Reuse
Incorporate Reuse Into Your Daily Routine, Turn Trash to Treasure with Innovative Reuse Ideas, and Reuse Water
Someone, somewhere will always find a use for what you no longer need or want.
Just as the old saying goes, one person’s trash can be another person’s
treasure. You can turn your own trash or another person’s trash into a valuable
treasure by reusing it in innovative and resourceful ways. You can also
provide opportunities for others to reuse your trash as their treasure. Here
are some great tips to begin the reuse exchange.
Trash to Treasure Ideas
Freecycle. What is freecycling? The worldwide Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It’s a grassroots movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is run by a local volunteer moderator. Membership is free. Use your local Freecycle Exchange, or set up your own if there isn’t one in your city already.
To reuse water runoff from your gutter system, try reusing a spare bucket or purchase a Rain Barrel.
Make a tax-deductible donation of your used books, CD’s, video tapes or DVD’s to a non-profit organization such as Eco Encore, which turns used goods into financial contributions that support the environment.
Call your local county or city to see if it runs a swap shop or reuse exchange at any of its recycling centers.
Donate to your local non-profit thrift shop. Many local governments have created partnerships with reuse centers such as Good Will, the Salvation Army, Purple Heart and other charities that encourage community residents to bag their reuseable goods and leave them for easy pick-up.
Hold a neighborhood yard sale. You’re sure to provide and find plenty of treasures that need a good home. Invite your neighbors to bring along their reusable items. Make it a community event and get ready to barter the day away! Consider donating the profits from your reuse sale to your favorite environmental organization or buy tree saplings to plant in your yard.
Instead of consuming more and more each day, choose one or more of the following suggestions for reusing items in your daily routine. Make a personal commitment to work as many as you can into your daily habits.
Reuse Tips For Your Daily Routine
- Use your local library. Instead of buying new books every time you would like them, join a local public library and reuse the books that are there for the perusing, and save yourself some money, too!
- Use rechargeable batteries. They significantly reduce your waste, your costs, and the number of trips you’ll need to make to the hardware store.
- Reuse washable cups rather than throwing away disposables. Most fast food restaurants and coffee houses will fill your reusable mug.
- Use reuseable cloth gift bags and save reuseable paper, such as the Sunday Comics or grocery bags, for wrapping gifts.
- Reuse washable cotton diapers. If you use velcro diaper wraps, reusable diapers are just as convenient and often more afforable than disposable diapers.
- Wash and reuse plastic storage containers rather than using throw-away plastic storage bags. For times when you do use plastic food storage bags, wash and reuse them again.
- Paper or plastic? Don’t waste either. Reuse cloth or canvas bags when shopping.
- Wash and reuse plastic utensils.
- Reuse washable napkins
- Before purchasing new products, check goodwill or other used goods stores to see if you can reuse someone else’s item.
Tips to Reuse Water: Rain Barrels and Graywater
You can reuse rainwater and graywater, also often spelled greywater,
in your backyard to conserve water and save money. A rainwater
harvesting system collects rain that falls on your house and grounds.
Try reusing a spare bucket or purchase a Deluxe Rain Barrel to catch water runoff from your gutter system. This rainwater can
replace purchased water when you water your lawn, wash your car or
bathe the family dog.
Greywater is water that has already been
used in your bath, shower, washing machine, or bathroom sink. Since it
can contain bacteria, it is best suited for subsurface irrigation of
non-edible landscape plants. Extra nutrients found in graywater can
sometimes even be better for your plants, resulting in stronger
vegetation and growth. Try the five-star rated Create an Oasis With
Greywater for more information about building a greywater system. You
can view more information and purchase this reuse title by clicking on
it in the margin to the right.
If you have more great trash to treasure or reuse ideas, please send them to Sage so we can share them with our readers.
