Archive for the "household" category

How can I reuse or recycle … DVD cases?

dvd_cases.jpgThe suggestiontastic Am (aka Delusion) has been in contact again:

Me again! The company I work at has just got rid of a number of software sets. The CD discs are shredded and recycled as it’s confidential waste however the DVD style boxes are not taken.

Is there anything they can be used for? I have used a few to replace damaged DVD cases I have but other than that, I’m a little stumped! If they can’t be reused, how about recycled?

I suspect a lot of the suggestions – like giving them to your local library – will have been covered in the CD case post from last year – but any DVD-case specific suggestions?

(Photo by heltje)


How can I reuse or recycle old maps?

MapWe’ve had a clever suggestion from Shabnam:

This might be an obvious one: but use old maps as wrapping paper! I just used some for to friends who loved it.

Our town hall had sent out maps indicating the energy consumption of each building. Nice to look at, but soon wasted, so I suggested for people to use it as wrapping paper.

Photos posted on my blog.

Good idea, Shabnam! I’ve also seen them used as feature wallpaper. Any other suggestions?

(Photo by singhajay)


How can I reuse or recycle … little pieces of bubblewrap?

We’ve featured bubble wrap before but many of the (great!) suggestions were for big pieces – installation around plants, shower curtains, . However, Aine Palmer has asked about smaller pieces:

In our local supermarket, the punnets of strawberrys all have a small piece (3×4 being the smallest, and the largest not too much bigger) of bubblewreap at the bottom. Not stryofoam peatnuts, but good old fashioned bubblewrap. Does anyone have a good idea for what to do with these?


How can I reuse or recycle … school milk cartons?

milk_cartons.jpgWe’ve had an email from headteacher Carole Brautigam:

We are a small rural school for 4-9 year olds. We are currently working towards our eco-schools bronze award. We are keen to recycle the milk cartons that the children use.

We’ve covered the recycling of tetrapak before – there are a few companies that recycle it – but I wonder if there are some particularly primary-school suitable re-use suggestions for the little containers…?


How can I reuse or recycle … old loofahs?

Loofah spongeI’ve just gone to use our loofah sponge (aka luffa/loofer) in the shower and noticed it was black with mould along one side. I thought I’d been really good and let it dry thoroughly after each use but I guess I’ve slipped up somewhere, it’s stayed soggy and the mould has taken advantage.

The thought of using something mouldy as a body scrubber doesn’t really appeal but obviously I’m not just going to throw it away. So what other options are there?

It’s a natural product (not a synthetic copy) so as a minimum, I could probably compost it – but I’d like to re-use it if possible. Any suggestions?

(Photo by Jerry Crimson Mann on WikiCommons)