Tips to Re-use your waste....
- Many charities gratefully receive good quality donated items including furniture, electrical equipment, clothing, games, books and bric a brac. For your local charity shop in Oldham please see our Charities page.
- Re-use your old envelopes by purchasing labels to go over old addresses – this will also save you money!
- If paper has only been written or printed on one side why not use it as scrap paper for messages, notes, lists, etc.
- You can also use the back of junk mail for rough work, shopping lists, etc.
- Ask schools, youth groups etc. if they need scrap paper for painting and drawing on and old catalogues for cutting up
- Plastic bottles can be used for drinks if you're going on a picnic or walking or just running around
- Old jars can be used for storing all sorts, e.g. nails, sugar, pasta etc or why not decorate them and use as candle holders, pen pots, utensil holders, etc.
- Jars and bottles can also be re-used to store homemade jams, pickles and beers
- Take your old supermarket carrier bags with you on your next visit and re-use them, or use them as bin liners
- Re-use old containers and buy refills for sturdy packs such as washing powders, liquids, salt, etc.
- Make use of old sheets and blankets as household cloths, decorating covers or just as bedding for your pets!
- Try reclamation yards, skips, auctions, and second-hand shops when doing DIY
- When buying Christmas cards and wrapping paper consider the environment and the damage that over packaged and non recycled products do. You could have great fun with kids making your own Christmas cards, crackers and decorations from recycled junk!
- Mend, re-upholster, or restore old furniture or appliances before buying new
- Avoid disposable batteries - use rechargeable ones with solar powered rechargers
- Use a milkman. They deliver direct to your door and reuse the milk bottles – you will also be helping the local economy
- Use old cardboard and plastic containers as storage
- Use yogurt pots, plastic bottles etc in the garden to grow seedlings in or to cover the plants in the winter
- Buy reconditioned electrical appliances and items from charity shops instead of buying new
- Buy cotton cloths for the kitchen clean-up instead of disposable kitchen roll
- If you do print, use both sides of the paper
- Use retread car tyres instead of buying new
- Try swapping books you've read for ones you haven't with read it swap it
- Give away items you don't want anymore on the Oldham Freecycle website or the Saddleworth Freecycle website.
These are just a few ways to re-use waste. If you find any exciting or unusual ways to re-use, we want to know!