Last Updated on August 14, 2020 by Ellen Christian
Today I’m sharing some creative ways to recycle. Living sustainably is something that I feel very strongly about. Every action we take, whether it’s what we buy or what we do, has a long lasting impact on our planet. We don’t have unending resources. There are many things that we can do in our day to day lives that help lessen the impact we have on our planet. REPREVE sponsored this post — but my love for sustainability and turning it green is all my own. This post contains affiliate links, and I will receive compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on my links
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Creative Ways to Recycle for Earth Day and Beyond
Sure there are a lot of big decisions like buying a new car or a used car. There are a lot more small decisions that you may not even recognize. How many times do you forget your re-usable grocery bag at home when you go shopping? Do you bring coffee in a reusable mug when you run errands or do you get one on the go in a paper cup from the drive through? I know I’m guilty of some of these things myself.
Be aware
We try very hard to be aware of what we bring into our home. When possible, we buy things second hand from thrift stores. We love shopping at local merchants and finding businesses in our community to support. Handmade artisan products often find their way into our home instead of mass produced things at big retail stores.
Get creative
Sometimes it’s not about what we buy. It’s about what we do after we buy something. What do you do with the empty can, glass bottle, plastic tub or cardboard box? Do you toss them so they sit in the landfill or do you recycle them so they can be used again in the future?
Recycled Paper Craft Kit (makes 25 projects)
4M Soda Can RobugRecycle Leftover Wax From Your Favorite Candle
We have a recycling bucket in our kitchen and I try very hard to recycle everything that we can. I remind my husband and the kids to do the same thing. Besides tossing something in the recycle bin, there are creative ways to recycle too. Here are just a few of my favorites.
- Turn a Mason jar into a planter for a succulent or herb starter.
- Use it for storage whether it’s craft supplies, pasta or cotton balls.
- Turn your glass jars into a terrarium or a Halloween craft.
- Find another use for it. Why not turn a Meyer lemon into a bird feeder or use a plastic container as a pet dish.
Recycle it
If you cannot find an alternative use for it, be certain that you recycle it. The U.S. plastic bottle recycling rate is less than 30 percent—so less than one-third of all plastic bottles get recycled. Most people don’t think about what happens to plastic bottles after you recycle them. So, Repreve is on a mission to get the word out: Just recycle more. And buy REPREVE products.
Take a look at my video about what happens to a plastic bottle.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
The need for us to remember simple ways to help with saving our beloved planet cannot be overemphasized. Great suggestions.
Thanks, Rose!
I like all of your great uses for mason jars. I some that are collecting dust and need to be put to good use.
Thanks, Angela. I have quite a few collecting dust too!
Recycling makes the world better for us now and for those to come in the future. It is important to find createive ways to recycle.
I totally agree, Janeane!
We also use a lot of mason jars for storage options once they have fulfilled their use. Yay for up cycling.
I love upcycling! So much better than tossing things out.
I do try and upcycle things when I can. I’ve used a diaper wipes tub as a crayon box, and have used bottle caps and covers in crafts. Also spice jars to hold tiny crafting supplies, like beads. Not a lot, but every little bit counts, right?
I use tiny spice jars for my craft supplies too! Great minds!
I love using glass jars to recycle! One of my favorite things to do with a glass jar is to paint them and add glitter before putting them on the shelf 🙂
That sounds gorgeous! I need to try that!
I am all for recycling. These are some fun ways to introduce my sons to it.
They are fun and easy too!
That spider looks totally real! I love the bird feeder idea, very cool!
I’m very glad it wasn’t real!
Thank you for sharing all of these great ideas. I love reusing.
Glad to share, Melissa!
Some very cool ideas for reusing objects. If more people would do this I think our issues with waste would be better.
Thanks so much. I totally agree!
I love finding creative ways to repurpose household items…great suggestions!
Thanks, Diane! It’s fun trying to find new ways to use things.
Such great tips. I’ve been wanting to use the rope thing around my flower pots for a while and maybe paint sections of the rope. Thanks for the info.
Thanks, Mistee Dawn! it’s a fun craft and really dressed up the pot.
We love Mason jars. I use them for just about everything.
Me too, Felicia! I have boxes of them in the spare room 🙂
I love using old jars for storage. So easy and they fit great in the pantry.
That’s so true, Tammillee, and they are basically free!
I can’t believe the city next door doesn’t even have recycling. Crazy!
Love these great ideas. I have try the plastic pot diy in spring. The bird feeder is my favorite! Too cute! 🙂
No recycling? That’s awful! I’m so glad we can recycle here.
You have the best ideas! Seriously so creative. I love them all!
Thank you so much, Jennifer! You made my day!
Great ideas. Love that bird feeder!
Thanks so much, Virginia!
I love the cute bird feeder! What a great idea!
Thanks, Ashley! It was fun to make!
My favorite is the bird feeder, great ideas. Love turning garbage into treasure!
Thanks! I’ve been trying to be more creative with that!
I recycle but not as often as I could. I feel guilty about it and need to do better. Love your repurposing ideas!
I feel the same way sometimes, Rebekah!
Those are such good ideas…well except for housing the spider that is 😉
LOL no one likes my spider 🙂
I try to recycle whatever I can. And if there’s another use for something, I’ll try to find it. Plus, I make sure we really need something before I bring it into the house. But I know I could do better!
That’s really important too, Shell. I’ve really been trying to think before buying.
I am all about recycling. These are some great tips to reuse products!
Thanks, Pam, that’s something I’m really trying to work on this year.
We use jars for various things around the house. All of our plastic bags from the store are recycled as trash bags or returned to the store.
We do that too, Kecia! I haven’t bought a small garbage bag in years!
I think the bird feeder is GENIUS. How cute is that too and what a pop of color on dreary snowy days. 🙂 I love all of your ideas. 😀
Thanks so much, Nancy! Glad you liked them!
I love finding unique jars for display. It’s usually cheap to free to find these and they look great as a display!
Very true, Lauren. I love the antique looking ones I find at thrift stores.
This are some great ideas. It is so much better to reuse than to recycle because it doesn’t take any additional resources.
I agree, Chrysa! We try really hard to reduce, reuse and recycle.
i can’t wait to get back to composting once the spring air hits. everything is so dead and frozen right now. belch. i love that bird feeder. a great toddler activity for those long winter days. 🙂
Our compost is totally frozen too & under the snow! Cannot wait for spring!
we compost and recycle what we can. and repurpose. we have 5-6 birdfeeders from 2 liter bottles. and we just plain don’t buy water bottles, we have reusable ones. these are great ideas.
maybe not the spider.
spiders scare me.
LOL I’m not a huge fan of spiders but this one is plastic so I’m good.
Those are great ideas! I really love the twine wrapped planter, that turned out really cute!
Thanks, Janel, it was a lot of fun to make!
I love the jar idea, I always need ways to organize, this would be wonderful for me.
Thanks! I find it’s a great way to re-use glass jars.
I love how you’ve kept all your rolls of tape together in a bottle. I have to do this. I’m always hunting for rolls of tape. And gosh, is that a real spider?
Thanks, Marina. I have tons of tape & not a real spider at all thank heaven!
I love using old jars to recycle! You’ve got some really great ideas here. 🙂
Thanks, Paige! Glad you liked them.
Holy cow, that’s not a real spider is it? Gasp!
I like your idea of turning a jar into a planter. I throw so much into my recycling bin that I could probably re-purpose around my house.
LOL no not a real spider or I would not have gotten that close!