9 Clever Ideas for Recycling and Reusing Everything
Getting Started on Reusing and Recycling With These Ideas
When we recycle, we turn a products useful part into a new product. With a little creativity we can reuse a product that would get thrown out (ending up in landfills or the ocean) to make gifts or convenient items for in-house use. There are virtually endless uses for many items that end up in the trash. I have had a fun time reusing the following items:
- Baby food jars - These make cute snow globes with a little imagination, water, glycerin, glitter and small figurines and kids love to join in this project. Check out the video to the right for easy instructions.
- I shred all of my junk mail and envelopes to use for packing materials. This is a good way to protect delicate or breakable items. And best of all it's free. You're also doing your part to help the environment.
- Curtains and drapes make decorative shower curtains. I've been doing this for a long time. Saves money and is easy to convert.
- Toilet paper rolls are convenient for storing extra extension and cable cords. I've even gone the extra step and decorate the rolls to use for hiding my computer cables
- Plastic containers that originally were filled with food, become storage containers.
- Extra buttons that come with a new garment that sit in a drawer for years, make fun, decorative designs for clothes or home-made gifts. I sew cute buttons on my jeans as well as pockets on t shirts. Using plain inexpensive gift bags I glue on three buttons and add a bow.
- Fill plastic water bottles with sand and use for weights.
- Plastic water bottles also make great see through containers for nails, screws and such.
- Fill your empty milk or cream cartons with water, freeze and use to keep foods cold.
Save and Protect Our Planet
Conserving our Resources, Energy and Space Used in Landfills
Recycling and reusing is the process of turning one products useful parts into a new product. The end result is conserving our resources, energy and space used in landfills. Recycling is the right thing to do. And it can be fun and rewarding for the entire family.
I first began to recycle seriously about 10 years ago. Now it's a daily part of my life and I look at everything in a different light. I no longer toss things into the garbage without first trying to find a use for it.
Take egg cartons for example. Decorated, they make a very cute children's bank for sorting coins. Another good use is to jump start your garden by filling the cups with soil and planting seeds. Once the seeds sprout, divide the carton into individual cells and plant into the ground carton and all.
Donate your plastic bags to animal shelters. They often need plastic bags for cleaning and to use when walking dogs. They'll appreciate having a few extra around but be sure to ask first.
Get Creative With New Uses for Plastic Bags
Does it take extra time to recycle? Sure it does, especially in the beginning. Is the extra time worth the effort? Absolutely. Forming new habits always takes a bit more time. But the pay-back is worth it. And the good feeling that goes along with knowing you are doing your part to protect and save Mother Earth is the biggest reward of all.
Turn your plastic bags into the following:
- Cut into strips and Knit or crochet other items from plastic bags, such as dog collars, necklaces, belts, etc.
- Use for covering shoes when it's raining or muddy.
- Need a shower cap? A baggy works great.
Reuse plastic bags with these ideas
Save and Re-Use at Vintage and Goodwill Shops
I love shopping, (what woman doesn't) but rarely purchase my clothing at the mall. Instead, I visit the local vintage shops and even Goodwill. I tuck away a nice little savings every month or so by selling clothing, handbags, scarves, hats, belts and shoes that I no longer wear to high-end used clothing shops.
After scouting out the latest fashion in magazines, television and the mall, I list exactly what I want and shop for these items at the above stores. Sometimes, I cut out pictures of outfits I find in magazines and take them with me. I have put together some very savvy combinations.
Everything I buy is either taken to the cleaners or washed and sterilized at home. This includes jewelry, shoes, handbags, hats and belts. I once bought a $500 winter coat for $26 and found a $100 bill sewn inside the lining.
This is a good way to save on clothing for the entire family. And don't forget to donate to help others.
Facts About Recycling
- Over 46,000 pieces of plastic debris float on each and every square mile of the ocean.
- Recycling 1 ton of paper saves around 17 trees, 463 gallons of oil, 6,953 gallons of water and three cubic yards of landfill space
- The energy saved by recycling just 1 bottle can light a 100 watt light bulb for four hours.
- The very first municipal dump was formed in ancient Athens in 400 B.C.
- A single super market can use a tree's worth of grocery bags in one hour.
- 2.5 million plastic bottles are used every 30 minutes in the U.S.
- Around 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S.
- It takes 24 trees to make 1 ton of newspaper.
- Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour and most and not recycled.
Look What You Can Do With A Bottle
7 Reasons You Should Recycle And Reuse
It just makes good sense to recycle. Besides keeping our planet clean we can donate to charities, churches and nursing homes where some residents do not have family to supply them with their needs.
Additional benefits of recycling include:
- Helps families to save money
- Creates more jobs
- Diverts tons of materials away from landfills
- Saves energy and water
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
- Prevents habitat destruction
- Conserves our natural resources
Teach Your Children Recycling Habits
Children are just great when it comes to remembering to recycle. They often are constant reminders to parents to recycle. One of the best ways to teach a child is by example. Here are a few good ways to make sure your child learns how to recycle:
- Set aside some time on a weekend to make recycling a family project. Rummage through the house gathering up un-used items: clothes, toys, kitchen ware, jewelry and anything else that hasn't been used in a reasonable amount of time. Make it fun and serve a special lunch (a child's favorite) or treat. Discuss how good it feels to make more space in the house. Ask the child how he feels about giving something he owns to a less fortunate child. Talk about the joy another child will feel.
- Teach your children how to make crafts from items such as shoeboxes, broken jewelry, glass containers, paper plates, washing detergent containers, plastic bottles - you get the idea!
- Talk about our planet. Point out the necessity for reducing land fills, the effects on marine life and why trees need to be protected and saved.
- Make recycling bins for paper, glass, and plastic. Let the kids decorate them however they’d like with images of what will go inside.
Final Thoughts
Each one of us can make a positive impact on the world through recycling. Huge amounts of energy are used when new products are made from raw materials. We can help to reduce that energy and teach our children (or they teach us) to do the same.
Remember to:
- Form new habits and awareness
- Frequent vintage and used clothing shops
- Adopt new ideas for reusing
- Discuss with your family the benefits of recycling
- Plan a family day/night for recycling and reusing projects
We have a moral obligation to protect our planet. It's up to every single one of us to stop and think about making the right choice when tossing an item out.
Reuse, recycle and remember.
However high a bird may soar, it seeks it's food on earth ~
Proverbs
References and Helpful Resources
How often do you recycle or re-use?
Thank You ~
Thank you for being here. I invite you to leave a comment and share a recycling idea in the comment section.
© 2011 Audrey Hunt
Comments
- AUTHOR
Kristen - So nice to see you here. I enjoy your comments and thanks for voting up and useful.
Great tips, Audrey, and clever, too. I would never thought of them and would consider doing them, too. Voted up for useful!
- AUTHOR
Jaya Sanghita How nice to see you here! So glad you found my hub useful. On my way to view your latest hub :) Audrey
This is such a useful hub! Thanks for sharing!
- AUTHOR
rdsparrowriter - Just look at you! Commenting on my hubs like you're a fan or something:) I really do appreciate your support. You have a great mom, teaching you by example how to reuse. Thanks for voting up and useful. ~ Audrey
Hi Audrey, this is such a useful hub :) You perfectly sounds like my mom and because of her I also have been reusing things without wasting money. Voted up and useful :)
- AUTHOR
rebeccamealey ~Thanks so much for being here and leaving your comment. You have shared your own testimony which helps to motivate others. Peace to you ~ Audrey
Eiddwen - Oh, my dear, sweet Eddy!!!!! How thrilled I am right now to see you again. It's been too long. I am so happy! Thank you and sending you hugs from the USA ~ Audrey
Oh Audrey it is such a long time since I've read one of your hubs but I never get the memos. This read was so interesting and useful.
Voted up, shared and vowing to call over far more often.
Enjoy your day my dear friend.
Eddy.
Great ideas! I try to reuse my plastic bags whenever I can. We must all work harder on reusing. Thanks!
- AUTHOR
teaches12345 I liked the stove video the minute I began viewing it. So glad to see you. Take care.
Vellur Yes, every little bit that we can do to save our planet needs to be done - now! Thanks.
Great hub, great ideas for recycling and reusing. Every little bit counts towards saving our planet. Voted up.
Glad I caught this one. Lots of great ideas and inspiration to
Recycle. The stove video was great and may come in handy for me some day.
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rajan - My friend invited me over to her lovely home for dinner. She doesn't recycle because "it's too much trouble." I asked her if she would be ok with me separating her recycle items from her trash. I had to do it as that really bothered me. She's a good sport and allowed me to amuse myself.
I set up recycling bins for her and now she uses them. And I feel better. Thanks for commenting and I like your vote and ratings along with sharing.
Audrey, there are obviously many benefits for us and the environment by recycling whatever we can. Your hub has outlined the many ways it can be done and the various benefits of doing it.
Developing it into a habit by doing it everyday will save us a lot of resources in the process.
Voted up, useful and shared on G+1.
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Docmo - It is certainly a fact that we all collect so much STUFF (or at least I seem to.) I'm one of those not-so-rare-birds who can always find a future use for an item.
Recycling is the one most important action we must all take if we are to save our planet from pollution. So much of our sea life are killed by plastic and other dangerous stuff collecting in our ocean.
Thanks for coming by and adding your helpful comments.
- AUTHOR
RealHousewife - I really like your idea of collecting the hidden buttons often found in clothing and reusing them. I can't believe I never thought to do that. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Where are my scissors? And I love your sock puppet idea!
Thanks so much for the Up and everything. Wow!
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kelleyward - I love collecting buttons. I even stuck a few on a pair of old faded bluejeans and folks would stop and comment on how cute they were. (I added a tiny bit of lace trimming too.)
I make my own gift bags out of recycled t-shirt remenents and sew or hot glue a large button on the front of the bag. Of course this can be decorated and more buttons can be used.
The sky's the limit and so is our imagination. Thanks Kelley!
- AUTHOR
KDubarry - It makes me sick to know how much plastic iscluttering and endangering our ocean life. I use to hand out cloth shopping bags at my local market hoping to enduce switching from plastic to cloth.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
- AUTHOR
Vinaya - Very nice to see you here my friend. We all have a responsibility to "re-use" and stop littering our planet. I know you do.
Thank you.
It always amazes me how our household generates so much trash- but I suppose with three growing children it isn't that difficult. We do recycle daily- the council provides different bins for recycling- brown, blue, green and black for various types of output. We do take a lot of toys/clothes to charity shops when they are no longer in use - this theme is so important and your hub is a timely reminder on the why and how of recycling. thank you vocal coach!
I recycle as much as I can. I have three kids - it is prudent! lol I love the milk jug idea for nails and screws - or buttons!
Every time I buy a new clothes item that contains that extra little button - I clip them and save them all. I have only used them to make sock puppets so far:) haha!
Up and everything!
Very useful tips you included here in this hub VocalCoach! I recycle but I admit I have old buttons stored in drawers. Now I know what to do with them! Voted up, useful, and shared! Take care, Kelley
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onlooker -I'm so very glad to see you here.And I'm thrilled to find that you are practicing reclyling. You should be proud of yourself for helping our planet.
Did you know, somewhere in the ocean, there is a huge pile of plastic bags the SIZE OF TEXAS? those bags don't disintegrate. I started getting into it by buying a reusable bag to shop at my local convenience store to avoid adding more to it :) Thank you for sharing, Vocal Coach!
-KD
Your points are thought provoking. We must not waste anything, and we have to learn to recycle or upcycle.
Surely, this is a positive way to go about our lives. I have recently started practicing a healthier life including recycling. Useful and motivational hub. Thank you.
- AUTHOR
Chemistry Book - You are so right! Using our commen sense to recycle will bring us more ideas in ways to reuse. Thanks for your comments.
We tend to assume recycling to be a specialised practice. But simple common sense practices like using empty milk containers to keep food, as depicted here, are actually economical and comfortable.
That's really funny. Wasn't it obvious that they were toilet paper rolls?
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ktrapp - I took the toilet paper rolls 1 step further and labeled them with cute flowered labels. I've had a number of people ask me where they can find some for storing their cords. Shall we go into business? :-)
- AUTHOR
Audrey, my friend - me too! Just last week I found this great ruffled skirt and velvet jacket that brought me so many compliments at church. I love Goodwill!
- AUTHOR
Hi, tammy! I couldn't agree more with you. I rarely pay retail anymore, unless it's a great sale. I love browsing through goodwill and such...especially the .99 racks. Thanks for your comments, my friend.
- AUTHOR
rebecca - And I am collecting items right now for next months garage sale. A lot of work, but also fun and a good way to make a few bucks!
- AUTHOR
Sunshine - Gee, wouldn't it be fun to go shopping together for items we could reuse? It has become one of my favorite things to do. Thanks, Sunshine!
You have a lot of terrific ideas about ways to recycle. I think I am going to use the toilet paper rolls idea to store cords. I actually have a drawer full of electronic cords, computer cables, tv cables etc. - it's a big mishmash. After I organize them in the rolls I am going to write on the roll what they are or what gadget they go to. Thanks for inspiring me both to recycle and get organized doing so.
Nice Hub! I have found more diva wear at Goodwills than anywhere else!
Great tips! Good for us a consumers and from the enviornment. I think paying retail for anything is so wasteful. I find things every where and recycle what I can. Well done.
Good for you! And when we have a bunch of stuff to throw away, why not throw a yard sale? I have done that several times. One man's trash can be anothers treasure!
I also enjoy hunting at thrift stores and Goodwill. You never know what you might find. Useful and reusable hub!
- AUTHOR
Oh, great! I am a 10, and some things, like t shirts and sweaters I like a little roomie so I go with a 12.
Let me know and thanks so much!
I don't know what size you are vocalcoach, but I will be putting some them on craigslist real soon. The sizes will be medium to large, 8,10,12.
- AUTHOR
A very smart way to go! Stalking up on Nordstroms quality clothing to be distributed as needed later on. I was pianist for Nordstrom years ago and often bought clothing when on sale. With additional discounts, most of what I purchased was a steal.
Thank you, Freda, for adding your comments, which are excellent, and will give others good ideas for saving. I'd like to be in on the recycling of your items of clothing. :) Thank you for the vote!
Very nice hub vocalcoach. I used to be all about buying clothes from re-sellers, until I worked at Nordstrom's. Needless to say I stocked up, and stocked up, so much so that now for new clothes, all I have to do is look in the closet, or a box, or storage, etc, and find something that will appear new to me and everyone else, especially as I've not worn some of my clothes for over a year, and then only once for some of them.
Now for my part in recycling I'll have to sell some of my multitudinous items of clothing. Again very good advice. Voted up, useful, interesting.
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Sannel - I am so happy to find that you reuse. I am always searching for new ideas on how to reuse and recycle. Just last week, I paid a visit to Goodwill and found 2 brand new, never even worn, velveteen blazers in my size. The cost? Only 6 dollars. They are both designer labels which would have brought at least 3-4 hundred dollars at the mall. Thanks for commenting.
To reuse objects is a passion of mine. It's amazing what you can do with things, others consider trash.
Thanks for a great hub and the great ideas!
Voted up and useful,
Sannel
What a great hub!
I love vintage too, and prefer to reuse instead of consume. We recycle and repurpose as much as possible.
I wish more people would stop to consider the impact we have on the planet, and the other species we share it with.
+vote up from me.
I love your title Waste Nothing, Want Nothing With Recycling very creative.
As for the $100 bill thats a great way to hide money but it seems that it has its draw backs. Vote up
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Dear Hyphenbird ~ I'm trying to decide which I love the most - your incredible hubs, or your helpful, rewarding comments. I'll just continue reading them both, as I am motivated and inspired by both!
Wonderful that you recycle and support consignment shops and thrift stores. Both, are the "in thing" today. I found the cutest bracelet last year at a consignment shop. It is made out of plastic bags, believe it or not. It is crochet-like and peach color, with a pearl snap.
Amazing what some people can do with used plastic bags.
And kudus to you for training those great boys of yours to think "recycle". You really are a treasure!
Absolutely a wonderful Hub. We recycle almost everything. We have reusable shopping bags and that alone removed all those plastic bags. I never buy clothing retail but frequent consignment shops and thrift stores. I love your idea "Sometimes, I cut out pictures of outfits I find in magazines and take them with me." I am going to do that.
Should I mistakenly throw out an item that can be recycled my boys is quick to remind me. laugh
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mrali - Great to see you. Glad you liked this hub. I want to thank you for rating UP. Appreciate it!
- AUTHOR
Cloverleaf - I added a link to your marvelous hub on recycled shoes here. I enjoyed reading it so much. Thanks for your support and adding my link to your hub.
Together, perhaps we can motivate more people to recycle.
Thank you!
I can't remember when I started to recycle, or to stop waste. I hate seeing anything thrown in the bin and the thought of food (unless it is really bad) being thrown away has always upset me.
I was known by my parents as the "dustbin" (Trash can) for all my childhood and even after I left home, because I will not discard food.
Maybe it stems from "Eat everything on your plate dear, Waste not want not".
Maybe it is because of living in a country for some years where there isn't enough food for families to have more than one meagre meal a day.
Thanks for this hub, my friend. Very worthwhile!
Great hub, vocalcoach - every little bit helps! I'm a big fan of recycling. Looking forward to reading more of your hubs.
Cloverleaf
Brilliantly written hub. I think everybody is more aware of recycling.
Very cool hub, thanks
Rated up.
I'm a little, ok a lot nuts too. I love your spirit and I adore you.
- AUTHOR
thoughtforce - You are absolutely right! We don't need to consume as much as we do. So much is wasted, when there are so many individuals in need. Good thoughts! Thank you so much.
Very inspiring hub, my friend. We should do this to make this earth always clean and "green" as well. I know it hard to do and apply this in daily life. But we must try. I believe from recycling we can make something new and it's useful for our life...amen. I love your tips above and I'll bookmark this one. You have done a great job here. Vote up and useful. Cheers....
Love and peace,
- AUTHOR
always exploring ~ I always find your comments supportive and motivating. Isn't it great that we can find quality clothing without spending a fortune? And to think we are helping the planet at the same time. Really, a win-win! Thanks, my friend!
- AUTHOR
lisadpreston - I, too am part native american and learned many tips for non-waste and living off the land. My Mother was amazing at this. I treat used clothing like it has a history and spirit. You may think me crazy, but I even talk to my used items, thanking God and then giving these items new life and energy - and of course love. Oh dear! Now all my hubfamily knows I'm a little nuts! Thank you dear heart...
I doubt if I will make old buttons into a craft project, but I really like the creativity of your suggestions. I recycle everything the city will accept. I take my bread bags etc. back to the grocery store plastic recycling bins. I'm accumulating used batteries and obsolete electronics to take to the hazardous waste collection center. Voted up and useful.
Especially now that I am starting an online green products business, I am mindful of how much more than that needs to be done. Thank you for your suggestions. I'm bookmarking this so I can link to it some time.
Very good tips on how to recycle in every day life. We can´t go on consuming in the way we do today and we don't need too either. Thanks for writing a hub that is inspirational, useful and also show how easy it is! Voted up!
Tina
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writer20 - Wonderful! It is always inspiring to hear how others recycle. I need to follow in your footsteps and begin clearing stuff out of my house and donating it. Thanks.
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Paradise7 - You have completely summed it all up. It is easy to recycle and reuse when you get used to it. It simply becomes a way of life. And, as you have said, its a way we can all help the planet.
Thank you for your wonderful contribution, Paradise. It means so much!
It is easy to practice thrift once you get used to it, and you'll be amazed at the money you save! There is also a feeling of doing good, helping the planet as a whole, and being a part of something larger. Thank you for this hub, with its inventive ideas and great reminders. Thank you for promoting recycling/reusing/thrift in general.
I love to recycle and I enjoyed your suggestions for how to use some items in resourceful ways.
I will have to remember to check the lining of the clothes I buy from second hand shops : )
Wonderful hub. First, I love the picture hugging the tree. Two beauties. Second, I always recycled even before I cared about the planet, basically because of being poor! Thrift stores have gotten quite expensive unfortunately and I get better deals at Macy's it seems. I still try to find a bargain in them when I can. I, being part Native American just can't bare to throw anything away. I can find a use for anything and have been declared a hoarder by some. LOL. Ive practiced 7 of your above ideas and love them. Thanks for the message. It's a good one all the way around. Love to you.
I'm with you all the way. I love shopping at thrift stores. I refuse to pay a hundred dollars for a dress, plus recycling is saving our planet. I like that. Thank's for GREAT ideas.
Cheers
- AUTHOR
Melsay - Thanks for stopping by. The benefits of recycling are endless. A good thing to do.
Great hub, here's hoping you enlightened more people to recycle.
We recycle here in Las Vegas. I send any clothes I don't want to Las Vegas veterans. Now we are clearing our house of unwanted things and take them to Goodwill.
- AUTHOR
b. Malin - So happy to see you! You always leave good positive comments. Your Jersey Shore sounds like a great place to live. Stay safe with the approaching hurricane.
Thanks, my friend.
We recycle here on the Jersey Shore and I guess it just comes naturally now. As usual a Wonderful Hub with lots of good Advice Vocalcoach...Always a pleasure to read your Hubs.
Go green! Thanks for some awesome tips (I love the vintage clothing tips). That topic has become a recent passion of mine too. Love that tree-hugger shot :)
I have been recycling for over 20 years now. I save all my empty bread bags and use them for leftovers in the fridge or for packing lunches. I really like your idea of using junk mail and envelopes for packing.
You are welcome! It is frustrating when I know (my local stores at least) that many of the workers are doing community service, and all of their products are free to them! I make sure to go on half price mondays.
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danielle - I have noticed a hike in Goodwill's prices. They are "biting the hand that feed's them". By watching the sales and specials of other stores such as Macys and Target, I often do better there. Thanks for your visit!
I have no plans to save the planet. However, I came from an earlier day when reusing things was necessary because there was not so much stuff around.We have municipal recycling of paper, cans, bottles etc. which I support. Most of my clothes come from garage sales. Truthfully one can buy clothes cheaper than fixing them. Unfortunately, a lot of things today are really unfixable. If they break you have to throw them away.I think a house built in the 1950's may still be standing when a house built now will fall apart.
Great hub filled with many useful tips for recycling. Love the way you shop for clothes and the story about purchasing a $500 coat for $26 and finding $100 sewn into the lining was priceless!
Voted up, useful, awesome and interesting.
woww...happy
Thanks for sharing! I do advise people to research their local Goodwills, I have found that some are not quite as charitable as they claim and make a hefty profit. (Some of the ones in my area, at least)
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