Ideas for Re-Using What You Have
- Save those beautiful biscuit tins and boxes omiyage comes in.
- Use both sides of paper before recycling. Make double sided
photocopies where possible.
- Throw vegetable scraps in a compost bin to make nutritious mulch
for your garden.
- Providing you do not use too much salt when cooking reuse water
used for boiling vegies by throwing in your garden or in your
potplants (after it has cooled of course!)
- The paper that photocopying paper is wrapped in is great for
wrapping overseas parcels.
- Save all that excess wrapping that gifts or electric items come
in and reuse when wrapping gifts.
- Use washable, reusable cutlery and not disposable chopsticks,
plates etc.
- Reuse bath water when your do your laundry (scoop up the water
and tip in washing machine, a bit arduous granted, but
economical).
- Turn those wretched junk mailouts into beautiful origami
creations or use them to wrap garbage in.
- Make paper mache daruma dolls out of recycled paper.
- Reuse the colourful plastic packets lollies come in by
converting them into reusable, waterproof envelopes! Write the
address on a piece of paper (make sure it is large enough to
accommodate any stamps the post office may need to add) and tape it
to the back of the plastic packet. You can write your (return)
address on a smaller piece of paper and tape to the front of the
packet (i.e. the back of the envelope).
- Reuse envelopes - stick a new label over the old address. Keep
an eye on the scrap paper basket in your office (most offices have
their paper set aside for recycling) often you will find reusable
envelopes here. Some schools have a special tray for used
envelopes. Encourage your teachers to do this if they don't.
- Wash out those used o-bento boxes and fill them with Japanese
goodies (there are plenty around that are small enough) to send home
as a souvenir from Japan. The boxes are light and sturdy, perfect
for mailing.
See other ideas for reusing common objects on
Reuse Common Household Items from A to Z.