Reduce, reuse, repurpose — and rethink what we throw away |
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Reduce, reuse, repurpose — and rethink what we throw away
Reduce, recycle, reuse.
Oxford County is reorganizing our garbage pickup system and now including composting materials, which I think is great. Well, all except the whole moving the days of said pickup and not doing it all on the same day. Have already gone into that, so I won’t bore you with it again.
Reduce, reuse, repurpose — and rethink what we throw away Back to video
I like to repurpose as much as I can. Don’t like to just throw it all away so must find a way to use it up. To me, it’s one of the easiest ways to help to lessen garbage build-up. I have cups with broken handles, lids and cracked bowls in my garden to make drinking fountains for birds and houses for bugs. Worn fabric is torn into thin strips to be used to tie up tall perennials; some become cleaning rags, tea towels, etc. I remove all buttons, hooks and eyes and zippers from clothes no longer used as apparel. Personally, I never do anything with the zippers, buttons or hook and eyes, not having any aptitude for sewing, but they don’t go into the garbage.
I have boxes of jars, mostly glass but some plastic, of various sizes. I take my take-out containers to family buffet-style events so people can take home leftovers. I have an ample supply of big and little cardboard boxes saved up just in case. They have come in handy for kids moving away to college. If anyone needs any jars, take out containers or boxes let me know — I share.
My big coffee cans go to a school for storage of crayons, etc. Cardboard egg cartons with a bit of dryer lint and wax make excellent fire starters for fire pits and campfires, or they go back from whence they came.
Many of my clothes are from thrift stores and eventually are returned there for someone else to enjoy. Any good household item — dishes, pots, etc. — also go to Goodwill or Salvation Army stores. I have had quite a few yard sales, but it’s a lot of work for little gain so decided donating is much more practical and serves a better purpose.
We all have things we used to love but no longer want or need. Remember, there is always someone out there who will covet what you are glad to be rid of.
The problem is there is just too much stuff that can’t be thrown out, recycled or repurposed. What do you do with the trinkets your grandmother gave your for your 13the birthday or a special remembrance from you first prom, an anniversary gift, the lamp your mom gave you for your first apartment? We all know by now no one — not our kids nor grandkids — want our old junk. They don’t have any emotional attachment nor does any of it have sentimental meaning to them. That’s the hard stuff to get rid of and so we always have an array of things sitting in boxes, on shelves, in drawers, in the back of the closet, in the basement. Things we just can’t throw away and can’t part with — yet.
I have practised what I preached this Easter. The Easter bunny delivered all the Easter gifts and Caroline’s birthday gifts with lots of reused tissue paper in Christmas bags. I don’t think Caroline cared one way or another and her parents know me well. They know it saves money and also repurposes what I already have on hand. They combined it all into one bag to take home so I still have a few gift bags for whenever I need one.
Repurpose, upcycle, rescue.
twocentsworth40@gmail.com
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