The Wake

Doubts about the efficacy of recycling are well documented. Certainly recycling shouldn’t be our only defense against the consumption devil within every one of us. Throwing the debris of our overactive consumerism into a plastic bin isn’t going to single-handedly preserve the world. Relying solely on recycling is just a convenient excuse not to change our lifestyle. Reusing invites us to think more creatively about how to be small-scale conservationists. It also is more effective than recycling because it helps dry up the waste stream. Furthermore, it preserves the energy originally used in creating an item. The following are eight clever ways of reusing the mistaken garbage in your life:

1. The dangers of refilling plastic water bottles for drinking doesn’t exclude other uses: make a coin container. Painters use them as a water jar.

2. Too selfish or creative to donate your clothes? Hack them into new shapes and sew them together as a quilt! Sew together swatches of your cut-up clothes to make a large sheet. Make two sheets with the same measurements. Sew the sheets together on three sides. Fill the inside with something that gives the quilt some padding. Sew the last side shut and you’re done! An environmentally friendly sleeping buddy. Now you can brag to your friends about how artsy you are.

3. Use blank CD spindles as storage containers. You can cut off the rod in the middle to create more space. One online devotee to reusing even claims the spindles will keep away flies (now I really wonder about that smell…). Remove the clear plastic cover and set the black remainder in fly infested areas to test this idea out.

4. Screw fancy Chip-Clips! Reuse the twist-ties that seal your groceries to keep your snacks fresh for less money. Collect a stockpile of these overlooked fresh-savers from the packaging of bread loaves.

5. Keep extension cords organized with toilet paper rolls. Once you have finished a roll, use the cardboard cylinder to contain those wayward cords by sliding the cords through the tube.

6. Don’t toss shabby old toothbrushes. Scrub your nasty toilet instead!

7. Save the newspaper and wrap gifts in them; like Uncle Ronnie used to. The comics are more fun than the wrapping paper for which you threw your money away, anyway!

8. A never-ending memo pad! Write in pencil and erase your markings. Brand new! Reuse the same piece of paper multiple times.