Many items found around the home can be used for different purposes. So before you throw those items away, think about how they can be reused. Below are some suggestions of how to reuse those everyday bits and pieces.

Reusable Items

	Carrier bags and twist ties. Carrier bags can be reused in the shops or as bin bags around the house. Paper bags make useful wrapping paper and twist ties can be used to secure loose items together, such as computer wires.
	Envelopes By sticking labels over the address you can reuse envelopes. Alternatively, old envelopes can be used as scrap paper to make notes on.
	Jars and pots. By cleaning glass jars and small pots, you can use them as small containers to store odds and ends.
	Newspaper, cardboard and bubble wrap Make useful packing material when moving house or to store items.
	Old clothes – can be made into other textile items such as cushion covers or teapot cosies.
	Packaging Such as foil and egg cartons can be donated to schools and nurseries, where they can be use in art and craft projects.
	Scrap paper Can be used to make notes and sketches. Don’t forget to recycle it when you no longer need it.
	Tyres Old tyres can be given to your local petrol station where they will be recycled. Or you could make a tyre-swing by tying a strong rope around a tyre and attaching it to a tree.
	Used wood Can be used in woodcrafts for making objects such as a spice rack or a bird table. Alternatively it could be used as firewood.

Useful Tips

	Old Electrical Equipment Donate old electrical equipment to schools or community centers so that others can reuse them.
	Donate Old Clothes and Books Other people can reuse your unwanted clothes and books when you donate them to charity shops.
	Car-boot Sale Have a car-boot sale and get rid of some unwanted items. Other people may find a use for them, plus it gives you the opportunity to earn some extra cash.
	Rechargeable Batteries Rechargeable batteries can be reused many times before they need throwing away, opposed to regular batteries that create unnecessary waste.
	Build a Compost Bin You can reuse many waste items, such as eggshells and old tea bags, using a compost bin. This waste then degrades and turns into compost that can be used to help your garden grow.
	Grass Cycling After mowing your lawn, instead of throwing the grass cuttings away, leave them in your garden. The nutrients from the cuttings go back into the soil and act as a fertiliser.

Sites encouraging reuse

Don’tDumpThat provides a quick, easy, and free way to get rid of items you don’t want. So if your junk still has some reusable life in it, don’t throw it out with the rubbish: someone, somewhere can probably find a use for it.

Simple and easy to use, all you have to do is visit the website, find your nearest forum on the map and register with your email address. You can then place an offer (you can add photos) then wait for someone to ask, arrange a time for them to pick up – and it’s done. If you’re looking for something you can send your own message to ask.

Free to join, no fees or commissions. No emails to clutter your inbox, no spam or advertising and everything is family-friendly, legal, honest and decent. Reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by using Don’tDumpThat.

Another site, Flooting, helps find new homes for your old stuff, in your local neighbourhood.

Signing up and listing something takes only a moment, and there are no overflowing email inboxes, no spam or advertising, no payment or delivery hassles, and no time-wasters. Flooting is launched in London and will be coming to other parts of the UK soon.

It is a great way to get involved in your local community, and keep good, usable stuff out of landfill, which means less new stuff being manufactured and a happier planet.

What have you reused before?

Add your description and photograph of things that you have reused before.