Second Use For Everything

[marla]

I'm trying to adopt the philosophy to find a second use for everything. I heard the concept from a friend. Instead of recycling which I had been doing, I try to find a second use for items that are about to go in the trash or in the recycle containers. While recycling is better than throuwing things into the landfill, finding another use for them is even better. It's kind of fun and a new challenge for me. Do others do this too?

[emily1067]

The one thing I do reuse is dryer sheets. I use them to dust electronic equipment like the TV and stereo. The dust clings to them like magic!

[terry1156]

Originally Posted by marla

I'm trying to adopt the philosophy to find a second use for everything. I heard the concept from a friend. Instead of recycling which I had been doing, I try to find a second use for items that are about to go in the trash or in the recycle containers. While recycling is better than throuwing things into the landfill, finding another use for them is even better. It's kind of fun and a new challenge for me. Do others do this too?

It sounds like a great approach! I guess I should try and do that more often.

[britbunny]

yes, i try to do this too. I started when I was reading about grocery shopping and the notion that if you could find 3 uses for any ingredient then it would never go to waste.

I am also a big user of bicarb of soda and vinegar for cleaning so finding uses for other things is getting like a bit of a game for me now!

[terry1156]

I guess I have been doing this to some degree without even thinking about it.

I don't recycle boxes and wrapping material because I can use them again for items I sell on auction sites.

Old magazines also don't go to the recycle bin. They go to the local elementary school for use in projects like collages.

No longer needed or broken glasses, cups, bowls and other ceramic items go to an artist friend that uses these materials in her projects.

Still, I'm sure I could do a lot more if I try. I'm keeping the thought in the back of my mind.

[Amelia]

Any tabletop gamer will turn trash into terrain. People have been known to make a whole town out of cardboard-there are so many types, brown paper bags and you name it-it sounds odd but any hobby store will know a group. Styrofoam esp is something they use-if you have some from inside packages-they will use it and this is something that just sits in a landfill. www.gamesworkshop.com can give you ideas. It sounds odd but some of the things I've seen-you'd never know what it was made of because of the combination of glue paint and other assorted items brings new life to whatever it is. There are other sites not sure where-lookout hobby terrain making of and you'll prob get quite a few sites.

[miclason]

mostly with food...I can turn the smallest amount of leftovers into a different meal...other stuff...hmmmmm....papers and magazines get reused...magazines for artwork (4 year old in the house!) and paper for cleaning or for throwing away peels....wine bottles become flower vases or candle holders at our home...
stale bread becomes bread pudding! (yummy!)...

[Lori63]

I work in a preschool-appropriate magazines and calendars can be donated-the kids love them. We also use coffee cans, toilet paper rolls, wallpaper books, carpet squares-the list is endless.

P.S. You might also see if your local nursing home needs anything.

[mom-from-missouri]

you can recycle old sweaters--cut squares and insert denim or another sturdy material and make pot holders. Trace your hands, make a pattern, cut out on the sweater and make mittens--the mittens can either be worn, or used on top of Christmas presents with a treat in them to be recycled again as a tree ornament. Solid colored fluffy sweaters or old furs (or fake furs) can also be cut and recreated as a stuffed animal, or pillow.

[mom-from-missouri]

For kids-here is a neat thing to recycle with--use the clear hard plastic containers with lids that you can get deli foods or fruits in. Add some gravel to the bottm, potting soil and seeds. Water and close the lid and place in a sunny spot--a terriaum (which I cant spell)

[amomof4]

Well I think on obvious one is using the store plastic bags for trash can bags.

When I had a vacuum that used bags, I would empty it over & over until it would finally tear.

plastic container that cottage cheese & sour cream come in can be reused for food storage containers.

Glass containers that contain stuff like jams & jellies can be used for drinking glasses.

I use the 4 quart plastic containers from ice cream for compost stuff until it gets to the compost bin.

I get dishwasher soap in a plastic bucket. I use it for dog food & wash buckets.

We re-use plastic water bottles & straws.

I use the 3 lb coffee can to empty my husband's ashtrays so that the trash doesn't stink. I also use them to store egg shells in the oven. That way when we use the oven, the egg shells get cooked. I crush them & use them for the garden or feed them back to the chickens in the summer when they free range & need extra calcium.

If I buy them, which is rarely, I will wash & re-use plastic forks, spoons, & drinking cups.

I re-use computer paper by printing on the other side.

I use cloth napkins so they can be washed & re-used.

I use plastic milk containers to store motor oil when my husband does an oil change. But beware, the plastic will break down. If stored too long, you will have an oilly mess to deal with.

Plastic milk containers can also be used to cover seedlings in the garden. You cut it so that you can stick a stick through the handle & stick it into the dirt so that it won't blow away. If it gets too hot, just take off the lid.

I re-use boxes that come in the mail to ship things to others.

I use fabric to wrap gifts & then save the fabric for the next gift. Most times fabric is cheaper than gift wrap.

When I get a newspaper, I save it for the winter to start a fire in the wood stove. I also save the grain bags to use as kindling.

The dog food bags have a plastic lining, so we use them for trash.

I sometimes re-gift. Isn't that re-using?

Ok, that's all I can think of right now.

[mom-from-missouri]

I save my jars to use in the freezer with leftovers.

[mom-from-missouri]

I also reuse water bottles and small plastic juice bottles to hold drinks for my daughters school lunches. I fill them half way, freeze over night, then top them off in the morning. By lunch time they are still cold.

[amomof4]

I reuse bread bags to store cookies & such.

Potato chip bags can be reused for freezer bags. Same with ceral bags. The ceral bags & pretzels I buy have ziplocks, so their ez to use.