front of a hardback recycling bin, showing just how happy she is that the books will be recycled!

Reusing Book Covers for Wallpaper
Two of the coolest examples of “reusability” are plastered in the employee and customer bathroom. The Ukazoo crew got creative and decided to use recycled book covers as wallpaper!

Here’s the wall of “Harlequin Romance Novel Covers” in the employee bathroom.


And the wall of hardback book covers in the customer bathroom.

Recycled Products Rule!
In addition to using recycled wallpaper, the store also makes it a mission to use recycled paper towels and tissue in the bathrooms.

Only the greenest paper products for customers!

Reusable Book Bags
In the front of the bookstore you can purchase a reusable bag, which can be used to carry your books, groceries, or anything else you need to tote around.

Maitreya shows off one of the store’s most popular recycling-themed bags.

Reducing and Recycling Waste
In the back room of the store, where employees get to grab lunch and gossip about memorable customers, lies the mega recycling bin. The bin is used to collect plastic, paper and aluminum waste products.

Janna stands by the recycling bin and points to the very detailed sign that she created.

And the Award for Most Creative Way to Reuse Books Goes to…
Instead of having a real fireplace, which produces toxic CO2 emissions, the folks at Ukazoo decided to create a cozy atmosphere with an emission-free fireplace.

Pretty creative, right?

Reducing Energy Consumption
Although the store does have a tradition plug-in vacuum, most employees opt to use the electric-free push sweeper. It consumers no electricity, and is very easy to use!

Shul demonstrates the proper way to have a “green sweep.”

Ukazoo Books is a great example of how a small, independent bookstore can have a positive impact on the environment. If you happen to be in the Baltimore area, stop on by! If you don’t live in the area, you can still become a fan on Facebook or follow the Ukazoo Blog, which offers awesome reviews of books!

Did I mention that every day is buy 3 used books, get the 4th one free? I love recycled books!