A noted supporter of recycling, auto legend Henry Ford would be proud to know his spirit of conservation is still alive and well in the company that bears his name.

And in fact, as TheStreet learned on a recent trip to Ford's (F) - Get Report Dearborn, MI. headquarters, the founder's recycling efforts have been taken to a whole other level. Within Ford's Plastics and Materials Sustainability Research Department, which is tasked with finding ways to create auto parts from things found in the Earth such as soybeans and agave plants, senior technical leader Deborah Mielewski showed off a new coin tray made from shredded cash.

It took about $400 of cash to make the coin tray, said Mielewski.

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As to where the cash came from for this experiment, one should look no further than the Federal Reserve.

The Federal Reserve is in charge of taking worn out currency out of circulation and destroying it. Most often, the shredded cash -- which amounts to billions of notes each year -- is destined to landfills.

Mielewski and her team are still working on getting the currency-based coin tray just right for production, which isn't expected anytime soon. But, it's a nice thought that one day a car could be made from multiple sustainable sources. Already, Mielewski's team has scored wins in integrating soy materials into every cushion, seatback, and headrest on Ford's Mustang.

Here's a quick look at what we saw.

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