You’ve heard a lot about the negative impacts of landfills on the environment. You know that the waste we send there pollutes our Earth while decomposing and producing greenhouse gases. And the truth is that you love our planet and want to save it. For some time now, you’ve been willing to adopt a greener lifestyle to reduce your carbon footprint, but you don’t know where to start. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered! You can start by re-purposing your trash and creatively reuse the things you usually throw in the garbage.
Here are some of the things you would normally toss in the bin but can up-cycle in original and simple ways:
Paper Pieces
Although paper items can be recycled, the process requires lots of water and energy. However, you can find them new purposes:
You can make Eco-friendly and fun wrapping paper using newspapers and paper bags. These can easily be opened flat at the seams for a sturdy and plain paper. Decorate them with paint, markers, colored pencils, colorful ribbons or even stamps.
Old magazines and cards can also be used creatively to make arts and crafts. Cut words and fun pictures from them to make a scrapbook or even DIY Greeting cards.
Glass Containers and Jars
While glass can be recycled, it is always better to reduce your waste and packaging/storage consumption. For instance, old pasta sauce glass jars are great to be used for food storage in your pantry or even as desk organizers to keep pens, crayons, or pencils in.
Juice glass containers, for example, can be used as decorative items by putting tiny lights strings inside. You can also put sand, seashells, or marbles and add a candle over them to transform the container into a candle holder.
Old coffee mugs can also be given new purposes to keep your bathroom items like toothpaste, hairbrushes, razors, and more.
Old T-Shirts
Are your old T-shirts too torn to be sent to the thrift store? You can still breathe new life into them!
You can let your artistic side free and make DIY reusable shopping bags or some patchwork for small pouches with old t-shirts.
Old T-shirts are also perfect for replacing paper towels or wipes. Cut them into different sizes to turn them into washable cleaning rags. That way, you’ll not only be more Eco-friendly but will also save money and improve the way you clean.
Aluminum Foil
Yes, you’ve read right! Aluminum foil is easy to wash and reuse instead of sending it to the trash. Lay the foil flat, gently clean it with a sponge and a food-safe cleaner and let it dry. It will then be ready to be used again whenever you need it.
Broken Dishes
Your favorite plate that you inherited from your grandma just broke! You had so many memories with this plate and are extremely sad thinking you have to throw it in the bin. How about keeping the thoughts alive by re-purposing the broken pieces? How? Collect the broken plate and create a one-of-a-kind mosaic craft with it by re-tiling your flower pots, outdoor tables, or even your garden path.
Another creative idea is to use the broken plate to make key-chains or jewelry.
Old Linens
You would be surprised by the number of things you can create with old sheets, table cloths, curtains, and other linens.
Use them to make new cushions, pillows, or even pet beds.
If you are the spontaneous type of person, keep the old linens in the car that you’ll use as picnic blankets for unplanned stops at the beach or in a park.
The possibilities here are endless, especially if you know how to sew. You can make new bags with them, stylish dresses, functional aprons, and totes.
This list consists of the most common and basics items that you can re-purpose. Yet, it isn’t an exhaustive list, and you can give life to many other unwanted belongings. If you have any more ideas, don’t forget to share them in the comments below.