Wonder how to make green bit your festive season by recycled Christmas decorations?
There are many ways to reuse waste paper, scrap or random other things around the House and garden, and you are certainly not all just for children.
Monday, January 31, 2011
How can I reuse or recycle "disposable" hair nets?
We had an email from Philip, questions about disposable hair nets:
I work in food production (TV dinner factory) and have to wear a hair NET when I was on the ground. Some employees have correct hats, but the rest of us have to single use hair nets. Management say it is cheaper, but I think it is very wasteful. Can you be recycled?
When I a keep you, think I reuse home - single Schmingle use, use - if having a large baking or maintain session. (I am less effort on to keep completely sterile environment and more about my hair off my face - and my food one.) But when I was getting every day which really would be an option - and are not the sort of thing could share with others.
From what I've read this type of hat is made from polypropylene (older style networks nylon is sometimes) so that are actually recycling options on not existence very limited. It seems, as many can it a possibility of the textile recycling but all the information I find out in the United States is so I'm not sure if there are no companies over here. What are reused curtains a bit as of last week, but not so strong as not suitable for all the ideas for Sie-and again when you use every day you go fast, up to mount so that no amount of craft can solve the problem.
I think the important thing here is to reduce: if it is simply a question of the costs can consider so at least you are buying your own hat to the problem help - are not much and I suspect if you could some other stakeholders you might able to price down through bulk buying (or at least sharing shipping) press. However, from what I've read is sometimes a problem to protect clothes outside the sterile environment not take, so it would what pay arrangements (if any) are in place for dealing with the existing proper hats.
Got anyone any reuse ideas? Or any suggestions on do his bosses in the right like Philip and always reusable hats lobby?
Beyond the cloth diaper
Please welcome today's guest poster, joy Paley.
It's not just a baby. With a baby that need constant attention and is to choose if your needs without doubt easier, one-time use and comfortable elements loving. It takes a green genius to realize that many of these products not just good for the Earth, though. Take a minute to think about the cloth diaper, and consider other ways to make your little sweetie greener.
Use fabric baby wipes: If you already use cloth diapers, why not go all the way and do your own reusable baby cloths? There are several low-cost recipes you can stick with elements on the page, such as olive oil and Aloe Vera. Moisten some cotton towels with the solution if you are traveling and wash them with the dirty cloth diapers right, when you're done with you.
To make your own baby food: There are so many benefits for your own baby food. It is cheap, eco-friendly and you can control exactly what ingredients find their way in your baby's mouth. All you need is means a mixer, a sieve and a little. Can use it in large batches, fix it, and more thaw it out as you need. Check this University of Maine-out tutorial to get started.
Disposable avoid foods: It may take a few seconds longer a go on the container with milk than throw a disposable single serving sippy cup in the diaper bag fill. But the unnecessary consumption of single use food service elements adds up over time. You can BPA-free, reusable infants must travel cups and utensil sets online at a number of retailers find.
Earth friendly buy body care: Sure your baby shampoo may be safe for your eyes, but there are safe for the Earth? ?Should you buy a SOAP does not contain synthetic ingredients and practices fair trade and animal-friendly production. I recommend Dr. Bronner's baby mild formula. Buy it in the gallon jug and fill out your current shampoo bottle while attempting to save money and packaging.
To avoid buy new clothes: Children outgrow items as quickly, it seems that parents will need always to find bigger duds for your small. Instead of buying new, but keep in mind the environmental benefits of buying gently baby clothes used. She will reduce the massive amounts of energy for the production, packing and shipping a new item of clothing. And online stores make it easy, that stores right size used element in great shape to find, without scope from half a dozen thrift.
Joy Paley is a guest blogger for my dog ate my blog and a writer on online degree Guide to online schools.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Five fantastic reused for expanded polystyrene foam packaging
Polystyrene Recycling shaped white shapes that you as protective packaging, get when you buy electronics or large toys etc, is a pain - it can be recycled, now not but many places collect it.
In contrast to his foam "Peanuts" counterpart, which fits as multi-purpose packaging again, the shaped stuff only really can be reused to it, you have with it - but there still some fantastic possibilities is to reuse.
Pieces of expanded polystyrene foam make filled earthen pots for plant pots - large tubs with shallow rooted plants. The light foam fills the space rather than heavy soils make it easier to move and it helps with drainage.
Those concerned about plastic chemical leaching may want to avoid using it if fruit or veg in containers though.
Expanded polystyrene waste can be used to fun make artwork - it can be used as a core for sculptures or models.
Flat sections can be used as poster board/foam core Mount images, photos or posters on walls - the resulting image is rigid (so that curl is not), but light.
Deep pieces of the foam can be used to make wall hanging too blocky canvas style - your image to install, run so that the foam pages cover it at the edges. If you have a piece of polystyrene, which is large enough, make up a strong frame lengths of it instead.
Choose a reasonably smooth piece of expanded polystyrene and cover it with a quick drying fabric thin cotton or an old swim suit maybe - to use it as a floating pillow in the bathroom.
Or cover smaller, interesting shapes with fun website, floating make toys for children.
As it is light, bulky and easy to change it to rotate in Halloween or fancy dress costumes, where you want to be bulky - or/more robot / mechanical - as you are up to date.
The air between the different polystyrene beads caught it makes an excellent insulator. Some people are concerned about the use of around to the House in the event of fire, but it can be used in other ways:
Cold frame - shaped expanded polystyrene boxes are great as cold frames in the garden as you from the cold Earth delicate seedlings protect. You are often used for shipping chilled vegetables or chilled/frozen fish to questions at your local market to see if you have spares. Then you need only an old window or some pieces clear plastic sheeting for the top.Ponds - If you want to install a pond, consider a layer of expanded polystyrene around the liner and the Earth. Stop the cold Earth leaching way of water last bits of heat in winter. The foam above water swim, in the winter to prevent freezing solid - and in the summer, frogs can polystyrene floats as mock lily pads."Hay" oven-a Hay oven can to save energy while slowly cooking stews and casseroles. Start the pot on the stove and then cover it and put it in a well insulated box for several hours - the retained heat keeps hot and cook. As the name implies, hay is a common isolator - Advanced polystyrene can perform a similar job.Try to avoid buying the items packaged primarily with expanded polystyrene. Support for more environmentally conscious manufacturer instead used paper-based alternatives. And if you say the original company, do not buy why your product - it could inspire you to be greener in the future.
How can I reuse or recycle old brooms, brushes and rake?
Louisa on 22 December 2010 |
Starting from last week plastic dustbins and Monday's broken ironing boards, Philip also suggested
Broom and rake.
I don't know why, but people throw often orphaned handles and heads of various garden tools. I just play match maker. You may not have many garden tools on a farm. Reconditioned tools make great gifts.
Philip's idea is a great one - my father-not in-law collects and Matchmakes you. I think that almost all our garden are now renovated old tools.
We went to a couple of years through a period that lots of brushes (and Pug) break at the bottom of the handle - so had some brush heads lying around. I thought I had covered it on the website and someone had suggested, with you to make a boot brush scraper - but I can't find now so many I dreamed it - a good idea though!
I imagine that uses an old rake could make an en mass berry pickers like this crazy chop Atomic shrimp to make.
Any other reused for old broken brooms, brushes and rake?
How can I reuse or recycle plastic dustbins split?
Philip Mitchell Graham has quite a few comments in propose leave any item page recently so I think I should earn, me my way through his ideas!
First up:
Old plastic divided rubbish bins. I used one as a liner in an old metal trash cans. Metal storage bins lose often their floors, while the plastic, which often on pages divided. Between the two I made a perfect maintained am. I expect a few extra years of service from the two locations that had no future at all.
Great reuse Philip.
Without a metal outer are useful for storing things, which must be fairly dry but need to be dry bones. A split plastic am we have in our page doors for Kindle - it keeps it neat and at one place and not enough water makes it through the cracks to be a problem. We had another, I would probably pots and other bits and bobs - use it for my garden stuff-spare, which do not need to in the greenhouse but must be included so that you around blown have not.
Use old locations to your garden? Have recycled others to you?
How can I reuse or recycle and tables ironing boards broken?
Philip Mitchell Graham gave us another proposal / excellent upward trend idea left:
Ironing Board. One of the major monuments of inbuilt conformity is the Joint Board. They are designed, after a few years, and the legs often, buckle if someone a break because the folding mechanism of cheap mild steel heavy load of wash placed on you.
No matter you use a little fencing wire to you in an open position lock, then use you as light work benches in the Studio or in the garden. Sure, they are easy, but many challenges require a heavy table. A few of you have you a modular banking system can reconfigure easily indeed. They are easy enough to move with one arm, which is very useful if as I, you will find yourself at a bank if you have an arm full.
I suspect our is Ironing Board us survive we so rarely (in fact) we use totally shocked it, we had one - we thought it had gone to the furniture charity shop, before we moved house to find. It feels really flimsy but so I guess if we not used more than once in the year, it would fall apart in a shot.
I like the idea of Philip's mobile Workbench. With a table cloth about it, there could be an emergency table for a party or BBQ.
Any other suggestions? If fixed wire - with garden what can tube of all use of the metal legs or the Board?
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Reduce waste after Christmas - our top tips
Again is the big day almost upon us.
Hopefully you've been busy already Upcycling random stuff in Christmas presents and is easy to go to keep the green theme Christmas it recycled Christmas decorations.
Wait until you spring clean declutter now while all the new additions are fresh in your mind.
New-new in January sales, items that do not want or do not use, or it way, the sooner someone else will get some use out of it and it could keep old items which shiny replaced by something new - type sooner you having to buy gift shop.
Take not wrapping paper way - reuse it instead. Larger pieces can be flattened and reused (children especially notice the same paper used year for year), or in reusable paper bags gift.
Smaller pieces can be used, gift tags, festive envelopes or used to renew Christmas decorations for use next year.
Shredded to protect upholstery for gifts can be particularly crumpled piece to protect in the course of the year - or tender Christmas decorations while in the store, which brings me neatly Onto…
Save carefully removed and go every year - which means less waste capable of use on landfills and reducing your need to buy new stuff.
Shredded can gift wrapping and packaging (such as polystyrene foam advanced plastic shaped and formed) new toy or gadgets, to to protect sensitive items. Wrap tinsel and strings of Christmas to avoid the lights around a kitchen roll back tube or a plastic bottle clutter. Label fields so that you can easily find you.
If you have no room for the storage, not throw away decorations - pack neatly away and offer on Freecycle Freegle.
Also keep your favorite Christmas cards on the one hand - next year in recycled decorations to recycle or gift tags may be hidden in a decorations box-. Cutting others into narrow strips as shopping lists - use on the map easier than writing paper if you are traveling. Keep large cards for crafts - if you need any thin but strong map. There are many different ways to reuse them.
If you have can see many high street shops the reuse recycling collection bins specifically for cards - usually WH Smith, Tesco and M & S - often with a donation goes from memory related to charity (such as Woodland Trust) for each am cards collected. Some also collect cards for reuse/Upcycling in gift tags charity shops and the like - ask around to see that you included in your area.
A lot of energy went into growing birds carry around and cook it-so make the best of it, by up all meat left remaining and the camp of the carcass.
Use leftover veg, soup, making stews and Commons.
Use leftover Christmas cake, fruity rum truffle making - or take it outside for birds to eat.
If don't go to get through all your Christmas cookies or mince pies, be proactive about it before you to go stale - freeze some for later use (keep the Festival spirit all go January!) or give way to someone else - you could for free treated very thankful!
What are your favorite ways to reduce waste at Christmas?
How can I reuse or recycle parts of toys, wood?
We have an email from Sarah had r:.
Cleaning out my young toy box before Christmas, found out many pieces of wooden toys, when you were little, building blocks sorting the kind of thing blocked,. Attempts to offer either in original sets too many pieces are missing or not easy to know what with what's going on. Beautiful colors and shapes, shame on you am.
As for the "not with the know what, what is" question enlist the help of your sons;)
If the pieces of well-known, popular toys are, it might be worth offers on Freecycle Freegle or even eBay than spares - might want someone your bundle half lost or, as in the case of free building stuff, expand their supply. (Search "Spare parts" in young children's toy on eBay a lot PlayMobile/Brio/ELC Happyland things so that stuff would probably faster than generic building blocks or cheap toys go section.)
I can understand the request, before Christmas declutter but underestimate the value of the random bits and pieces for future imaginative play potential — I remember having random bits of preschool toys around, until I was at least 10, their use as assorted markers or objects, invent in different ways to fit the purpose.
The toys are likely to painted or varnished, so really burned or composted should not have been and I suspect to be safe for small, you'll be pretty clunky - may be too large for Upcycling fun fashion jewelry. She could make a cell phone or a decorative door hanger for a nursery though.
Any other suggestions reuse?
Large reuse and recycling ideas from November
Here are some of my favorite comments first to links on the site over the past months if you missed them.
First up, at all the comments on our contribution as man in the habit of taking packed lunch - links great responses from all props: Bellen, Alice, Alexis, carol, Bobbie, Karmae, Cmdweb, Marti and "computer recycling and disposal". I wish the House I regularly leave, almost enough to justify take lunch!
Robert Campbell and rainwater of recycler's comments on our post to improve a grey water system were also very informative.
Karmae left a great proposal to post How to recycle or reuse the ends of receipt rolls - use clothes sewing patterns to expand, when the institution changes sizes.
Summer hit with the soil of plastic bottles keep underwear drawer neatly and Petra left a comment your spin on a bottle top a resealable plastic bag using explain stuff - Use balloons to make. Or you hypothesises, that it might be possible, a "vacuum" bag for fabric store seal to make.
Thoey stubs of old crayons - those used with erasers at - Mini stamps to make.
Mary Horesh added that a sixth proposal my large reused for polystyrene list-use it to fill empty space in your freezer as freezers are less efficient that are deeply (can plastic bottles with water filled for this purpose).
Alexis, I currently by representative for my spinning and weaving life will am, with an old curtain to isolate one herumliegt loft hatch suggested.
And finally bark was a reuse and a warning - sweet metal or biscuits doses make big drums for children us. Very, very loud ones.
Thanks to all proposed things over the last month - many truly inspiring ideas!
Friday, January 28, 2011
How can I reuse or recycle old musical instrument Reed?
Amber sent us an email about Reed musical instruments asked:
I have tons of old Alto Saxophone reeds lying around and I was wondering if someone has an idea how you had reuse and recycling?
I am incredibly Unmusical, but Wikipedia tells me tend Reed, cane, make, however, there are an increasing amount of synthetic those in use.
The first idea that springs to mind turns it into a kind of jewelry - a subtle nod to your musical skills. Could necklace or bracelet chunky - possible, in a statement might be a bit like make this necklace or much had this bracelet (are made of the shell but I was thinking about the shape more than anything else). Or if you have a few, dangling earrings?
Any other ideas on how can recycled?
Eco-savvy stocking stuffers for the whole family
I apologize but I need to interrupt your I just my Christmas shopping like dancing for a moment. Turn around. See shaped things hang this excessively large sock, knitted by the fireplace (or in my case on the buttons of the ancient building)? You have to fill out...
Wait, wait - please don't freak out. Take a deep breath and read on!
Handmade in Uganda the Cristoph scarf (shown above), Krochet Kids International, $31.95, is a pleasure! Krochet children sent me this 100% bamboo scarf in a heavenly colour of plum and I it wear a week. The best part scarf is the signed the hand, a constant reminder that increases the scarf from 1 of 87 women made out of poverty by their employment with Krochet Kids International just for you. All 87 women have your own dedicated page on the site of where customers can Krochet kids to write notes of appreciation and support. One of the most unique aspects of Krochet Kids International is that you offer your employees to help plan a sustainable career mentoring. Read more about Krochet Kids International's mission here.
Herbal ointments make a great stocking stuffer for the fifth greenest in your life, especially if you of MJ's herbals handmade. MJ sent me generously a range of their ointments to try. My favorite is the lavender E Salve ($12.99). I keep it in my desk at work and rub it in my temple to relax and to prevent that headache deterioration. I also enjoy the gentle and soothing Calendula Salve and use it to my kids if you have a rash or a scratch. It smells nice and smoothes your skin easily. MJ's herbals used only herbs that are grown organically or without pesticides in the United States that is important to me.
Need stuff to a stocking density for a young child? You can't go wrong with a new born free drink Cup ($10.99). Born free products are phthalate, BPA and PVC free, so you don't have in the pouring Cup are to worry about anything except what! Born free manufactures baby bottles, pacifiers and a range of essential accessories.
Happy shopping and happy holidays!
How can I reuse or recycle swatches curtain?
Our lounge curtains replaced and got a lot of stuff to check out swatches, colors etc. before hand. Not sure what you to do now. You are usually on A4 size containing fractions large patterns. Thoughts on small coin purse or PIN pads but pattern for that do not really work.
A friend of mine at University got a book of (admittedly plain) curtain fabric swatches and seams you together, to a patchwork curtain over your herumliegt making door for. This must be a 60 + swatches, though, probably more than you have.
Earlier in the year I was looking for basic fabrics door stops – basically cubes with a handle. If you have six swatches that are good color, that could work.
Or color coordination mini quilt padded coasters - where the General color more important than the pattern is. We have some little padded roller coasters, cloves you have so off a pleasant aroma leave if "activated" by a hot drink.
Any other suggestions?
How can I reuse or recycle fudge completely dry?
Your question was:
How could I use fudge completely dry? I have two big boxes of completely dry Irish fudge I like would a use for to find. The fudge but not crumbly dry and hard hard enough, I want to risk my coffee with it.
Is there a way to soften it again? Or just break it somehow into small pieces to or enjoy coffee or something.
MMM, fudge. Between my misunderstanding about cracker on Tuesday and yesterday leftover Turkey recipe round-up, recycle this conspiracy, has feel hungry to me every week!
It could be with a cheese grater grooved and sprinkling used drinks up to cake/foam y?
This recipe "failed fudge fool" work possibly-make it in a creamy dessert.
Any other ideas?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
My early holiday gift
I have saved our old clothes in the basement for years now in fields where hope, new ways to use it for. The problem was that whenever I had a idea and ran to my sewing machine to work on it, I would spend trying to get the hours @ # % * &$ * ing machine to work. The frustration was high, the productivity was low and most projects in tears with a mess of thread ends and bundled up fabric.
Last weekend, J got me a new sewing machine as early holiday gift and I am finally learn that sew hobby can be stress-relieving instead a stress induzierende. I am amazed how easy it is to give new life make old clothes and repairs, to things like I would keep in action.
Since I only learn how to sew am, I decided, that I would only use substances I already have - old shirts, sweaters, leaves, Pants-but I've been having so much fun, I think I can hit secondhand stores and consignment shops looking for "new" website if I exhausted my stash.
Suddenly, a shirt with a stain on it no problem, because I can make use of the tissue around it. I took buttons from old shirts, and I think it is quite possible that I never have to buy another! Earlier this week, I went a rock (see above) from an old, ill-fitting sweater using this AutoMotoTV video as a guide, and improvise with a second frills stuff when the original score was a bit too short for my modesty layer. It was so easy! And I'm working on a gift for J which I spoil promise to show as I am no longer risk the surprise for him!
I also just started reading the sweater Chop Shop: one-of-a One-of-a-kind creations from recycled sweaters 
During the actual sewing machine not necessarily a green gift it me grant is to reduce and reuse in some really fun ways.
What can I reuse or recycle to make Christmas Cracker?
I had "make cracker" my ideas list for a while and every time when I saw it I thought "mmm cracker", but it turns out I meant Christmas crackers. (Although I eatin a good ' cracker and - I'm doing it would highly recommend this Honey Glazed fennel seeds ones, and perfecting am my own varieties ingredient levels.)
So… Christmas crackers. In one of many, many newspaper articles about having a frugal Christmas during the new strict I've read Christmas Cracker is a false economy - because it often costs more make you at home, as you you to buy in the shops.
But money is not everything homemade can use much less waste, household waste and can include more than bits of plastic fact prices actually useful (or delicious).
There are many tutorials online for Basic crackers out of the toilet rolls pipes and squares of Christmas wrapping paper make (with purpose bought cracker snaps for the bit bang), but I wondered if anyone any ideas for making more interesting or creative had.
It is possible to make reusable Christmas Cracker? Refillable body every year?
And someone makes your own paper hats to go in you?
(There is a strong "reduce" angle here obviously - both to save money and waste, but for many people that you are an integral part of the tradition try, so best to Christmas reduce as far as possible through reuse and recycling place.)
(If you say to yourself "what on Earth is a Christmas Cracker?", ignore this post it is a stupid thing of the British)
(There of a lot of comments in this post, there is no?)
Revisited: How can I reuse or recycle old Wellington boots?
A bit of a blast from the past has GaryLamontL @ Recycle_this on Twitter asked about reused for wellies:
Just wondering if any ideas on what have to do is 3 old pairs of wellies I. You lick and I have enough planters!
We have covered this before, but many of the ideas were planter-ish. So has a fresh shout out - anyone got any more reuse or recycling ideas for old wellies?
How can I get in the habit of packed lunches?
Today we are a spin our usual "How can I reduce this..." after an e-Mail of Martine put issue:
I hate to buy sandwiches every day but I cant get into the habit, lunch in the morning. I'll do it for a few days then stop. I hate all that money and make so much waste! Do you or your readers have any tips on how I was in the habit could get?
Limit not to think that lunch sandwiches ==. When I away I was working from home to make sandwiches, not very good but I was pretty good, but remains. I think I have my homemade sandwiches rather unimaginatively to heat in the microwave part of the pasta salad or Curry and rice but mmm. I think it helped that I could prepare those night before and not worry about the bread go hard moist not my best etc. — I am in the morning.
I have a friend who sparingly most days - even two weeks eat porridge for lunch for reasons and weight maintenance, it will all dry ingredients (including some dried fruits) in portions in individual containers weigh out, so that he can only access it on the way out the door every day. (He makes some with milk powder if he have not access to fresh milk some days.)
These days, because both John and I work from home, we eat lunch at home, but on Wednesday night, I teach drama to time am out to dinner. I food in General, if I try again, but, a snack to take, to save me having to biscuits and chocolate as an Energizer buy out when I - something like flavoured crackers cooling must not and will not go if links in my bag until the following week.
What do the rest of you? Make your sandwiches and lunch every day? Any suggestions on how to get in the habit to do it? Or alternatives to sandwiches?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
How can I reuse or recycle plastic Smint boxes?
We had an email from (not mine) John:
What can with Smint boxes be done? Everything, what?
Smint packages plastic dispenser, sealed, open according to the Smint website and to "Assure the maximum hygiene for our product" may not. This makes you infinitely less easily than, say, Tic Tac boxes, reuse, opened and populated easily.
Does anyone know if there is to open a path & refill Smint boxes? If you can get boxes, you like Tic Tac you would be all kinds of small items such as beads, seed or air rifle helpful pellets for storage and dispensing. If you can get in but I am stuck for reuse. Anyone else got any ideas?
The best, what would be likely to avoid - that "collapse all" in the first place. There are many mints in paper packaging - a much smaller footprint available.
Any other thoughts?
How can I reuse or recycle chocolate sweet doses?
After seeing Judith Williamson's wonderful jewelry made from old sweet doses the second week, I've been thinking about what could be done with you. T'is finally approaching the season for large doses of chocolate and cookies.
As good sealing metal cans, are ideal for use for things that must be kept dry - a sewing kit, first aid kit/emergency kits, flour, spices, seeds stash next year, spare nuts and screws into the box what save you?
But try for something more exciting? How did Judith they use to make something fun?
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