Comments on: Monday Mission: Repurpose Kitchen Containers

By: Adrienne

Adrienne — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:24:16 +0000

Your comment about the strofoam trays reminded me of my grandmother. When my mom and I had to move her from a 4 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom apartment, we discovered all kinds of things she had been hoarding! She had – no kidding – a 5 foot stack of those kinds of trays! We have no idea WHY (or how!) she had so many.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:14:16 +0000

We repurpose jars and use them as vases.
-For gifts for teachers and new neighbors I put clippings of plants in our home in jars that I leave around the house (pleasant and air purifying). When the clippings are ready the kids and I plant them in flower pots that we’ve purchased from yard sales and thrift shops.
-My daughter’s birthday party is coming up. We are going flower picking at a local organic farm.
Each child will be given a jar/vase for their flowers…a recycled favor!

Our favorite way to repurpose is the Invention Box!
We take large boxes (I like the ones that hold reams of paper because they have a top and a bottom.) and decorate them for my children’s friends – we are currently working on a Star Wars themed box for a 5yr old.
Inside the box we put any items we think could be used to create “inventions” that would normally be recycled.
My son has created a Hot Wheels garage, collages, and a Spiderman factory with things in his invention box.
We usually include masking tape, glue and scissors in the “invention box” as well.
This present has been enthusiatically received by several of my son’s 5 yr old friends.

By: Melodie

Melodie — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:30:12 +0000

I tried doing this with some Fruit Loop boxes to mail something. The post office worker did not like it. Said it would get squished and easily torn that way. Asked me not to do it again. Oh, well. I tried. Would work as a gift box in person though!

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:58:39 +0000

Love the ideas! Thanks for passing them along. I’m always torn when I’m faced with packaging – do I throw it away and feel like I’m ruining the earth, or hang onto it and feel like a hoarder? I tend to keep quite a bit, but then I fall into the problem of storage! I think my best bet is to buy products with less packaging.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:11:34 +0000

You can recycle a tshirt that is stained or the neck wore out into a drawstring bag or two for produce or bulk dry goods.
No need to use a new plastic bag for bulk oatmeal, you can always reuse one you already have or take a container, most of the scales will adjust for the weight of the container.

By: DonnaLee

DonnaLee — Fri, 28 May 2010 03:45:56 +0000

Angie, sometimes if you rub the label with cooking oil and let it sit a little while to penetrate the label, it will slide right off.

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 20 May 2010 03:22:15 +0000

Thanks Katie!

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 20 May 2010 03:21:54 +0000

Thanks Anne!

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 17 May 2010 09:23:39 +0000

If you’re not opposed to nail polish remover, it usually does the trick. I think it’s the acetone in it that does the job.

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 17 May 2010 05:42:29 +0000

Angie,
That’s a tough one! I still have some Goo Gone, so I haven’t sought out a new method. I assume you’ve soaked them in the dishwater…maybe rubbing alcohol? Just shooting in the dark on that one – Katie