Recycle & Reuse Ideas
- Plastic Bottles: Convert old plastic bottles into planters for home-grown herbs, flowers, or vegetables. They can also be used for creating DIY bird feeders.
- Clothing: Rather than discarding old clothes, consider repurposing them into reusable shopping bags, rags for cleaning, or quilting material. Donating to thrift stores or charities is also a great option.
- Furniture: If a piece of furniture is worn out, instead of throwing it away, consider repainting, reupholstering, or repurposing it. Old ladders, for example, can be transformed into stylish bookshelves.
- Food Scraps: Food waste can be composted to create nutrient-rich soil for your garden. You can compost fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and eggshells.
- Newspapers and Magazines: Use these as wrapping paper for gifts, or shred them to create protective packing material. They can also be used in crafting, such as for papier-mâché.
- Cardboard Boxes: Reuse these for storage, or break them down and save them for the next time you need to ship something. Smaller boxes can be used to organize drawers or shelves.
- Glass Jars: They make excellent containers for bulk pantry items, homemade candles, or DIY snow globes. They can also be decorated to create unique vases or pencil holders.
- E-Waste: Old electronics can often be refurbished or recycled. There are numerous companies that buy old electronics for parts. If a device is still functional, consider donating it.
- Pallets: Wood pallets can be transformed into furniture, garden planters, or wall decorations.
- Wine Corks: These can be repurposed into cork boards, placemats, or even small planters for succulents.
- Tin Cans: Use these as planters, pencil holders, or lanterns. Larger cans can be used as small storage containers.
- Old CDs: They can be broken into pieces and used for mosaic art, or used as reflectors in the garden to keep pests away.
- Tyres: Old tyres can be painted and used as planters, or they can be turned into a sandbox or a swing for children.
- Coffee Grounds: Instead of throwing away used coffee grounds, use them as a fertilizer for plants, or as a natural deodorizer for your fridge and freezer.
- Old Books: Books that are too damaged to read can be repurposed into unique crafts, such as book safes or lamp stands.
- Paper Bags: They can be reused as book covers, or cut up and used as labels or tags for other items.
- Ink Cartridges: Many office supply stores have recycling programs for ink cartridges. Alternatively, refill them to save money and reduce waste.
- Light Bulbs: Old incandescent bulbs can be transformed into small terrariums or decorative ornaments.
- Egg Cartons: These can be used to start seedlings for your garden, or as an organizer for small items like jewelry or hardware.
- Toilet Paper Rolls: These can be used for a variety of craft projects, such as bird feeders, or they can be used as seed starters for gardening.