7 Items That You Can Recycle and Reuse in Your Home
In today’s world, there is so much emphasis on the environment and the concerns surrounding it. Recycling has become increasingly popular and is a great way to help the environment. Luckily there are many things you can recycle and reuse in your own home. Not only will you be helping the planet, but you will be saving yourself money as well.
1. Plastic Bags
Chances are you have a large stash of plastic shopping bags in your home. They come from almost every store these days, and add up quickly. If you are wondering what you could possibly use them for, you are in luck. There are many ways to reuse and recycle plastic bags around your home. You can use them as garbage bags in the smaller trash cans in your bathroom or bedroom. Keep some in your car to collect the trash that accumulates there. You can also take a couple bags along while walking your dog to clean up any messes that might occur along the way. If you have a package to ship, use plastic bags as packing material.
2. Newspaper
If you have stacks of old newspapers sitting around your home, there are many things you can do with them. Newspaper makes an interesting wrapping paper for birthday gifts. The comics are especially good for this purpose. You can also use newspaper for starting fires. This is very helpful if your home has a wood burning stove. If you have animals, newspaper can make good floor covering. You can also use newspaper for packing material if you are sending a package.
3. Milk Jugs
Instead of throwing your empty milk jugs away, you can reuse and recycle them around your home. Rinse them out and use them as water jugs. Keep water jugs in the fridge and you will always have nice cold water to drink. You can also use them to protect plants in your garden. Milk jugs will keep frost and pests from harming your plants. They can protect tree seedlings from harsh weather and pests as well. You can also cut off the top portion of the milk jug and use that as a funnel for various purposes.
4. Coffee Cans
Empty metal or plastic coffee cans have many uses around the house. If you are cooking with oil or fat and need to dispose of it, simply pour it into a coffee can and throw it in the garbage. Coffee cans also make excellent containers for various things. They are perfect for holding markers, crayons, change, or even cigarette butts. You can also use coffee cans as flowerpots to start growing small plants or seeds.
5. Plastic Food Containers
You probably have many food items in your fridge that come in plastic containers. Some examples are margarine, sour cream, chip dip, and yogurt. These containers can be used long after the foods are gone. You can wash empty containers and reuse them for leftovers. That will save you from buying Tupperware or Ziploc containers. You can also use them for holding various household odds and ends, such as paperclips, rubber bands, nails, bolts, and screws. If you like to paint, you can use plastic food containers to hold water to rinse your brushes in. The possibilities are endless.
6. Glass Food Jars
If you eat foods that come in glass jars, you can reuse the jars after the foods are gone. Jam and jelly jars make great glasses to drink out of. You can also use the jars to hold leftover paint or paint thinner, provided you still have the lids. Use them to store anything small that needs a home. Glass jars are great because you can see what is inside of them.
7. Popsicle Sticks
After popsicles are gone, you can wash the sticks and reuse them in your home. They can be used for many different craft-type items. Children can create lots of fun projects with them as well. If you have a garden, you can use popsicle sticks to mark rows of plants or seeds. That way you won’t be confused as to what you planted in each row.
These are just a few of the things that you can recycle and reuse in your home. So many things have purposes beyond what they were originally intended for. You might have to use your imagination a bit, but it will be worth it. You will be doing the environment a favor, and you will save money in the process.
Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes for http://www.insurancequotes.org.
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5 Responses to “7 Items That You Can Recycle and Reuse in Your Home”
May 5th, 2011 at 6:07 am
We used to be overloaded with plastic bags, but not since the local stores started charging a nickel for them.
May 5th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Plastic bags we use in the same manner as your topic.
For newspapers, I use the funnys section as gift wrapping paper, I also use the newpapers & magazines to make gift bows with.
Milk jugs: we cut off the tops & use for funnels when bf works on the car. The bottom half of the milk jugs I use to create baskets with…they are perfect for putting gifts in and give to others.
Coffee cans: we use these to store dried rice & bread flour. I also use them for gifts, such as hard to wrap items like socks etc go perfect in these cans and I wrap the outside around the can with wrapping paper/contact paper…so it can be used again.
I’ve also used the cans for storing cookies and gave them away as gifts at x-mas.
I’ve also used the metal coffee cans to bake cakes in, put the lid on and give or ship to someone with a can of frosting on the side…makes a unique gift!
Plastic containers I save them for parties so everyone can go home with leftovers and I don’t have to worry about getting my expensive Tupperware back.
Glass food jars, I replace the lids and use for canning food.
May 5th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Linda,
I love the idea for using the bottom half of milk jugs as baskets – we go through a lot of milk here!
I’m going to save my empty tp rolls for this cable organizer.
My friend reused gallon-sized cans and old cake pans to make waterers for her chickens.
May 9th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
[...] 7 Items You Can Recycle and Reuse in Your Home Frugal Hacks [...]
July 31st, 2011 at 7:05 am
Small tins can be used as baking tins. I lined them with greaseproof paper and make up a big batch of christmas cake mix. I fill these and cook – these make ideal individual christmas cakes for someone who lives alone or birthday cake. I find they are the right size for someone on their own, the cake doesn’t take too long in the oven. I decorate them with bought frills suitable for larger cakes – cut down to size. They really create a wow factor!
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