Many items found around the home can be used for different purposes. So before you throw those items away, think about how they can be reused. Below are some suggestions of how to reuse those everyday bits and pieces.

Reusable Items

Plastic Bag

 Carrier bags and twist ties. Carrier bags can be reused in the shops or as bin bags around the house. Paper bags make useful wrapping paper and twist ties can be used to secure loose items together, such as computer wires.
Mail

 Envelopes By sticking labels over the address you can reuse envelopes. Alternatively, old envelopes can be used as scrap paper to make notes on.
Jar

 Jars and pots. By cleaning glass jars and small pots, you can use them as small containers to store odds and ends.
Newspaper

 Newspaper, cardboard and bubble wrap Make useful packing material when moving house or to store items.
Old Clothes

 Old clothes - can be made into other textile items such as cushion covers or teapot cosies.
Packaging

 Packaging Such as foil and egg cartons can be donated to schools and nurseries, where they can be use in art and craft projects.
Scrap Paper

 Scrap paper Can be used to make notes and sketches. Don't forget to recycle it when you no longer need it.
Tyres

 Tyres Old tyres can be given to your local petrol station where they will be recycled. Or you could make a tyre-swing by tying a strong rope around a tyre and attaching it to a tree.
Used Wood

 Used wood Can be used in woodcrafts for making objects such as a spice rack or a bird table. Alternatively it could be used as firewood.

Useful Tips

Electric Kettle

 Old Electrical Equipment Donate old electrical equipment to schools or community centers so that others can reuse them.
Old Clothes

 Donate Old Clothes and Books Other people can reuse your unwanted clothes and books when you donate them to charity shops.
Car Boot Sale

 Car-boot Sale Have a car-boot sale and get rid of some unwanted items. Other people may find a use for them, plus it gives you the opportunity to earn some extra cash.
Rechargable Batteries

 Rechargeable Batteries Rechargeable batteries can be reused many times before they need throwing away, opposed to regular batteries that create unnecessary waste.
Compost Bin

 Build a Compost Bin You can reuse many waste items, such as eggshells and old tea bags, using a compost bin. This waste then degrades and turns into compost that can be used to help your garden grow.
Used Wood

 Grass Cycling After mowing your lawn, instead of throwing the grass cuttings away, leave them in your garden. The nutrients from the cuttings go back into the soil and act as a fertiliser.

Sites encouraging reuse

Don'tDumpThat provides a quick, easy, and free way to get rid of items you don't want. So if your junk still has some reusable life in it, don't throw it out with the rubbish: someone, somewhere can probably find a use for it.

Simple and easy to use, all you have to do is visit the website, find your nearest forum on the map and register with your email address. You can then place an offer (you can add photos) then wait for someone to ask, arrange a time for them to pick up - and it's done. If you're looking for something you can send your own message to ask.

Free to join, no fees or commissions. No emails to clutter your inbox, no spam or advertising and everything is family-friendly, legal, honest and decent.

Reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by using Don'tDumpThat.

What have you reused before?

Add your description and photograph of things that you have reused before.

#1 I recycle regularly and it's a very uplifting thing to do as it sure is something to make you think that you're saving the environment.
Posted by Thomas Harvey on 13/06/2007 at 10:32
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#2 Mr partner has a dreadful tendency to buy bottle Evian water every week. To my despair the bottles quickly mounted up (at the rate of 10 a week). I have however reused these for potting plants. They are perfect for greenhouse shelves or alternatively use them half submerged in a planter for a completely portable garden. Also if anyone wants perfectly straight long carrots, any old lengths of drainpipe can be 1/2 buried and filled with compost (preferably your own). This give a little protected environment for your carrots and no more deformities from stones and sticks buried in your veg patch. If there's anyone local who is renovating there house ask them for their old drainpipes: )
Posted by Mo on 13/06/2007 at 12:57
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#3 Keep a waste diary to see what you throw away, then it's easier to cut down because you know what you're throwing away each!
Posted by Jack Duberley on 21/06/2007 at 16:02
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#4 If people wanted to Recycle more, and put rubbish away less they should start doing what I do. Collect 5 Boxes of different Colours and write on them the different recycling categories (e.q. Glass, Tins & Cans, Paper and Magazines, and Vegtables). Putting the vegetables onto a compost heap is a basic way of recycling. Create a zone outside or inside your house where you can put these boxes so when you need to put something there, it's right there for you. Easy.
Posted by Protect The Wolves! on 28/06/2007 at 09:10
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#5 Think first before you cook. Using some common sense and forethought you can limit any food waste. For example I only eat a little of the crispy batter on my fish and chips. This left over batter is relished by my garden birds. I don't have any other food waste. Reduce portions and eat a healthy snack if you get hungry later on.
Posted by Sarah West on 29/06/2007 at 09:49
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#6 I think that not enough people recycle. I run a newspaper and this next issue is about recycling. I find it very hard to persuade people to recycle because some of the best bits of persuasion have been used but people ignor them. Why don't people understand that all these fumes are killing the earth. Is it just because they aren't bothered?
Posted by Emma Taylor on 29/06/2007 at 12:36
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#7 I am a Textiles Teacher in a secondary School and have launched a recycling programme with Yr9 Pupils. They love it... So why not get your School involved. It's pretty easy for any D&T Teacher to work with recycled material?!
Posted by Charlotte Straker on 06/07/2007 at 12:49
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#8 Useful page to me, I am a housewife and I often make some crafts from waste items e.g. I once made 'TUBELA' (and indian music instrument) model from coconut shells. I saw this page which gave me some new recycling ideas. Thank you.
Posted by Shruthimenon on 11/07/2007 at 15:07
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#9 If you have some things you no longer need or what a good thing to do if your short of change is have a jumble sale or car boot sale.
Posted by Kimberley on 15/07/2007 at 16:57
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#10 I have a bathroom fitting company that gets through a lot of waste cardboard packaging.
I would gladly take it to a recycling centre for free.
Because I'm "trade" I have to pay about £60 to get rid of it.
If they want to recycle why do I have to pay to get rid of it?
Thanks
Bob
Posted by Bob Holland on 30/07/2007 at 10:45
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#11 We should recycle to look after our homeland!
Posted by Maiki Turiri Aspinall on 06/08/2007 at 01:20
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#12 Great web site ....I think this is the best recycling web site. I think you should add a recycling game or a tour for kids which shows healthy food which can be recycled.
Posted by Sarah Milla on 08/08/2007 at 11:57
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#13 Use less so one doesn' t need to recycle.
Posted by William on 12/08/2007 at 12:55
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#14 I think that food cans (maize, peas, tuna, etc..) should be recycled. Can someone help me to find strategies to recycle items?
Posted by Durhone Stephane on 13/08/2007 at 19:26
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#15 Using tips of my own and this website, I have managed to reduce our waste considerably. We now only put our bin out every 2-3 wks because we recycle and reuse so much.

On a side note, I think supermarkets should do more to help with reducing our waste since a lot of the packaging, (especially plastics) cannot be recycled. I think anything we buy should be packaged in recyclable material.
Posted by Craig Portsmouth on 14/08/2007 at 11:51
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#16 good site
Posted by Gagan on 16/08/2007 at 07:31
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#17 I make toys from waste cardboard boxes for the children in my community.
I have used my old clothes to make cushion covers, quilted bed covers bags and hand bags.
Posted by Gagan on 16/08/2007 at 07:39
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#18 I can not believe the amount of things that we throw away in the UK and I am shocked and appalled!
Posted by Joel Heaton on 18/08/2007 at 02:06
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#19 Used building materials, tools, lawn & garden equipment, furniture and appliances can also be reused by contacting your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Posted by Michael Bolinger on 23/08/2007 at 20:29
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#20 Surely it is much better to reuse glassware than to use a great deal of energy in transportation and heat to melt it down to recreate what we had in the first place?
REDUCE and REUSE - YES, but sometimes I wonder about recycling. I read that there is a massive green glass mountain that nothing can be done about because we import so much wine, and there is very little market for green glass in the UK.
In Britain, paper recycling creates 1 million tonnes of toxic sludge in the de-inking process each year, this is usually sent to landfill...I also read that paper recycling does not even save trees (see Waste online).
As for plastic recycling, there are six main types of plastic and none can be mixed. By the time they are transported, sorted and cleaned any savings have been lost!!
Why not check out Penn and Tellers Recycling truths on U-Tube.
I now have serious doubts about recycling.
Posted by Col F on 24/08/2007 at 21:43
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#21 I print documents using GreenPrint at home and at work. I save about 220 sheets every month by not printing pages I don't need, emails, signs/web pages etc.

Posted by Matt Crane on 30/08/2007 at 17:33
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#22 Remember...not only do you need to recycle, but you must also purchase recyclable items that are not harmful for the environment too!! :)
Posted by Kit on 03/09/2007 at 02:36
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#23 This is a very useful page and I really enjoyed reading through all users' comments ( I usually don't!)

I enjoy putting cans, bottles,and leftover foods in the recycling bins, it gives me joy. It is a form of charity, you know! However, I wish I could recycle more things which are not specified on recycling bins etc. What I can do to them instead of putting them in the waste bin?
Posted by Mrs Kafilat Iyiola on 03/09/2007 at 20:54
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#24 Your website is quite good because there are so many ways to recycle.
Posted by Natlie Young on 07/09/2007 at 11:57
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#25 I think that you need to recycle for a better chance to survive in the world
Posted by Mary Boldwin on 10/09/2007 at 09:57
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#26 I've got about 5 mobile phones in my drawer at home, gathered over the last few years. Does anybody use REALLY old phones? There's a good debate about mobile phones and the environment online which got me thinking I could be doing something more useful with them.
Posted by Gavin Farmer on 10/09/2007 at 17:14
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#27 My company recycles disposable Tyvek garments, like lab coats and coveralls. We pay companies per garment to recycle them with us.
Posted by Christine Michnik on 11/09/2007 at 21:24
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#28 I'm from a location that has many poor people so my idea is to open a recycle business as we know children at school like to waste paper so I will go to the school and talk to the headmaster and tell him/her that I will bring the bin of papers so the children will not have to throw away this paper. Each school with more paper will win a prize and as we also know that vegetables can be used again after they have been used, we can plant them so they can be veges and if a person comes with a plastic, tins, bottles etc. we can give him money or vegetables.
Posted by Kamanga Tshepo on 12/09/2007 at 09:04
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#29 For my citizenship GCSE coursework, I have decided to deal with the issue of litter in my school. Just over a year ago, our school moved to a brand new site. This site cost a huge figure of £20 million. Vandalism and litter were always problems in the old school and I expected these things to have stopped, once we had moved. I am horrified in the way the students have treated the new school. Litter is a growing problem in our school. At break and lunch times, food packaging is carelessly dropped all over the school grounds. With our help, the school can become a cleaner and greener place. Our main aims are to provide more litter bins around the school, make pupils more aware of littering and to introduce more recycling facilities. How can I make young people aware of these issues? How do I stop litter in our new school? I'd be very grateful if someone could give me some advice. Thank you.
Posted by Voirrey Armstrong on 12/09/2007 at 11:42
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#30 I have some great suggestions to share.

You can buy 'shampoo bars' from Lush which save on packaging. Use a flannel and soap rather than face wipes or cleansers. Also, you can buy shopping bags from 'Claire's accessories' which fold up so you can put them in your hand bag and use them instead of plastic bags.
Posted by Amanda Thompson on 17/09/2007 at 10:17
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#31 Recycling is really important and I think everyone should do it. I try to do it every day.
I keep nagging my brother to do it but he doesn't listen. I don't see why every on doesn't do it. It only takes a few seconds.

Thanks for listening.
Posted by Chloe Charlotte on 17/09/2007 at 14:33
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#32 Recycle paper and other stuff!!
Posted by John Smith on 20/09/2007 at 09:06
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#33 If you have a hamster or mouse and want to recycle paper, why not shred it and use it as there bedding. It helps the environment and saves money too.
Posted by Amy Poulton on 20/09/2007 at 11:44
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#34 Over 30,000,000 plastic bottles were thrown into land fill sites last year and the amount is growing. Sugary sweet drinks are slightly less than in the past but bottled water is on the increase and no one seems to know why these"designer" bottles of water are used so much when ordinary tap water can easily and cheaply be filtered or purified at home and leave excellent quality water on tap, reducing transport cost, storage space and land. This would not need recycling,it would just do away with the bottles in the first place!

Peter Allen
Posted by Peter Allen on 24/09/2007 at 07:18
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#35 You should always try to recycle as much waste as you possibly can, especially as Christmas is coming up and you may have quite a few empty bottles lying around!!!
Posted by Anna Holmes on 27/09/2007 at 11:46
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#36 Don't leave light's on in rooms that you're not in. And use energy efficient light bulbs =]
Posted by Emily Newman on 28/09/2007 at 13:48
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#37 Just reduce, Guys. It's that simple.
D'oh!
Posted by Sancarn on 01/10/2007 at 12:28
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#38 RECYCLE.
THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.
Posted by Daym on 01/10/2007 at 14:40
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#39 You should reuse pages of paper by using both sides, it's so easy.
Posted by Nicky Brownie on 09/10/2007 at 21:22
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#40 I like recycling my bottles and cans of cokes and the local bank for recycling.
Posted by Thomas Cooper on 11/10/2007 at 14:20
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#41 One good way of reducing waste is to buy less. Avoid over-packaged products, don't replace something that still works just because you fancy a new one, alter clothes or use the fabric to make new ones and never buy bottled water. There is a huge environmental impact in manufacturing and packaging the product in the first place, plus delivering it to the store. If you really need something try and get it from a charity shop or arrange a swap with friends.
Posted by Angela Gilbert on 11/10/2007 at 15:16
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#42 If you enjoy beer and wine why not make your own? It is quite easy and you only need a little basic equipment (try Freecycle or eBay) and some bottles which you use over and over again.
Posted by Angela Gilbert on 11/10/2007 at 15:18
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#43 If are keen on crafts or know someone who is, you might like to try making a rag rug. I recently made two, using fabric from old trousers. All you need is a rug hook, an old sack (give it a good wash before you use it!) and some old clothes to cut into strips. Work out a basic design beforehand - squares or stripes look nice. This uses up old clothes than are not good enough for a charity shop... It is a very satisfying hobby and you end up with a lovely snuggly rug.
Posted by Angela Gilbert on 11/10/2007 at 15:25
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#44 Florists buckets and mushroom trays are not collected from the shops for re-use and are either stacked up in the back yard or go to waste. The buckets are great as flower tubs or for growing veg, and the mushroom trays stack so are great for storage in the home, shed or garage. Get friendly with your local shop and they will be glad to let you take some.
Posted by Angela Gilbert on 11/10/2007 at 15:28
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#45 I have started recycling and see the amount of weight that comes out of your bucket and how much lighter they are. It's also fun to no that your doing your bit for the environment.
Posted by Deniz S on 17/10/2007 at 22:15
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#46 My father has made a "recycling centre" for the house. This helps a lot, it separates the glass, newspapers, plastics and cans. I would recomend this to anyone who spends a lot of their time trying to separate them. Although the "blue bin" is going to come around soon, (I know I am getting one, and I live in Staffordshire) building a centre really does help. It saves me time, I hope this idea helps you as well.
Posted by Scott Evans on 18/10/2007 at 10:13
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#47 I would just like to know if it is possible to recycle laminated paper or paper from magazines. I would be very greatful for some advise.
Posted by Gareth Edwards on 27/10/2007 at 10:01
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#48 If glass bottles can be recycled, why is it that window glass, mirrors or even automotive glass can't be? If recycling bins and such were offered to such glass companies and all the glass was sorted between plate glass, safety glass and so on, why isn't it done? My father owns a glass company so I've taken heavy interest in the recycling process.
Posted by Justin Smith on 29/10/2007 at 18:44
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#49 In reply to Justin Smith's post on the 29th October 2007.
Safety glass and window glass cannot be recycled due to the chemical coatings on their surfaces. Safety glass is laminated (has a fine coating of plastic) which is why it shatters into small regular pieces. Plate glass is rolled out onto chemicals to cool it quickly and evenly. This results in a fine layer of chemicals being bonded to the surface. When you try to recycle these types of glass the coatings become contaminants in the glass. This has a large effect on the quality of the glass (mainly turns it white and opaque). Unfortunately there is no (cost) effective way of removing these unwanted impurities so therefore no-one actually does it!
Posted by Simon Heather on 08/11/2007 at 19:05
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#50 Give your old things to charity.
Posted by Brandon Horner on 09/11/2007 at 11:59
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#51 Cut up old tights for tying up all your old newspapers. I put an advert at the local secondary school: "old tights wanted". I cut these up and use them for tying up plants in our local gardeners club.
Posted by Edna O Neil on 11/11/2007 at 08:40
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#52 I use Dont Dump That to get rid of all my unwanted stuff, I have even got some stuff I did need of there, check them out at www.dontdumpthat.com and find your nearest forum

Happy Recycling
Posted by Mark Jones on 14/11/2007 at 10:01
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#53 Aquire some reusable bags from a shop to cut down on using plastic carrier bags. This way bags don't get thrown out and sent to landfill sites as they are not biodegradable.
Posted by Alex Young on 15/11/2007 at 11:44
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#54 UK - GiveAway is the new fun way to recycle. UK - GiveAway Is 100% Free To Join. UK - GiveAway is for anyone in the UK who has something that they no longer need but that is too good to throw away. The UK - GiveAway site is open to all who wish to "recycle" and keep items out of the local tips and landfills, whether you want to pass an item on or maybe find something you're looking to acquire. The main rule: EVERYTHING posted must be FREE.
Posted by Nathan Lister on 18/11/2007 at 14:19
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#55 If you buy a bricket maker you can save around £100 each month by recycling paper instead of buying coal.
Posted by Robyn L on 24/11/2007 at 13:32
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#56 Organise a 'give or take' day where you bring items you don't want anymore and pick up some things you do for free.
Posted by Angela Norton on 24/11/2007 at 17:48
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#57 I recycle my old pots and pans, they make great plant holders. !
Posted by Rowan Melvin on 28/11/2007 at 15:10
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#58 Don't just put things in the bin! Have a look too see if you could recycle them first!
Posted by Rowan Melvin on 28/11/2007 at 15:18
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#59 How do you recycle a beer bottle, or can you? If yes, then can it go in the black bin or by itself ?
Posted by Mouse on 28/11/2007 at 15:35
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#60 I recycle a lot and I have reused a glass bottle as a pencil tin to put all my stationary in.
Posted by Emma Bullough on 29/11/2007 at 16:44
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#61 I need help - I work in a fairly busy local theatre with a very busy bar, which as you can imagine, produces a large amount of cans and bottles. We have absolutely no way of recycling these - occasionally some of our volunteers come and pick them up and take them to the recycling centre but more often they just end up going in the bin. The council refuse to give us any form of help recycling - not even a black box (because we're not a household *sighs*) and most companies want to charge us for taking away recycled waste. Does anyone know any way we can get our cans and bottles collected from the centre (either in separate bins, bin liners or whatever) and not get charged a fortune for doing so?
Posted by Paul on 03/12/2007 at 20:07
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#62 Is the plastic used in new cars' bumpers recyclable? Does anyone know??
Posted by Kamal Jan on 12/12/2007 at 20:53
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#63 I take all the plastic, paper and cans home from work everyweek and put them in with the household recycling
i usually end up walking home with a giant sack of unused promotional items every week
its also amazing the amount of packing card used to pad unbreakable things!
Posted by Abi Josiah on 13/12/2007 at 12:11
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#64 I have reuse my beer bottle as the flower pot, when these two things which are men and women most loved joined together, it's beyond your imagination, it's good as you reuse it!
Posted by terrytsang on 24/02/2008 at 15:28
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#65 IN REPLY TO Simon Heather on 08/11/2007

Safety glass is heat treated, thats why it breaks into small pieces. Laminated glass is the one that has two sheets of glass with a polymer membrane sandwiched between and it shatters but tends to stay together, also used for bullet proof screens.
Posted by J D Gilbert on 02/03/2008 at 04:55
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#66 I made a recycling centre in my computer room. All I done is get a carboard box and put it there, then at the end of the week empty it into our recycling bin. If we didn't have this my family just ended up putting used/unwanted paper in the normal bin, so now were recycling more :)
Posted by M. McC on 02/03/2008 at 17:54
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#67 jUST rECyCLE eVERytHiNG tHAT yOU cAN. eSPeCiALLy gLASS bOTTLes aND pLAStiC bOTTLes!
Posted by Maddie, Michaela & Ella! on 07/03/2008 at 10:51
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#68 jUST rECyCLE eVERytHiNG tHAT yOU cAN. eSPeCiALLy gLASS bOTTLes aND pLAStiC bOTTLes!
Posted by Maddie, Michaela & Ella! on 07/03/2008 at 10:51
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#69 REcycling is mint! I lovee itt! I am goin to recycle for ever and ever =] Lotts Of Lovee
xox
Posted by Daisyy Griffin on 10/03/2008 at 14:27
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#70 Another way to reuse something creatively is by saving the tops of a soda pop can, the part you puch down to open, you can string them on a yarn to make a necklace. :)
Posted by Sally on 07/04/2008 at 01:28
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#71 this website has helped me alot with my science case study. thank you very much.
p.s i recycle
Posted by Rosie Goddard on 15/04/2008 at 10:50