National zero waste week – reuse something

Filed in Blog by on September 4, 2009 5 Comments
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National zero waste week - what could you reuse?

National zero waste week - what could you reuse?

Only the weekend to go before National zero waste week is here – yipee!

This week we’ve been highlighting issues such as food waste, plastic consumption and disposable plastic carrier bag usage. With each article we’ve shared tips on how you can do your bit for National zero waste week.

Today we’re going to take a look at reuse.Reusing items is great because it can slow down our disposable culture, save us (or someone else) money and it helps reduce landfill waste.

Often you’ll throw something away and go out and buy something new which was a similar product anyway.

Examples are old jam jars which can be reused for pickles, making biodegradable plant pots from cardboard toilet roll inners, making old plastic bottles into slug deterrents and all sorts of other ideas which I’m sure you have.

We have a few ideas in the Reuse section of our site and Peter over at Junkk is the King of Reuse, so why not browse his site for brain fodder?

What could you reuse during National Zero Waste week instead of buying new? Take a look at this fun video for a few more uses for jam jars!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwaMOhuAk08

About the Author ()

I am a long time supporter of the Green and Sustainable lifestyle. After being caught in the Boscastle floods in 2004, our family begun a journey to respect and promote the importance of Earth's fragile ecosystem, that focussed on reducing waste. Inspired by the beauty and resourcefulness of this wonderful planet, I have published numerous magazine articles on green issues and the author of four books.

Comments (5)

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  1. Sarah says:

    This year I made jam for the first time, loved doing it and loved eating it, loved sharing it even more! So I now have a small jam jar stash for reuse next year and a planned jam swap with at least one friend, possibly two, along with a slowly increasing fruit crop too.

    We use loo roll tubes for planting, shred paper for chicken nest box and guinea pig bedding. Plastic bottles get used for plant watering, diluting juice and then eventually as mini cloches for tender plants and to keep the temp/humidity right on my carnivorous plants through the winter. Half a plastic bottle is also great for covering cuttings.

    An old plastic tub – margarine 500g size – sunk into the veg patch and 1/3 filled with stale beer make good slug traps. Or cleaned and with their lids are good freezer containers.

    Old pillows and duvet’s carefully taken apart give you stuffing for new cushions or home made soft toys.

    Can you tell, we reuse loads?

  2. Peter says:

    Ta for the credit/links:)

    Having read the daily email intro – ‘What could you reuse during national zero waste week?’ – how could one resist heading right on over, shouting out… EVERYTHING!

    Just back from our hols, with a few camping related ideas to create and add on soon.

    Shame we are not eligible for the Guardian-sponsored plastics reuse competition still ongoing (has to end this month, after a few extensions due the summer lull and our glitchy site issues – with luck now sorted), but you and your readers are, so get inventing and uploading to have a chance at the prizes.

    ps: the Junkk.com link is not working, maybe because it needs the www bit? I think… hope… the one off my name should be OK:)

  3. Mrs Green says:

    @Sarah: Hi Sarah; love your story about the jam. I haven’t made it, but I have made chutney and that was great – we’re still eating last years! I like the uses for margarine tubs and pillows too.

    @Peter: Hi Peter, welcome back from your holiday 🙂 I look forward to hearing your creative reuse on the campsite!
    I never seem to get your link working do I? I’ll try and change it.

    Good to see you again…

  4. Sooz says:

    Hello 🙂
    I only came across your site recently (I like it!) but I’m going to join in with your zero waste week – I’m going to remember to actually take my flask with me when I’m out shopping, because I always get thirsty and buy a bottle of water and thats the only time I buy bottles of water so it can be cut out! I’m also going to remember to take enough reusable bags with me shopping, as I always end up one bag short, and after filling my reusable bags, handbag and pockets I have to admit defeat and get a plastic one too!

    Happy Zero Waste Week 😀

  5. Mrs Green says:

    @Sooz: Hi Sooz, welcome to the site; lovely to see you just in time for zero waste week! What a great idea to take water with you; flexing the plastic is thirsty work! And good luck with the reusable bags; I hope it goes well.
    Check back in and tell us how you are getting on 🙂
    I’ve just had a quick read of some of your blog; I love some of the topics you talk about and will be signing up for RSS feeds…

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