7 Unusual Things You Can Recycle at Home

Very few people these days will just throw rubbish in the bin and not give it a thought. Instead we wash out used cans and bottles and ensure that paper waste is kept separate from food waste and so on. But there are a number of other things that you are probably throwing away that can be recycled or reused that you dont give a moments thought to. The following list of 7 unusual things in the home that you can recycle will give you an idea of the possibilities available to you.

Wine Corks

Although some people hang onto their used corks with the intention of reusing them to plug bottles of home-made plonk or sauces despite the fact that they sit in a draw and gather dust most people dont even give them a second thought and simply throw them in the bin. Instead donate them to one of the many organisations that use them to create products such as shoes and jewellery.

Shoes

Speaking of shoes most of us will wear our trainers until they fall apart when we sadly consign them to the dustbin. However there is a better way. Many of the manufacturers now collect used trainers and grind them down to make other items such as athletic tracks.

Crayons

Look at items that can be melted down to make something else. A great example of this is coloured crayons that your kids use for drawing. Melt them down and create fun new shapes as something to do with them on a rainy day.

CDs

CDs often find their way into the rubbish bin as people turn to downloading music or no longer need the data contained on them. You can use them to create a fun mobile for your garden to scare away birds or donate them to one of the many companies asking for them so that they can be turned into something else that is more useful.

Electrical goods

Electrical goods are always welcome for waste recycling and you can even make some money from them in some cases. Old electronic toys are always wanted by charity organisations and anything else will be taken in by any number of organisations. So check before you give them to your local electronic waste disposal service.

Draws

Do you have a junk draw with several keys that dont actually seem to fit any locks that you have? If it ever actually crosses your mind to throw them away you always manage to talk yourself into keeping them just in case? Well there is now a great solution. Dont throw them away send them to one of the charities that recycle them and donate the proceeds to a good cause.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones are another thing that tends to gather dust in a draw after all who would want those old things? Actually charities are crying out for them because that phone could be doing good in so many different ways. They could provide free calls for soldiers that are overseas; they could be donated to the local women and children centres to enable them to get help in an emergency; and so on.

As you can see the potential for recycling and reuse in the home is hugely varied so before you just throw something away take a look and see if there is a better solution and think how much more space you will have in your rubbish bin!

Created by

Tom's Junk Collectors