Scrap Recycling Forum

What we really do at home to protect the environment?

What is possible and what is working right now?

Me at home trying to use organic trash in plant fertilizers... or to have a more logical use of water.

Like to hear about it from this forum members.

Regards

edward

I use to collect organic trash and dump it in back side of my home. I use to mix around two to three kilogram of salt in it ( to avoid insects ). Then after ten to fifteen days it can be used as plant fertilizers.

I had used waste glass and tiles to fill up a pit behind my house... I also avoid usage of plastic bags... and leftover food is given out to needy ones rather than throwing off...

What i do at home is to properly segregate the trash so when the garbage man comes in. They wont have a hard time organizing the trash in their facility in recycling.

Limiting waste products.

We provide “green approved” low impact liquid soap and shower gels in pump dispensers for our guests. This creates much less waste or overuse than with traditional single use sachets and mini soap bars.

Bedding and towels are changed once per week during the guests stay. We will also exchange bedding at the guests request rather than automatically every day. This benefits in the minimal use of detergents and energy use.

Bins are provided in the bathroom to prevent rubbish being thrown down the toilet.

Guests are made aware that we sort rubbish for recycling of paper, plastic and glass. They are also requested to hand in to us any used batteries or medical sharps and used printer cartridges so that they can be disposed of at the local safe collection points for dangerous waste.

DON'T THROW IT AWAY: Suggestions on recycling vintage, or REALLY OLD organic bedding

Organic bedding and clothing are produced in much the same way, from the same quality organic fibers, as old fashioned pieces that often command top dollar today, regardless of wear. In fact, the following suggestions are perfect for vintage fabrics that are beginning to wear and disintegrate after many, many decades of use, such as early clothing and linens (organic because fabrics before WWII were not treated with chemical toxins!).

As children of a disposable culture, we need to modify our our mindset about the natural fibers in our lives, and think about how we relate to the ecosystems on our fragile planet. In that regard, the Amish and Mennonite cultures have it right. Waste nothing, and respect the earth.

We encourage you to recycle these earth-born fabrics, instead of throwing them away in burgeoning landfills.
First understand that organic cotton and wool products are valuable resources, and hot commodities. Great time, energy and patience are invested to grow and produce organic fibers. True organic fabrics will remain part of your family's lives for a very long time. Remember none of us is immortal...sturdy chemical free fabrics should always be saved. Don't forget to tell the children how precious natural fabrics are, and how preserving the best of Nature will preserve their futures!

For Fabric Products (e.g., sheets, pillow cases, duvet covers....)

- Cut it into scrap pieces and incorporate into a patchwork quilt.

- Make curtains.

- Shred it and throw it into your compost.

- For Halloween, use tired old organic cotton and wool fabrics to make a costume. Experiment with natural dyes in fun colors. Vintage organic fabrics are precious, and none of us is immortal...save those costumes for future use.

For Wool & Fabric Products (e.g., old woolen clothing, comforters, pillows)

Pet Beds: Pass on well loved bedding to your beloved pet. Cats and dogs are very attracted to wool bedding, and intuitively sense the natural fibers to be a perfect place to rest. If you have a comforter or mattress top, fold it in half and then in half again then sew up the edges. This will make a perfect dog bed. For a pillow, do nothing; it will make a nicely sized bed for a cat or small dog (if you can find a shallow natural basket base, even better!).

Organic Garden Beds. Is there an area in your landscape where you need to start over? Many people use black plastic or a landscape "fabric" mesh to put on top of problematic weeds. Instead of putting plastics in the ground that will eventually pollute your landscape, try laying down a threadbare comforter or mattress top, then cover with good rich composted material.

You can even create a whole new bed where there used to be grass (this method is especially appropriate around trees, where digging out the grass could severely damage lateral tree roots): Cut the comforter to the shape of the area to be covered. Lay down the comforter. Then cover this area with 6-12" of a good top soil or compost mix. Mulch and water well.

For planting in the new bed (before final mulching and watering) measure a safe distance from young tree roots; dig appropriate holes for selected plants and flowers. Lay over the old blanket or comforter and cut X shapes into the fabric large enough for plant roots. Pull back and plant as directed, recovering plant base with the cut fabric. Again, cover the area with 6-12" of good top soil or compost mix; mulch and water well. Smaller perennials and annuals especially, will have excellent organic material to help establish new roots. As the fabric breaks down the composted material will go deeper as the new garden bed matures. The result: a deep, rich base of organically composted soil.

Reuse Trash Ideas For...
Aluminum Foil
Wash if necessary, flatten, and reuse at a later time

Baby Wipe Containers
Use to store and organize just about anything. Arts and crafts supplies, sewing thread and needles, office supplies, pencils, pens, etc.

Bags - Paper Grocery Bags
Return with them to the grocery store and use them again. Some groceries will credit you 5 cents for every bag you reuse.

Use to tote items

Bags - Plastic Baggies
If possible, use a plastic re-sealable container instead

Wash them out and reuse at a later time

Bags - Plastic Grocery Bags
Use to line smaller garbage cans in your home

Use to discard your scoopable cat litter clumps

Take with you when you walk your dog to scoop your dog's poop

Use in your car as a travel garbage bag

Use as a lunch bag

Return them to the grocery to be recycled

Binders - 3-Ring
Use to organize bank and credit card statements

Use to organize recipes

Blankets
Place in the trunk of your car for emergencies

Use for picnics, concerts, visits to the beach

Bottles - Glass Beverage
Use old wine or beer bottles as a candle holder. The wax dripping down the sides will create a nice effect

Use as a vase (you can decorate it as you would like)

Bottles - Plastic Beverage
Wash out and fill with water to store for emergencies

Fill the smaller bottles with water and freeze to use in coolers or lunch boxes to keep items cool. Don't forget to leave some room in the bottle for the water to expand when it freezes.

Bottles - Plastic Food
Old ketchup, mustard, etc. bottles can be used to store your own homemade sauces and condiments

Bottles - Plastic Beauty Products (Shampoo, Lotion, etc.)
Refill with product and use for travel or to keep handy at your desk, in your car, and in your purse.

Boxes - Cereal

Remove the top and part of three sides of the larger ones to use as magazine holders. You can decorate them with gift wrap or paint them.

Cut a hole in the side (toward the bottom). Mount the box with thumbtacks to the inside of a kitchen cabinet with the hole facing outward. Stuff old grocery bags in through the top of the box and pull them out through the hole when needed.

Boxes - Shoe
Use to store mementos like cards, children's artwork.

Keep to use for your kids school projects

Use them to store small toys, recipes, odds and ends, art and sewing supplies, etc.

Compact Discs
Decorate with paper, ribbon, paint, etc. to make Christmas tree ornaments or door hangers.

Use as coasters

Egg Cartons
Use to sprout seedlings before transplanting

Break up the Styrofoam and use a packing material

Use to store golf balls

Use to store jewelry

Envelopes
Take envelopes which are sent by businesses (in the hopes that you will return them), place a label over the pre-printed address, write in a new address, and send it on its way.

Use for writing notes to family members. Don't recycle until it is completely filled.

Use for storing receipts.

Use for storing or carrying coupons.

Use for writing grocery lists.

Eyeglasses
Take out the lenses and use for Halloween costumes.

Have your optometrist make them into sunglasses.

Save the screws in case you lose them from your current glasses.

Save old ones and use them when doing messy work.

Donate to an organization which takes old eyeglasses and puts new lenses in for people who cannot afford to buy new pairs.

Eyeglass Cases
Use as a pocket protector.

Use for storing a few special pens on a desktop, beside the bed, etc.

Use as a protective case for your cellular phone

Fabric Softener Sheets
Use as stuffing for stuffed animals and decorative pillows.

Reuse in your sock or underwear drawer to keep your clothes smelling fresh.

Tear the sheets in half before using in the dryer to reduce the number of sheets you use.

Wrap around a few clothes hangers in the closet to keep your clothes smelling fresh.

Use to dust your house.

Place inside shoes at night to keep them smelling fresh.

Film Canisters
Storage of thumbtacks, rubber bands, paper clips, etc.

Fill with quarters. Put in your child's backpack for emergency phone calls.

Use for mixing small portions of paint.

Fill with aspirin and keep in your backpack or purse.

Fill with household odds and ends such as nuts, bolts, etc.

Use for storage of seeds.

Use to store extra buttons.

Put a few loose buttons or beads inside and use as a cat toy.

Flower Pots - Small/Medium
Fill partially with sand and use as an outdoor ash tray.

Use when placing flowers at a cemetery.

Use small, plastic pots as scoops for pet food or potting soil.

Use for making sand castles or snow forts.

Use small pots as fruit-picking baskets.

Keep a small pot by the dryer to collect lint.

Use a medium size pot for storage of fruits and vegetables on the counter top.

Use a small pot as a candy jar.

Paint different colors and use to decorate around a garden.

Flower Pots - Large
Use for storage of rags in the basement.

Use pots for collecting leaves, weeds, etc. while working in the yard.

Take lined pots with you when going fruit picking. Instead of taking the small baskets provided home with you, dump the fruit into the flower pot and return the fruit baskets to the farm owner.

Use pots for storage of apples, oranges, potatoes, etc. in the house.

Use pots for storage of gardening tools.

Use pots for storage of toys

Foil Trays
Wash and use for baking

Use for feeding your pets

Fill with holiday cookies and give as gifts.

Garden Hose
Poke holes throughout the length of the hose and make it into a soaker hose.

Poke holes throughout the length and make into a sprinkler for kids.

Cut into smaller sections and attach to the thin, metal handles on buckets to make it more comfortable to carry.

Cut a small section off, clean it, and use it as a sturdy key chain.

Use to tie up a young tree for support

Greeting Cards
Use as bookmarks

Make into an ornament

Make into gift tags by cutting an old card with pinking shears, punching a hole in the corner, and tying the pieces together. Add the name and a note inside.

Cut off the side with the picture (if there is no writing on the reverse side) and reuse as a post card. Pay only postcard postage!

Use in your scrapbooks as decorative embellishments

Jars - Small (Baby Food, Bouillon)
Use for storage of nuts, bolts, etc.

Make them into musical instruments for your children by placing a few dried beans, pasta, rice, coins, etc. inside the jar after removing the label.

Keep on desk for storing paper clips, rubber bands, etc.

Use for starting plants indoors.

Insert a wick and fill with wax to make your own candle. Decorate the outside to match the decor of the room.

Use for storing excess seeds.

Decorate the lid and jar with fabric paints, lace, sequins, etc. Fill with candy, bath salts, a candle, etc and give as gifts.

Jars - Food
Use for storing extra spaghetti sauce which comes from a can.

Use larger jars for storing homemade soups.

Drink from smaller glass jars.

Use peanut butter or mayonnaise jars to store homemade cookies in the freezer. They will be protected from breakage and easily visible.

Store your razor in a small, covered jar immersed in alcohol to prevent oxidization of the blade. It will stay sharp longer.

Use spaghetti jars to can tomatoes and other vegetables. The standard canning lids and rings fit perfectly.

Juice Cans
Use as a pen and pencil holder.

Use for potting plants indoors.

Use as a scoop for pet food.

Cut to make it shorter and use as a scoop for sugar, flour, pasta, etc. (Keep in the container for easy access).

Laundry Baskets
Use as a recycling basket for curbside pickup.

Use when picking apples, pears, etc.

Use for gathering leaves in the fall.

Line with a blanket and use as a pet's bed.

Use to store children's toys in a closet.

Keep in the trunk of your car to keep groceries together.

Use for storing old rags or rugs.

Use when pulling weeds

Lunchboxes
Use for general storage.

Fill with glue, crayons, scissors, etc. for a portable arts and crafts box.

Fill with bandages, gauze, etc. and keep it in your car as a first-aid kit.

Store a box of crayons, small pieces of scrap paper, travel games, etc. inside and keep it in your car as an activity center for your child.

Keep sewing supplies inside it.

Use it for storage of children's audio tapes and CDs

Use to store video game cartridges

Metal Mint and Candy Tins
Use for travel sewing kit

Use for travel aspirin or other medicine

Use to store memory cards for cameras or video games

Use to store video game cartridges

Milk Jugs - Plastic
Take the lids from gallon jugs, paint black and red and use as checker pieces. You will need 24 of them.

Make the plastic jugs into hanging flower pots by cutting a hole in the top, placing flowers inside it and then hanging it by the handle.

Cut the bottom out of a plastic milk carton and use the top part to cover and protect growing plants in your garden.

Use as a scoop for dog/cat/bird feed.

Wash and then using a funnel, fill with bird seed for easy storage.

Cut a large hole in the side and use to put plastic bags in. Tie a shoelace around the handle and hang it

Mouse Pads
Cut small circles and use as "stoppers" for cabinet doors or as appliance "feet."

Use as a place mat.

Cut, layer and use as a wrist support for the computer keyboard.

Using cookie cutters, trace onto a mouse pad. Cut the shape out and then dip into paint. Use to decorate your child's room or give to kids and let them dab onto paper.

Cut into strips and place under heavy items so they don't scratch the counter or desk.

Use as a cushion between wood and clamps when woodworking.

Mugs
Use to store change.

Use as a pencil/pen holder.

Use for temporary storage of stray screws, nuts, etc. found lying around the house.

Use as a decorative paperweight.

Use as a candy dish at home or work.

Use as a "vase" for a bouquet of really small flowers (violets, etc.).

Paper - Newspaper
Wad it up and use it as packing material

Use the comics (instead of paper bags) to cover text books.

Use to line the bottom of your tent (inside) for insulation. Place plastic over the paper to keep the print from smudging.

Fold several layers thick and use as a hot pad when camping.

Wrap fragile items for packing/storing.

Roll into "logs" for campfires. The thicker the log, the longer it will burn. Use spiral notebook wire to tie the log together. (Retrieve the wire and reuse it when you are done if it's still useable.

Make the above logs more efficient by cutting them in half and using yarn, string or shoelaces to dip the log into melted down candle wax. The wax-coated log will make for a good fire starter on damp days.

Make it into a garden film. Clear an area of weeds in your garden, lay several sheets of newspaper down, and spread mulch on top of it. It will keep most weeds from coming through.

Use to clean mirrors.

Paper - Scrap
Use any kind of used paper--computer, notebook, newspaper, etc. as wrapping paper. Personalize it with colored pencils, crayons, markers, or paint.

Cut it into smaller pieces and keep it by the phone for messages.

When doing first drafts of school papers, print on the reverse side of used computer paper, photocopies, etc.

For those of you who work in an office, convince your supervisor to use the back of scrap paper for printing lists, memos, taking phone messages, etc. Stress that this will help them save money.

Use hole-punches as confetti.

Use to make cards.

Use pieces for bookmarks. Write down any ideas that pop into your head.

Put smaller pieces in your pockets so that you can jot down notes to yourself throughout the day.

Use to line your kitty litter box.

Shred and save for packing material.

Use for wrapping delicate Christmas ornaments for storage.

Use for learning origami.

Use for making home-made paper.

Shred and use to line your hamster/gerbil cage.

Use for lining a bird cage.

Punch holes along the side and place in a 3-ring binder for school notes.

Punch holes along the side and string a shoelace through to make a notebook. Use a cereal box for a front and back cover.

Use for grocery lists

Let kids color, paint, etc. on the back of used paper.

Color both sides of the paper whatever color you like, cut into very thin strips and then use as "grass" for the Easter baskets.

Take used copier paper from work and donate to daycare centers for the kids to draw on.

Give lined computer paper to children learning how to write cursive.

Pencil Box
Store game pieces.

Fill with pencils and store in a drawer at home.

Let kids use for a jewelry box.

Let kids use as a cash register when playing "store".

Store first aid supplies in it, rubber-band it shut and keep in closet, garage, basement, car, etc. Be sure to place in a plastic baggie first to keep supplies dry.

Use in the kitchen for orderly storage of soup mixes, taco seasonings, tea bags, etc.

Use for a coupon box.

Picture Frame
Keep in the kitchen and slip a recipe card into it when cooking to keep it clean.

Use for storage of awards/pictures you no longer wish to display. Several will fit in a frame. Store the frame flat in a closet.

If you are bored with the look of a wooden frame, stain it a different color and reuse it

Let children decorate a wooden frame with paint and then allow them to hang it in their room with their own art work inside it.

Save the glass and backing of standard size frames for when others break.

Use for hanging emergency phone numbers and instructions in the basement or garage.

Replace the glass with a mirror and hang it for a new look.

Make a small picture frame (wallet size or 3x5) into a coaster. Glue something soft (material, etc) to the back so it does not scratch your table.

Use the cardboard backing as a fire starter.

Glue your child's artwork to the cardboard backing of a picture frame. Display on a wall or as a standup without the need for a frame.

Instead of plastic containers buy foods packed in Glass container like sausage bottles etc,Do not get plastic covers , carry a JUTE BAG while u go for shopping ..

Dump waste Food materials at the back side of my residence in mud and use it as a manure to some plants ..Limiting waste products. I also avoid usage of plastic bags..

Good to see lot of ways in improving recycling process in our own backyard. Thanks for bringing out information on this regard. People should start following some of these tips which are not difficult to follow at all. While we are doing our routine work it would just add benefits on the whole if we add these suggestions into execution.