Reusing instead of recycling

This week’s “Change the World Wednesday” challenge covers a topic which is close to my heart.

It’s all about swapping disposable items for reusable ones. This means we’re moving up the 3Rs ladder, away from recycling and on to reuse – yipee!

Not only does this help the environment, but it helps us save money too.

Kris, who set the challenge suggests replacing kitchen towels and paper napkins with washable items and I’ve been having a think about the things we use at Chez Green.

Here they are!

Let me talk you through

1 Trays from convenience foods used for drip trays for house plants

2 Water filter (I used to buy bottled water)

3 Reusable shopping bag

4 Yogurt maker instead of buying it in plastic pots

5 Refillable washing up liquid detergent (we use refills for fabric conditioner too)

6 Plastic boxes used for taking to the butcher and deli for meats, cheese etc instead of buying in packaging

7 Stainless steel water bottle (instead of buying soft drinks when out and about)

8 Fountain pen instead of disposable biros

9 Wrap ‘n’ mat instead of clingfilm for sandwiches

10 Refillable gas lighter for lighting the fire and candles

11 Cloth for furoshiki instead of wrapping paper

12 Ink in a glass bottle rather than plastic cartridges for my fountain pen

13 Microfiber cloth instead of disposable washing up cloths or kitchen towel

14 Rechargeable batteries

15 Silicone muffin moulds

There’s also a jar of chutney on the table where I’ve reused an old jam jar and there are heaps more ideas such as washable nappies (diapers), reusable sanitary items for the girls (choose the mooncup or washable pads), using cardboard toilet roll inners for seedlings instead of biodegradable pots, taking the cables, plugs and screws out of appliances before recycling and I even take those annoying plastic ties off toys and use them to tie the tomatoes to their stakes during the summer.

What about you? I bet you have some great reuse ideas and I can’t wait to hear them!