Reuse

"What is one man's trash is another man's treasure"....

For example, jam jars can be rinsed out and used to organize nuts and bolts; new candles can be made from remainders of old candles. Just because we can't use a certain item anymore ourselves, doesn't mean someone else can't. Books and magazines can always be given away or donated to a library. This way one item can be useful for a lifetime, even if it isn't necessarily so to the same individual.

Our goal, once this section has grown, is to input all the information as well as new information in to a searchable database where all you need to do is type in a key word for easier use of looking for a way to reuse.

  EASY WAYS TO "RE-USE" YOUR PERSONAL ITEMS:

• Hangers can be given away to dry cleaners/laundromats/thrift stores.
• Lids to large top plastic bottles can be used as an organizing tool for paper clips, nuts and bolts, furniture leg guards as well as model paint mixing. Smaller lids can also be glued onto a sheet of wood or cardboard to make a handy palette for painting and crafts.
• Plastic/glass bottles can be reused to store drinks in your fridge or to take fresh juice or water with you, instead of buying pop.

  EASY WAYS TO "RE-USE" COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS: 

• Rotten fruit and vegetables can be used for composting at home. The same goes for teabags, disposable coffee filters and peanut shells.
• Old clothes and linens, if they're not wearable/repairable and can't be donated/passed on can be made into rags. This saves money and helps the environment by minimizing the need to use paper towels.
• Re-use margarine and yogurt tubs as lunch or leftover containers.
• Use rechargeable batteries. They may seem more expensive initially but they can be recharged and reused up to 100 times.
• Leftovers? You can use these to make nutritious, homemade soup or sandwiches. Save the food and save yourself the trouble of buying a greasy fast food meal.
• Soup tins can be used as pots to start your own (herb) garden.
• Kitchen items can be bought or sold to local thrift stores.
• New candles can be made from the remnants of old candles.
• Glass jars can be used to store homemade fruit jams, nails and screws, or cotton balls and swabs. Lids can be fixed onto the underside of a shelf in a work shed so when your looking for items luckily you can see through the jar to what is inside. Since the jar is screwed in to the lid attached to the bottom of the shelf, no dirt or bugs have got in - makes it impossible to misplace them!

  EASY WAYS TO "RE-USE" ITEMS FROM THE WORKPLACE: 

• Put up a "free/for sale/wanted" bulletin board at work or in your apartment building. It's amazing who wants what.
• Paper used on only one side like faxes can be used for it's other side by stacking and cutting in to four and you have an instant note pad.

  EASY WAYS TO "RE-USE" ITEMS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

• Unwanted books, magazines and newspapers are usually gladly accepted by the library.
• Old eyeglasses can be donated to your local shelter/salvation army or given to Vision Aid Overseas - www.vao.org.uk
• Plastic grocery/shopping bags can be re-used a few times. Bring your own when you do your groceries, instead of taking even more home. Most large grocery stores have a recycle area to take old bags as well.
• Old appliances can be given to local thrift stores to rebuild or for parts.
• Organize a SWAP DAY in your neighborhood, where everyone takes part in a big neighborhood garage sale or free market. (See our Get to Know Your Neighbor Form)