Everybody’s thinking about sustainability and the environment these days, and one of the easiest ways to reduce waste is by reusing items whenever possible. While some items may be obvious, such as reusable water bottles or cloth shopping bags, there are many other surprising items that can be reused.
Here are 25 things you may not have realized are reusable.
1. Glass Jars
Glass jars from items like pasta sauce, jelly, and peanut butter can be reused for storage, drinking glasses, or even as vases.
2. Food Scraps
Instead of throwing away vegetable and fruit scraps, use them to make homemade broth or compost for your garden. You can also regrow certain vegetables from scraps, such as green onions, lettuce, and celery.
Simply place the bottom of the scrap in water or soil and watch it grow!
3. Gift Wrapping
Instead of buying new wrapping paper or gift bags every time you have a gift to give, consider reusing wrapping paper and gift bags that you have received. You can also get creative and use things like newspapers, magazine pages, or even fabric scraps to wrap your gifts.
Not only is this a more eco-friendly option, but it can also add a personal and unique touch to your gifts!
4. Egg Cartons
Egg cartons can be used to start seedlings for plants, make a bird feeder, or organize jewelry or small items.
4. Wine Corks
Wine corks can be reused in various creative ways, such as making corkboards and trivets or even using them as planters for succulents. They can also be used to make unique and decorative home accessories like coasters or drawer pulls.
5. Baby Food Jars
Baby food jars can be used for storing small items like spices or screws.
6. Coffee Grounds
Don’t throw away your coffee grounds! Coffee grounds can be reused in various ways, such as as a natural fertilizer for plants or as an exfoliator in homemade beauty treatments. They can also be used to absorb unwanted odors in the refrigerator or garbage can.
7. Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes can be used for storage or as a base for creating a diorama.
8. Plastic Bottles
Plastic bottles can be used to create bird feeders or planters for small plants.
9. Old Toothbrushes
Old toothbrushes can be repurposed for cleaning hard-to-reach areas, such as grout, tile, and corners. They can also be used to remove dirt and stains from clothing or as a craft supply for painting or texture effects.
10. Shoe Boxes
Shoe boxes are versatile and can be reused in many ways. They can be used to organize items such as craft supplies, paperwork, small toys, or even storage for shoes or other items.
11. Paper Towel Rolls
Paper towel rolls can be used as a base for creating toys or as a holder for small cords.
12. Old Towels
Don’t toss your old towels. They can be used as cleaning rags, as a bath mat, and to wash your pets or cars.
13. Fabric Scraps
Fabric scraps can be used to create patchwork quilts, make stuffed animals or toys, or sew smaller items like pouches or wallets. They can also be used as a filling for pillows or cushions.
14. Empty Cans
Empty cans can be turned into pen holders, vases, candle holders, bird feeders, and even musical instruments with a little creativity and DIY skills.
15. Newspaper
Newspaper can be used for wrapping fragile items or as a base for creating art projects.
16. Broken Dishes
Broken dishes can be creatively reused by transforming them into mosaic art, garden markers, or even a unique bird bath for your backyard. Pieces of the broken dishes can also be used to create a colorful and eclectic pattern on a picture frame or a flower pot.
17. Ice Cream Containers
Ice cream containers can be used for storage or as a lunch boxes.
18. Toilet Paper Rolls
Paper towel rolls can be reused in various ways, such as a tool for organizing cables and cords, as a mold for making seedling pots, as a holder for wrapping paper, or as a base for creating DIY bird feeders.
Another creative idea is to use them as playful toys for pets, such as cats, who love to play with them.
19. Scratched CDs
Old CDs can be reused in many creative ways, such as making reflective bird deterrents, creating unique wall art, or using them as coasters. They can also be used to make shiny reflective mosaic tiles for DIY projects.
20. Plastic Cutlery
Plastic cutlery can be used for arts and crafts projects, plant markers in the garden, or as small plant stakes for delicate seedlings. They can also be used as makeshift cake-decorating tools or as handles for small tools or gadgets.
21. Cereal Boxes
Cereal boxes can be reused for storage, as a magazine holder, or even as a mail organizer.
22. Wine Bottles
Empty wine bottles can be reused for various purposes. They can be turned into decorative vases or used as water bottles.
23. Old Picture Frames
You can even reuse old picture frames! They can be turned into unique trays, jewelry holders, or even a memo board. The possibilities are endless, and it’s a great way to give new life to something old.
24. Greeting Cards
You can reuse old greeting cards by turning them into gift tags or cutting them up to create a collage or new card. Additionally, you can donate used cards to organizations that repurpose them for charity or send them to service members overseas who can use them to write home.
25. Old Magazines
Reusing old magazines as wrapping paper or for arts and crafts projects is a great way to reduce waste and get creative. The colorful pages of magazines can create unique and eye-catching gift wrap, or they can be cut and used to create collages or decoupage.
Reusing items helps reduce waste, saves money, and provides a sense of satisfaction. By using some of these everyday items in a new way, you can make a difference in the world and feel good about it.
So, the next time you are about to throw something away, think twice and consider if it could be reused in a creative way.
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Source: Recycling Near You
