Home / Kitchen / Decor

1. Old glass jars (jam, pickles) → storage containers, candle holders, herb planters. Earth Reminder+1
2. Wine bottles → vases, lamp bases, garden border pieces. hi-spec.com+1
3. Broken plates/ceramic shards → mosaics, garden stepping stones. The Times of India
4. Wooden cutlery or spoons → garden plant markers, craft handles. Create Craft
5. Corks (wine or champagne) → bulletin boards, trivets, craft pieces. Upcycle That
6. Old doors/furniture boards → coffee tables, benches, shelving units. hi-spec.com+1
7. Picture frames → mirror frames, chalkboards, decorative trays.
8. Broken light bulbs → mini terrariums, hanging décor.
9. Drawer boxes → wall-shelves, storage boxes. World inside pictures
10. Old mirrors → decorative art pieces, new frames.
11. Bed sheets / pillowcases → picnic blankets, curtains, reusable tote bag material.
12. Towels → bath mats, pet-bed liners, cleaning cloths.
13. Old jeans → denim quilts, cushions, leg-warmers.
14. Suitcases → side tables, storage trunks, pet beds. hi-spec.com+1
15. Old rugs/carpet off-cuts → mats, stair runners, pet cushions.
16. Mismatched cutlery → hooks, decorations, key holders. World inside pictures
17. Plastic trays from packaging → seedling trays for gardening, craft organizers.
18. Mason jars with lids → bathroom storage (cotton buds, etc.), spice jars. Upcycle That
19. Cloth napkins / dinner cloths → handkerchiefs, small bags, cleaning rags.
20. Old belts (leather or fabric) → towel holders, plant hanger straps, decorative straps.
21. Glass soda/beer bottles → pendant lights, outdoor lighting.
22. Plastic crates → modular shelving, shoe racks.
23. Broken chair frames → plant stands, art ladders.
24. Old chopping boards → wall art pieces, trays.
25. Wine corks + wooden board → message board. Create Craft

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Office / Stationery / Electronic Bits

26. Used printer cartridges → refill & reuse, or donate for recycling.
27. Old mobile phones → refurbished for reuse, or components recycled.
28. USB cables/chargers → keep as extra backup, tag and store.
29. Office paper (one-side printed) → scratch paper, shopping lists, craft. Almanac
30. Greeting cards/envelopes → remove artwork, reuse for new cards or labels.
31. CD/DVD discs → craft mosaics, coasters, art pieces. Upcycle That+1
32. Keyboard keys/spare keys → jewellery, magnets, craft pieces.
33. Bubble wrap from deliveries → reuse for packaging, plant insulation.
34. Cardboard boxes (office supplies) → storage, low-cost furniture.
35. Old folders/binders → repurpose as storage trays for small items.
36. Film canisters / empty containers → seed pots, bead containers.
37. Chalkboard or whiteboard → reuse frame, update surface.
38. Broken laptop or monitor → repurpose parts (RAM, hard drive) or recycling.
39. Over-printed or old posters → craft pieces, wall décor panels.
40. Old printer paper boxes → drawer dividers, cable organisers.

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Garden / Outdoor / Miscellaneous

41. Plastic bottles (large water or soda) → self-watering planters, irrigation funnels.
42. Tyres → swings, planters, bollards. hi-spec.com
43. Garden hose off-cuts → edging for garden beds, art pieces.
44. Wooden pallets → vertical gardens, compost bins, furniture. hi-spec.com+1
45. Metal buckets → planters, ice buckets, storage.
46. Glass jars (from kitchen) → outdoor lanterns, bug-catchers.
47. Old bricks/concrete blocks → garden steps, raised bed borders.
48. Leaves/yard waste → compost, mulch. The Times of India
49. Terracotta pot shards → drainage layer in pots, mosaic pieces.
50. Plastic crates or crates → garden benches, storage boxes.
51. Broken fence boards → birdhouses, decorative signage.
52. Old skis or snowboards → garden benches, planters.
53. Ladders (wooden) → plant trellis, clothes-hanging rack. DIY Projects
54. Old garden tools (rusted) → hooks, garden décor.
55. Egg cartons → seed starter trays, craft moulds.
56. Scrap metal (rods, sheets) → art pieces, plant stakes.
57. Cold drink cans → planters, pen holders. The Spruce
58. Wooden crates → raised garden boxes, children’s playhouses.
59. Broken umbrella frames → garden trellis, art structures.
60. Appliance shells (old fridge shell, etc) → quirky planters, outdoor storage.

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Kids, Toys, Pets & Hobbies

61. Old toys (plastic/wood) → donation, or repaint + up-cycle into new décor.
62. Board games (missing pieces) → use boards for craft surfaces, pieces for art.
63. Toy vehicle wheels → craft wheels for DIY carts or furniture.
64. Baby food jars → small storage for craft bits or pet treats. Reddit
65. Broken crayons → melt into new multicolour crayons or candles.
66. Old shoes (especially boots) → planters, pet beds, art pieces. The Times of India
67. Old backpacks → picnic mats, storage bags, pet carriers.
68. DVD/jewel cases → photo frames, mosaic pieces.
69. Lego pieces (extra) → jewellery, keychains, mosaic boards.
70. Skateboards → shelves, benches. hi-spec.com
71. Broken musical instruments → shelves or mountings. DIY Projects
72. Toy blocks (wood/plastic) → art pieces, letters/name display.
73. Stuffed toys (worn) → make them hangers, bean bags, or up-cycle fabric.
74. Old sports gear (helmets, pads) → planters, storage crates, art installations.
75. Bicycle wheels/frames (broken bikes) → clocks, mirrors, light pendants. World inside pictures

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Travel / Transport / Specialty Items

76. Suitcases (see above) → travel-themed side tables, storage.
77. Car tyres (see above) → planters, swings.
78. Motorcycle helmets (broken/nogo) → plant hanger, garden light.
79. Airline blanket/fleece (from an old job) → pet blankets, picnic mats.
80. Old maps/posters → wall art, decorative collage.
81. Suitcase lock/hardware → keychains, decorative hooks.
82. Luggage tags (unused) → bookmarks, plant labels.
83. Travel-sized toiletry containers → refill and reuse for trips.
84. Broken car battery casing (non-hazardous) → tool storage box, planter (after safe cleaning).
85. Surfboards/used boards → benches, wall art.
86. Spare car tyres or rim → garden fire-pit surround, outdoor bench supports.
87. Old airline blankets/linen → quilt, cushion covers.
88. Used train or plane tickets/cards → collaged art, travel journal memory boards.
89. Broken ski or snowboard (see above) → garden bench, kids’ rocker.
90. Old floor mats (car) → boot tray, pet mat, workshop mat.

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Digital / Media / Miscellaneous Office Supply

91. USB flash-drives (small capacity) → portable storage for archives, or keep as emergency OS/boot drive.
92. Old hard drives (functional) → external backup drive, NAS storage.
93. Floppy disks / CDs (obsolete) → craft ornaments, coasters.
94. Non-functioning printers/scanners → parts harvested, or donate to makers/hobbyists.
95. Broken camera lenses (non-usable) → lens coffee mugs, terrariums.
96. Travel brochures/magazines → collage art, scrapbook covers.
97. Credit cards (expired) → luggage tags, keychains, bookmarks.
98. Old floppy disks or CD cases → micro storage boxes, desk organizers.
99. Mobile phone cases (unused) → decorative covers for small boxes, gadget storage.
100. Old shipping pallets (seen earlier) → statement furniture or large art wall pieces (again emphasising larger scale).

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Some Key Takeaways / Principles

• The idea is to think differently about items: before throwing out, ask “can I reuse this, repair it, repurpose or reinvent it?” gsdakotahorizons.org+1
• Up-cycling isn’t just recycling: it’s giving something a new life/purpose rather than simply breaking it down. gsdakotahorizons.org
• Small items (like bottle caps, old CDs, plastic bottles) may seem trivial but add up when scaled across many households. World inside pictures+1
• Re-use and repurpose help reduce waste, reduce demand for new production, and often save money. Thrifty Sustainability
• Some projects require tools/skills (sewing, carpentry), but many are quite simple (paint, drill a hole, rearrange) — we can tailor to ability. Almanac