More Recycling Tips

Deoderant Casings

• Use to hold small things when traveling.
• Use to protect smashable things in the mail.
• Use as a small first aid kit holder.
• Use as a sewing kit holder.
• Hide money and other valuable stuff in it.
• Use as a travel case for crayons.

Dog Food

• Dry dog food can be fed to birds.

Drink Mix Containers (those with twist-off caps)

• Use for keeping matches waterproofed--although I wouldn't recommend submerging it in water.
• Use for storage of rice, pasta, etc. when camping (or at home).
• Use the large bottom portion to hold water to rinse paint brushes. Use the lid for the paint.

Duffle Bag

• If it is strong enough, use to carry fire wood logs into the house.
• Store out of season clothes in it and then slide it under the bed or in the closet.
• Fill with emergency equipment (warm clothes, first aid, etc.) and keep in the trunk of your car.

Easter Baskets

• Place a potted plant inside the easter basket and then place the basket on a shelf for display. It makes it a little prettier.
• Use as a hairbow box.
• Decorate and use year after year. Just change the wrapping and ribbon (which can be recycled into a hair bow).

Egg Cartons

• Use cardboard ones as a charcoal fire starter.
• Use for potting flowers (inside) before moving them outdoors.
• Use to keep necklaces and bracelets separate.
• Store earrings in the top of the carton to keep from losing them.
• Cut off the top and use as a serving tray for cookies, chips, carrots, etc.
• When serving chips on the lid of the carton, serve dip in the half with the egg indentations. (This works best when using the styrofoam cartons.)
• Break up the styrofoam and use it as packaging material.
• Wash a styrofoam carton VERY WELL and use for an ice cube tray. Keep the lids attached so that you can stack them.
• Make into candy-filled eggs for Easter.
• Store golf balls inside.
• If a farmer nearby sells eggs, ask them if they'd like your egg cartons. Many need this kind of supply.

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.
• Place in front of an air vent. The heat from the vent releases the smell into the air.
• 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 suntan lotion and carry with you when hiking.
• Fill with aspirin and keep in your backpack or purse.
• Fill with shampoo, soap or lotion.
• Fill with water or sand as a souvenier from a vacation.
• Fill with household odds and ends (such as nuts, bolts, etc.) and store them in an old purse.
• Use for storage of seeds.
• Put a few loose buttons or beads inside and use as a cat toy.

Film Negatives

• Use to make original bows.

Flashlight

• Remove the batteries from the body and use to store valuables.

Floppy Disks

• Use corrupted disks (or disks sent to you in the mail which you don't want) as drink coasters.
• Use the disks that come in the mail as blank diskettes after deleting the useless files.

Foil Trays

• Wash and use for baking brownies (or anything else).
• Use when feeding your puppies leftovers.
• Line festively, fill with holiday cookies and give as gifts.

Hairbrush

• Transfer to your camping gear.
• Give to your kids for when they are playing with their dolls.
• Remove some of the bristles (depending upon the kind) and use for a pet brush.
• Keep in the basement or garage for removing dirt from jeans or sneakers so it doesn't become mud in the washing machine.
• Use for scrubbing larger tools.
• Use for scrubbing garbage cans/buckets.

Hairdryer

• Cut off electrical cord and let kids use for Dress-Up.
• Let children use as a space laser.

Hockey Pucks

• Use as a diving toy for a pool.
• Use as a paper weight.

Iced Tea Containers

• Storage of nuts, bolts, screws. Keep the lids on them and they are easy to stack on shelves.

Pop Bottle Lids

• Use for mixing small portions of paint. Use for small cookie cutters. Take with you to fast-food restaurants and fill with ketchup. Wash before you leave so that you can take it with you and use it again. Paint, nail to a wall or door, and stuff a styrofoam packing peanut inside. Use for tacking up messages.

Popsicle Sticks

• Use for labeling sprouting plants in your garden. Use to stir paints and apply glue.

Post-Its

• Fold over the sticky part and reuse the other side.
• To hang a photo temporarily without the sticky mess from transparent tape, cut off the sticky part of a post-it, place it on top of photo and stick anywhere. Use the remainder of the post-it for memos.

Potato Chip Bags

• Wash and make shiny bows (for wrapping presents) out of the shiny side. Wash and use for shiny wrapping paper.
• Wash and make shiny ribbon (for wrapping presents) out of the shiny side.

Potato Chip Tubes

• Decorate the outside with any paper you like and then use it to hold just about anything, such as pencils, paint brushes, etc.
• Decorate and use as a gift box.

Purses

• Use a larger purse as an overnight bag.
• Use as a costume accessory.
• Give to kids to use for dress-up.
• Fill with a flashlight, maps and other emergency supplies and keep in the trunk of your car.
• Cut the handles or strap off of a small purse, slit two holes in each side, and put a belt through it.
• Use it as a fanny pack. Donate to a church or day care so the kids can play dress-up.
• Use it for holding odds and ends from your house, such as screws, nuts, bolts, etc. Keep them organized using film canisters and prescription bottles.
• Use a larger size purse as a hanging plant holder.
• Use it for storing toiletries when traveling.