Discover 9 ingenious ways to repurpose household items before tossing them away. Reduce waste and protect the environment with these simple solutions.
Living a zero-waste lifestyle can be challenging, especially when most household items come in disposable packaging. Fortunately, there are many ways to help the planet while at home. Discover why reducing waste at home matters and some alternative uses for everyday items that often get discarded.
What Are the Benefits of Minimizing Waste?
The United States produces many trash. In 2021, the country generated around 40.1 to 51 million tons of plastic waste, with just 2.4 million tons recycled. The system of consumption and disposal harms the planet and threatens the health of wildlife and the environment.
Reducing waste involves a combination of practices aimed at consuming less and using resources more efficiently. The goal is to limit waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. Some advantages include:
- Lower carbon footprint: Reusing and recycling materials leads to lower energy requirements in production and disposal, which translates to lesser emissions.
- Cost savings: Repurposing household products decreases the need to buy newer items, saving you money in the long run.
- Reduced pollution: Lower waste means decreased pollution levels, contributing to a healthier environment.
There are many ways to achieve this. The first step is to live a zero-waste lifestyle. According to Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home, this way of living isn’t about recycling more but recycling less by preventing waste from coming into your home in the first place. You can do it by refusing to buy single-use products, purchasing in bulk and giving your household items a second life.
9 Household Items You Can Reuse
Protecting the planet starts at your home. Here are household items you can repurpose.
Old Toothbrush
You must replace your toothbrush every three months, especially when the bristles are already frayed. Just because you won’t use it anymore doesn’t mean it has to go straight to the trash. Old toothbrushes are excellent cleaning tools and work well when getting in the small crevices of bathroom tiles and sinks. You can also use them to apply texture while making art and clean shoes.
Shoebox
You can repurpose a shoebox in many ways, from makeshift drawer dividers to baskets. Simply add ribbon handles and use them during your family’s afternoon picnics. Additionally, they can also be useful for packing fragile items when moving.
Old Clothes
Did you know that making one shirt needs the equivalent of 900 days of drinking water for one individual? This is why the fashion industry is one of the most water-consuming sectors in the world. Instead of throwing away stained jeans or shirts with holes, repurpose them as cleaning rugs.
Eggshells
Eggs are a breakfast staple, but eggshells often get discarded. Give them a new life by grinding them and mixing the powder into your garden soil. It can also serve as a calcium supplement in chicken feed.
Wine Bottles
Around 2.57 billion wine bottles are dumped in landfills yearly. Help reduce that number by transforming your wine bottles into soap dispensers, candle holders and kitchen containers. You can also turn it into a chic vase — remove the label, decorate it with paint and add cuttings.
Egg Cartons
If you love arts and crafts, you’ll appreciate using egg cartons as a paint palette. You can also use it as a jewelry organizer or a bird feeder. These items provide smart storage solutions, so consider ways to reuse them before throwing them into the trash.
Glass Jar
Peanut butter, baby food, syrup and jam come in glass jars, which you can repurpose multiple times. You can use these items to store food items like spices, oats and coffee grounds. Simply wash the jars, remove labels and redesign to your liking. You can also use them as a pot for your small indoor plants.
Mesh Produce Bag
Having a lot of mesh produce bags piled up in your kitchen can be frustrating. Why not use it as a toy storage? You just need to toss in your child’s toys, attach a hook and hang it on the wall within easy reach. You can also reuse it while shopping for unpacked produce in the market.
Laundry Jug
Large laundry detergent containers take a long time to decompose. To repurpose old items, rinse thoroughly and drill small holes in the cap to use them as watering cans. You can also use it to make a DIY bird feeder — simply cut out a rectangular entrance large enough for a bird to enter and eat.
Simple Solutions for a Brighter Tomorrow
These reuse solutions, though seemingly small, add up to reducing global landfills and pollution. The next time you find yourself discarding disposable items, consider how you could give them another purpose so you can help save the environment.
Cora’s passion is to inspire others to live a happy, healthful, and mindful life through her words on Revivalist – wholeheartedly convincing them that everyday moments are worth celebrating. Cora has spent 5+ years writing for numerous lifestyle sites – hence her sincere love for both life and the beauty of style in all things. Keep up with Cora on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.
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