One persons trash. . . is another persons treasure. So in honor of Earth day here are some things I have saved from the “Trash” and found a new life/use for.
1) I have a milk jug in my pantry filled up with red lentils I bought in bulk. (much easier to use than a bag-I can just pour them into a measuring cup) I also have mung beans in a cleaned glass pickle jar, and cornstarch, cornmeal baking soda and salt in old washed out Parmesan cheese containers (the plastic kind).
2) I use one of those nice plastic Folgers cans with the hand grip to scatter rock salt on the walkway and stairs in the winter (I cut a half moon out of the lid).
3) I have a stack of yogurt lids that I use for coffee spoon rests in the morning near the coffee pot, and 2 larger lids I’ve kept as additional spoon rests when needed.
4) I use a pretty round tin that had sugar cookies in it as my cookie jar on the counter.
5) I cut cereal bag liners (the thick wax paper) into circles that fit my cookie jar tin to separate layers of cookies.
6) I use a yogurt cup in my sugar jar, whole wheat flour jar and rice bag as a scoop (that way I can just leave it there).
7) I keep a few bread bags and shredded cheese bags (w/zipper) to use for breading things (just throw the breading and meat etc in and shake, then throw out when done) also save them to use for nasty stuff going in the garbage so it doesn’t smell as much. I try to be careful and just keep 2 or 3 of each so they don’t take over my kitchen.
8) I have coffee can on the counter for compost scraps.
9) I have a clean, empty ketchup bottle that I use to squirt pancake batter onto the griddle when I make mini pancakes for the kids.
10) I use a cottage cheese or yogurt container (large size) in the freezer to keep my leftover bits and pieces for “stone soup”
11) I have started cutting squares for a jean quilt from old jeans. I am saving back pockets to make purses, and keeping the zippers and the “name brand tags” for future projects. I made a cardboard template for the square made from an old box, and have all the squares in a shoe box (will probably take a couple of boxes before I have enough to make “buddy”’s quilt).
12) I always keep scrap paper w/ one good side for printing on (also have dh get extra from the office) and smaller paper is cut into squares for phone messages etc.
13) I have been saving vinegar jugs and milk jugs for winter sowing containers.
14) Of course I keep plastic grocery bags for trashcan liners, transporting stuff in the car, and using at Aldi’s/Save-a-Lot etc.
15) I some-what embarrass my husband by washing and reusing ziplock bags.
16) I have been keeping glass jars with lids to use for canning jelly in the fall. They are non standard sizes and canning lids & rings won’t fit-I will use paraffin wax to seal instead. This keeps the jars out of the recycle bin and saves the “good” jars for things that cannot be sealed with paraffin.
17) We recycle-so I have separate bins for cans, glass, plastic and paper. So if I’m not using it at least it gets recycled. I can always grab a container out of their to pour grease in etc if something needs to get thrown out. The kids also love to grab out plastic cans and tubs to use when playing in the dirt pile.
So what do you reuse that could have wound up in the trash?
And make sure to stop by tomorrow-I’ll have a great giveaway starting in honor of Earth Month that you won’t want to miss.
Photo by London Permaculture
JJ (Lady Di) says
We do a lot of the same things that you do (never thought of the lids as spoon rests though). One thing is using a pancake syrup bottle to hold oil. I can control how much oil comes out a lot easier.
Allison says
These are wonderful ideas. I’m going to drag my hubby to your blog and say “see? She reuses ziplock bags, too!”
We cut up cereal boxes to use for magazine holders, use shoe boxes to sort drawers, and I get a lot of sealable plastic bags with my business so I use those for sandwiches. We use grocery bags for kitty litter and small trash liners and bread bag ties for tidying loose wires.
Amanda @ Mrs.W's Kitchen says
Love this! Here are some of mine:
– I use leftover lidded plastic coffee cans for holding batches of homemade ice cream.
– Various plastic lidded containers are re-used as “redneck tupperware.” Obviously we don’t reheat in these.
– I use old glass wine bottles for decorative oil storage. Green glass for extra-virgin olive oil, clear for canola. I did buy the spout inserts, but they were relatively cheap and are in constant use. 😀
– I’m also saving old jeans for a future braided rug project.
– I save glass jars with lids for leftovers and other craft project, such as candleholders and snow globes.
Catherine says
I think I read someplace that the FDA doesn’t recommend using paraffin when canning anymore.
Leanne says
I reuse old jars for jam too. I just pick the little cardboard or paper circle out of the lid which is sometimes there, give them a good scrub and stick them in th oven at about 80C for 15 minutes or so while I make the jam. I also use little wax discs for jam making which are placed straight on top of the jam before the lid goes on. Usually my jars seal themselves and the button depresses on top by itself because of the heat butu if it doesn’t I stick an upturned plate in the bottom of a big pot, set the jars on top, pour in enough water to come about halfway up the side of the jars and boil for a minute or two, then take the jars out and turn them upside down, the gurgle and seal. Stuff keeps for a year.
Empty milk cartons are good for painting esp if you’re up and down ladders. Just cut away the top of the carton leaving the handle in place and fill with paint.
Laurie says
I’m getting some great ideas here! I use many of the ideas that others have posted, but I’ve learned a few new ones, too.
Awesome!
I use a plastic one-gallon ice cream container with lid for my compost. The lid helps to keep the bugs out and the smell in. It has a handle on it that makes it, well, ‘handy.’
I use old cereal waxed paper for crushing crackers, cookies or whatever needs to be crushed, then I throw it away when done.
I made a clothespin holder by taking an old milk jug and carved out a hole on 1/4 of one side (big enough to get my hand through), then I slit the handle so I could hook it on the line when not in use.
I probably have tons more, but my brain isn’t functioning at full capacity right now…LOL!
Cheapchick says
I am saving my next Ketchup bottle for the pancake idea! Wow you have alot of great reuse ideas here.
Anonymous says
I use an old, plastic milk jug when picking berries. When the kid was little, we reused anything squirty at the lake. I use an old, plastic coffee container for my homemade laundry detergent and many other things I cant think of right now.
Darlene 'Dee' Bishop says
I never thought of a lid for a coffee spoon rest! I’ve been using paper towels for ages though I knew there was a better way but a saucer took up too much room on my limited counter space. Thanks for the idea!
Easy-Peasy says
These are great ideas!
I save my jars and use the as cups. If you save the lid you can also use them to freeze soups and sauces. I like to do a lot of my cooking on the weekends and then freeze it. Since my husband and I both work it makes dinner prep go much faster and we are less tempted to eat out.
I also like to buy our furniture second hand. I bought our couch for ten dollars at a yard sale. It was a great couch and well built but it was covered in cracked vinyl. I reupholstered it and now we have a couch that is practically new for less than $70.