One of my fellow Master Gardeners from San Francisco mentioned to me that she had recently taken a trip to the SF recycling center and learned that, sadly, most of our mingled recycling (the stuff that's in the blue bin), gets compacted, stuffed into a container, and SHIPPED TO CHINA- eeek!- where it gets recycled and shipped back to us in the form of recycled packaging for consumer products- double eeek!! Check out this story from the New York Times. And for a local angle read the article from Spot.us or watch the nifty 4 minute video.
So the lesson is, recycling is better than trashing, but re-using, re-purposing, upcycling and reducing is even better than recycling. That is the only sure way to reduce the amount of pollution and toxins going into our loving mother earth. Think of all that shipping pollution you'll save if you can reduce the amount of recycling in your blue bin and reduce what you use in the first place!
I know, I know, easier said than done, but we are clever and resourceful! We will find ways to repurpose our stuff!
Below is a short list of ideas for reusing and reducing common household items that we would otherwise throw away or toss in the recycling bin. I'll continue to add to the list as I come up with new ideas- and be sure to send me some of yours, I'd love to see what you come up with!
(If any of these are too radical or too much of a hassle for you, try getting the kids involved, or just do what you can.)
Ideas for Re-using & Reducing:
1.) Costco plastic 6 pack mango containers- use them to start seedlings. Fill each cup with soil, a seed of your choice, place them on a windowsill and watch them grow. The pre-made hole in the bottom allows for easy water drainage, and the top snaps over to create a mini-green house for each seed. Fun!
2.) Plastic lettuce containers & big yogurt containers with lids- use them as kitchen-top compost bins. There's no need to buy a fancy counter-top compost bin that you empty daily, when you can simple re-use your salad or yogurt containers for the very same purpose. The lid closes tight so you have no odor and keep fruit flies out, and if they're too unsightly for you, just store them under the sink after each use. They'll hold about 1 days worth of kitchen compost, then you can empty them in your compost (or green bin) and use them again.
3.) Store-bought spice jars- when empty, peel off labels and use as your own spice jars. Most store-bought spices, like the ones from Trader Joe's, still come in tiny glass containers. These are perfect to use as your own spice jars, just wash and dry thoroughly and label with a Sharpie directly onto the glass or lid.
4.) Paper grocery bags- turn inside out and use as wrapping paper. Tie with a bit of twine & decorate with stickers or flowers (drawn on or from the garden), and you have a very cute, shabby-chic way to present your gift- that doesn't require wasting extra paper.
5.) Egg containers- use as packing materials. Egg containers are so strong you can usually stand on them with all your weight before they begin to collapse. They make great packing materials when sending gifts or packing items you don't want damaged. Try ripping the lids off and use just the egg-holding part.
6.) Plastic grocery bags, produce bags & Chinese food take out bags- use as waste basket liners, dog poop bags, lunch bags, or as shopping bags. Although I recommend bringing your own reusable grocery bags to the store, if you've acquired plastic bags, it's always better to use them again, rather than just sending them to the recycling or trash bin. Turn them inside out or rinse them out if you have to, but these bags should definitely be used as many times as possible. Keep a stack of them in your car so that you're ready whenever you stop at the store. They fold down very small and can easily fit in your purse or pocket while you shop, not just at the grocery store, but think of the bookstore, the drug store, bakery, library, nursery, art class, or anywhere you might need to carry something extra.
7.) Mortens Salt container- peel the label off, cut the top off and use the cardboard cylinder as a great pencil, pen or crayon holder for the kids or art room. Same goes for frozen orange juice cans; wash & dry thoroughly, then decorate the outside by gluing yard or fabric. A great kids art project that's useful too. (My mom still keeps one of these that I made when I was 5.)
Keep the reusing and reducing... and keep the ideas coming!
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