Reduse - Reuse - Recycle

[xxthat girlxx]

What are some good ways to reduse/reuse/recycle? I've been trying to be more conscious of this.

I finally bought these bags to add to me reusable shopping bags. They are only $3 each! I think they go on sale sometimes online too. You can see from the picture, they are pretty decent sized. AND, they have a little piece or cardboard or something at the bottom that helps them hold their shape.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/random/subaru%20bags.jpg

[im_so_blue]

not that i do it but i always thought this was a great way to be resourceful. Even though its not technically helping the economy

instead of throwing broken items away just cause they are broken. look them over. There might be something about them that can be useful in a artistic way.

say CD's being used as decorations or coasters for drinks
same with some broken computer parts
http://www.geekologie.com/2007/12/03/christmas-decorations.jpg

Broken glass can be used for mosaic crafts

http://i.ehow.com/images/a04/os/q2/create-glass-mosaic-vase-800X800.jpg

Hell even a junk car hood me and a friend came up with a great idea is flip it upside down. Build a glass top for it and have someone weld on some legs or find a way to bolt legs to the hood and you got yourself a very unique Table!
http://www.treehugger.com/Aztec-Car-Table.jpg
My uncle used a hood from a Pickup truck as a Headboard for a bed which looked cool.

if your a welder/fabricator any scrap metal is useful instead of just throwing it away

Best recycling job i've ever seen is actually in MA very old too

How about a house made out of news papers? along with its furniture?

http://keetsa.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/paper-house-1.jpg


Just gotta be creative!

[jessickascarling]

ooh that's cute!!! i'd use that for carrying stuff back and forth to work! dan uses the subaru bags they gave out at WBM last year for his lunch... sadly though, it's started to rip :( :(

[jessickascarling]

Hell even a junk car hood me and a friend came up with a great idea is flip it upside down. Build a glass top for it and have someone weld on some legs or find a way to bolt legs to the hood and you got yourself a very unique Table!
http://www.treehugger.com/Aztec-Car-Table.jpg
My uncle used a hood from a Pickup truck as a Headboard for a bed which looked cool.

if your a welder/fabricator any scrap metal is useful instead of just throwing it away



did you guys make that table or did someone else?

[im_so_blue]

did you guys make that table or did someone else?

i found that photo on google just to give a example of what you can do!

supposedly these style tables are very popular to make

[jessickascarling]

hmmmm some good ideas either way! dan and i are trying to buy a house, it'd be neat to have cool pieces of furniture like that! i'd just have to convince dan... haha

[im_so_blue]

another strange but effective way of extreme recycling i've heard of was on a episode of Ripleys Believe It or Not!

a guy who took all the pizza boxes he accumulated and made all his furniture out of them.

[im_so_blue]

more idea's would be paper mache cool stuff with unwanted news papers and magazines and old documents you don't need anymore

you make jewlery out of all kinds of stuff too!

instead of buying wrapping paper for presents....... try making wrapping paper out of news paper and documents and such.

i say for fabricators to keep metal and such cause you never know when your gonna need it for your next project!

well ladies that like to sew always hold onto old jeans as you can use jean material to make all kinds of fashionable items. Such as hand bags. maybe even another pair of pants or a coat or whatever!
http://www.panas-creations.com/images/jean-recycle-handbags.jpg
http://www.funinthemaking.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/recycledjeansbedo.jpg
http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.33357822.jpg

a idea i've seen with Glass bottles.
http://www.craftically.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/glass_fused_spoon_rest.jpg
basically can be used as a butter dish or soap dish or as shown here a tray to hold cooking utensils

theres alot of things you can do!

Just be sure to stock up on Wood glue, gorilla glue, tape, staples, and nails!

[MoN]

I love the jeans idea! Too bad im no good w/ the sewing machine lol.... I wish I could be more creative and find the time to make junk into treasure :(

The only way I really contribute is by using those fabric bags as well when I go shopping. I got mine at target for a buck each and they fold into little wallet size for easy carrying when empty...

And I make sure to recycle my glass, paper and plastics everyweek... Not much but I like to think that I have probably saved a whole tree this year alone....

[xxthat girlxx]

Worcester has a recycling program so I use it on a weekly basis. Of course I cash in the 5 cent ones. :)

[xxthat girlxx]

I bought this today!

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/random/reusable%20cup.jpg

I really like iced chai from places like Starbucks and I found a good chai substitute that I can use from home. I have a travel mug, but it's just not the same as those clear plastic cups (I'm a straw girl, what can I say?).

I found this bad larry at Bed, Bath & Beyond today! It's thick plastic and the straw is pretty thick too but I'm excited to give it a shot. :D

[bannerd]

Siddhartha said that you can never have more. Plastic is built from oil and natural gas, the material already existed in the world and was reconstructed/fused to be something we believe can be used. Life is generated by what already existed, the dead is buried, what was once life begins to decay. Worms eat the dead, moles eat worms or what have you. Energy is moved in different directions. Plants grow from the nutrients in the soil, something eats the plants... cows.. we eat the cows.. we survive. When life is born its literal uniqueness is made from multiple energy sources that already was.

Buddha insight is pretty cool on how things thrive and how life was made, yet it still falls into the unknown. I’m not a tree hugger hippie or anything and I do recycle and use less water because it saves me money. I just thought the said above would interest some of you.

[xxthat girlxx]

Wow, it's been a long time since I've read Siddhartha. Now I feel old - thanks! But def. good thoughts. Glad you shared.

[MissVenezuela85]

Well I don't have any pretty pics but.....

1. I drink a lot of filtered water, we have the britta filter jug
2. Whenever we need hot water for something (cooking washing your face, shower,etc) you need to turn the water on and let it run while it gets hot right?
3. Well... solution, instead of wasting all that cold water (since H2O is hella expensive in Alexandria) we get a jug and get that cold water.
4. We dump it into our brita filter jug and viola! drinking water!

[MissVenezuela85]

I use old magazines or ads to make these:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/kittychick2003/Art/PC194117.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/kittychick2003/Art/PC194118.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/kittychick2003/Art/PC194119.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/kittychick2003/Art/PC194120.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/kittychick2003/Art/PC204137.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/kittychick2003/Art/PC204132.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/kittychick2003/Art/PC204133.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/kittychick2003/Art/PC204134.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/kittychick2003/Art/PC204138.jpg

[xxthat girlxx]

I commented in the crafts thread, but again. Neato!

[MissVenezuela85]

I commented in the crafts thread, but again. Neato!


Sorry for the double post... It suited both threads :-D

[subiemommy]

Oh the things I will be doing when I get my own house!
My in-laws think electicity and water grow on trees and that the supply of food (and money to buy food) is endless.

Water will run for minutes when it only needs to run for seconds. Lights are let on ALL day. Nothing is recycled. Leftovers are tossed not saved for lunches, no matter how much is left. If it's broke, toss it and buy a new one, even if it is fixable.

I grew up with the phrase "I don't want to pay your grandfather's wages." or "Your Grandfather doesn't want to pay his own wages." He worked for the power company. So leaving lights on was a big no, no.
I also had a single basin sink in the kitchen, running water none stop while washing meant my sink filled too fast and I would have to take longer draining it so I could finish. I was very careful not to use more water than needed.
We were also poor, so we never through out food if there was enough to save.

I plan to follow those in my own home as well. Since it not only saves water, and power, but money spent on them! I hate spending money if I can help it!
I currnetly take my plastic bags from the store back so they can be recycleed, but in the furture I plan on buying the reusable bags.

[xxthat girlxx]

^I use plastic store bags as liners for small trashcans in my bedroom and bathroom.

[07SubieQT]

Me too!!! :D

[subiemommy]

^I use plastic store bags as liners for small trashcans in my bedroom and bathroom.

I do this too. I also use the brown paper ones for my kids to draw on or to rip up when they get mad and can't seem to verblize their emotions.

[MsLovely]

Lets see:
I use the reusable bags when shopping.
I never just throw something away if it can be fixed or given away to someone (such as old clothes)
I shut off water when I'm not using it.
My parents have an energy saver water heater which shuts off at peak hours
My aunt once use brown paper bags and christmas stamps to make all of her wrapping paper for that year.

[rick moranis fan]

Where did you get the Subaru bags? I don't really care for those reusable bags, but I'd totally rock the Subaru ones. :D

[xxthat girlxx]

Where did you get the Subaru bags? I don't really care for those reusable bags, but I'd totally rock the Subaru ones. :D

At my dealership. I could prob pick up a couple for you and have them at WBM. You've made me a couple DVDs so it only sounds fair. :)

But remind me. HAHAHAHA.