We can make a difference to the environment by reusing more of what we already have. Most things that we buy or bring into our homes can be used for more than one purpose, like using empty jam jars to store small items like screws and nails or empty ice cream cartons to store leftover food. We can also make considerable savings for the environment (and often our wallets too) by buying some things second-hand. You might need to look a bit harder to get the perfect item, but charity shops and many websites are crammed with second-hand bargains. Read on for more ideas on how to reuse as much as possible.
FIND NEW USES FOR THINGS
- Turn vintage fashions into the latest trends – stylish retro clothing can make a real fashion statement
- Sew together vintage fabrics to make cushions and quilts
- Old tyres can be used as planters for flowers or vegetables like potatoes.
REUSE AND REPAIR
- Give old furniture a makeover
- Swap items with friends – you can even make a social occasion of it
- Repair rather than replace
DONATE OR SELL ALL SORTS OF THINGS
- Mobile phones
- Part-used tins of paint
- Printer, toner and fax cartridges
Reuse is very different from recycling. Instead of carefully discarding items that can be recycled to make new products, reuse involves using the item again to extend its life cycle.
Remember, reuse does not necessarily mean that YOU reuse the item. It can mean that someone else gets to benefit from its use or sale and our membership can help you with this.
It doesn’t matter, as long as it is reused!
