Textiles / Clothing / Fabric
- Old T-shirts (repurpose into tote bags, rags, quilts)
- Jeans (turn into shorts, bags, patches)
- Socks (single mismatched ones → cleaning rags or craft pieces)
- Sweaters (felt and make into mittens or pillows)
- Curtains/draperies (convert into tablecloths, sofa covers)
- Bed sheets (cut into cleaning cloths, picnic blankets)
- Old towels (make bath mats, pet-bed liners)
- Belts (use as hangers, decorative straps)
- Upholstery fabric scraps (patchwork, art panels)
- Neck-ties (craft into wallets, key fobs)
Paper / Cardboard / Stationery
- Newspapers (compost, packing material, craft papier-mâché)
- Magazines/catalogues (cut into collages, gift wrap)
- Greeting cards (reuse as postcards or craft cards)
- Cardboard boxes (storage, playhouses, furniture)
- Paper rolls (toilet/towel rolls → seed starters, crafts)
- Office paper (one-sided printouts → scrap notes)
- Books (donate, alter into journals, art)
- Notebooks (use remaining pages, refill covers)
- Envelopes (reuse for internal mail or craft)
- Packaging paper (reuse for wrapping, shredding for cushion)
Plastic / Polymer Items
- Plastic bottles (planters, bird feeders, garden drip irrigation)
- Plastic bags (reuse as liners, or recycle via bag collection)
- Food containers (storage boxes, plant trays)
- Bottle caps/lids (art mosaics, game pieces)
- CDs/DVDs (gardening markers, art pieces)
- Foam peanuts/packing foam (reuse for stuffing or packaging)
- Plastic straws (use as garden plant-supports or craft)
- Plastic crates (shelving, plant stands)
- Old plastic toys (donate, repurpose into planters)
- Plastic cutlery (reuse for crafts, seed labels)
Glass / Ceramic / Metal
- Glass bottles/jars (storage, vases, candle holders)
- Mason jars (pantry storage, DIY gifts)
- Wine bottles (cut into glasses, planters)
- Glass certain cookware (re-use as baking/storage)
- Broken ceramics/tiles (mosaic art, garden paths)
- Metal cans (utensil holders, plant pots)
- Aluminum foil/trays (reuse for crafts or clean up)
- Scrap metal (collect & recycle, make sculpture)
- Old silverware (craft into hooks, plant labels)
- Old kettles/pots (planters, decor)
Furniture / Large Items / Wood
- Wooden pallets (furniture, garden walkways) Wikipedia+1
- Old doors (tabletops, headboards) BrightHub
- Broken chairs/benches (repair & repaint)
- Wooden crates (shelving, storage boxes)
- Bookshelves (refurbish, change colour)
- Wooden flooring off-cuts (craft items, panels)
- Carpet off-cuts/rugs (pet-beds, mats)
- Mattresses (recycle springs & fabric) BrightHub
- Lamps (refurbish, new shade, up-cycle base)
- Bed frames (convert to day-beds, benches)
Electronics / Appliances / Hardware
- Old laptops/desktops (donate, refurbish) upcycledcollective.com
- Mobile phones (trade-in, recycling)
- Cables/chargers (sort & reuse, recycle)
- Light bulbs (check local recycling, reuse in craft)
- Kitchen appliances (repair or donate) Recycling Center Near Me
- Screws/nails (store for reuse)
- Tool sets (pass on, refurbish)
- Old TVs (electronic-waste recycling)
- Computer monitors (reuse as second screen)
- Batteries (proper disposal & recycling)
Gardening / Outdoor / Miscellaneous
- Old tyres (plant containers, swing seats)
- Garden hose off-cut (planter edging)
- Wood pallets outdoor (vertical garden)
- Broken terracotta pots (garden mosaic, smaller plants)
- Compostable kitchen waste (composting reduces waste) asrlms.assam.gov.in
- Leaves/yard waste (mulch or compost) Recycling Center Near Me
- Wooden fence off-cuts (birdhouses, planters)
- Glass bottles (garden border, chandelier)
- Metal buckets (planters or storage)
- Old paint cans (if cleaned/reused, or proper disposal)
Packaging / Single-use to Reusable
- Clear plastic bottles (refill & reuse for cleaning solutions)
- Glass jars from foods (reuse for storage)
- Shipping crates (reuse for storage or shelf)
- Bubble wrap (reuse for packaging)
- Zip-lock bags (wash and reuse if safe)
- Paper bags (reuse for carry bags or craft)
- Styrofoam pieces (reuse for shipping, craft) BrightHub
- Plastic trays (reuse as seed trays)
- Cardboard tubes (wraps, craft)
- Plastic film packaging (recycle via specialist collection)
Miscellaneous / Creative Up-cycling
- Old eyeglasses (donate or reuse frames for crafts) BrightHub
- Keys (craft into jewelry or wall-art) BrightHub
- Old trophies (turn into awards, art) BrightHub
- Abrasive tools (re-sharpen, repurpose)
- Old shoes (donate, or convert into planters) Recycling Center Near Me
- Toys (repair/give away)
- CDs (mosaics, decor)
- Old belts/leather (wallets, straps)
- Wine corks (craft boards, trivets)
- Fabric scraps (quilt, patchwork)
Items to reduce / rethink usage
- Single-use plastic water bottles (switch to reusable bottle)
- Single-use cutlery/plates (switch to reusable)
- Disposable coffee cups (use refillable mug)
- Excess packaging (choose minimal packaging products)
- Fast-fashion items (buy fewer, buy quality)
- Plastic grocery bags (use cloth/fabric bags)
- Over-printing paper (go digital)
- Food waste (plan meals, compost leftovers)
- Excess electronics upgrades (use longer)
- Unnecessary gadgets (share, borrow, repair)
Why this list matters / Principles
- Many items listed show how simple repurposing or rethinking can avoid waste and give a second life to goods that might otherwise go to landfill.
- Up-cycling / repurposing transforms the item rather than simply discarding. For example: glass bottles reused or made into décor. Saint Louis City Recycles+1
- Reducing usage of single-use items helps upstream by cutting demand for new production (which often uses high resources).
- Recycling ensures materials are reclaimed, but up-cycling often adds value and creativity (rather than down-cycling).
- These practices align with “reuse, reduce, recycle, reinvent”. The “reinvent” category is about creative repurposing / up-cycling.
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