Since recycling has become such a large part of our society, it only makes sense that people want to know exactly what can be done with recycled products. True, there are some things that will be recycled and remanufactured into similar products such as ink cartridges, mobile phones, metals, and car parts.
Recycle - this tree is made out of old books!
On the other hand, some items have outlived their usefulness and are begging to be turned into something a little more interesting than a coaster. Listed below are 21 audacious and creative recycling ideas for those used items around the home or office. Many of these are fun and easy and can be great projects to do with children.
Clothing and Accessories
There’s nothing more frustrating then having to say goodbye to a favourite piece of clothing. No one wants to throw out that old sweatshirt or the jeans with the perfect fit. With recycling, you don’t have to—you can take that beloved piece of cloth and turned into something new. An old skirt with a stride hem can become a new pair of shorts, or an old shirt can be reborn as a tank top. An old jacket can even be cut apart to manufacture a new handbag or pieces for a quilt.
Old clothes make excellent recycle
A belt could be manufactured from many things such as an old necktie or scarf. Jewelry may be one of the most common and fun things to recycle. Almost anything can be made into a piece of jewelry, from old silverware and pieces of plastic to glass and items found in the junk drawer.
Furniture/Household
Whether you’re recycling an old piece of furniture from your house or rescuing something from a car boot sale or charity shop, there are many things that could be done with furniture. One can make a table from an old crate or pallet, the tabletop can be turned into a picture frame or work of art, or an old school desk can be turned into an end table. Lamps can be made from almost any kind of container with a little bit of creativity and a couple of items from your local home-improvement store. Lamp shades can be made from paper or fabric to create a unique look. Dishes can be made from woven items, plastic, glass, or metal.
Artwork
The term artwork is quite subjective, but there are many things in the house that can be turned from trash to treasure. Old dishes can be painted with family portraits or seasonal landscapes, and old bottles can be turned into vases.
Artwork, recycle it into something useful, or something arty again!
Toys
There are many toys that can be made from recycled materials. Children love creating their own puppets, balls, skateboards, stuffed animals, puzzles, and more. All it takes is a little creativity and perhaps some glue.
Recycle your old toys, be careful though - they may be collector peices
Sculpture
Sculpture is great because it can look like anything or nothing at all. Virtually any used household item can be turned into a sculpture of some sort. A broken lamp can take on a new life as a vase, old plastic bottles can be made into scarecrows, and old newspapers and magazines can be turned into any number of shapes with origami.
Magnets
Kitchen magnets are a lot of fun. They can be manufactured from plastic or metal lids, serving utensils, drawings, and photographs.
Quilts & Pillows
Quilts and pillows are excellent items that can be made from scrap fabric, whether it is an old sheet, blanket, piece of clothing, or the seat from your favourite broken chair. Quilts and pillows can be any size, any shape, and any design. There are no rules. Using recycled items from your house makes the quilt or pillow unique and special.
Pillows can be recycled
Containers
There are many kinds of containers that can be created from ordinary objects. An old cigar box can be turned into a handbag, food tins can be used to hold pocket change, bouquets, or pencils, and even old books can be turned into cosmetic boxes with a little creativity.
Plant Holders
Nearly anything that won’t leak can be turned into a plant holder. You can create interesting pots from plastic milk or soda containers, food tins, old dishes, etc. For an extra splash of color let the kids decorate them with finger paints.
Costumes
Nearly everyone has had to come up with a last-minute costume and ended up searching frantically through cupboards and closets to find something to wear. Old clothes are great for this, especially when accessorized with old jewelry and cosmetics.
Recycle your costumes, there will be load about soon, with Halloween coming up
Mosaics
Mosaics are generally just pieces of broken materials such as glass, metal, ceramic tiles, or even plastic. Arranging them on a table top or picture frame can make a beautiful work of art.
Books
Books can be used for a wide variety of items such as recycled journals, handbags, photo album covers, or scrapbook pages.
Greeting cards
Old greeting cards can easily be recycled into postcards or framed artwork.
Picture frames
Picture frames can be made from old books, cabinet doors, windows, or magnets.
Picture frames. Essentially wood. So can be recycled
Sun catchers
Sun catchers can be made from anything shiny, whether or not it is translucent. Consider old jewelry or CDs as a way to catch light.
Bags
There are many types of bags that can be made from household objects, such as books, boxes, old fabric, or even shower curtains!
Clocks
A trend in the art world is to make clocks from random household items. One of the coolest ones I’ve ever seen was an old kitchen cabinet turned into a mini-grandmother clock.
Recycle and turn your rubbish into clocks. This hard drive is an excellent example
Party Supplies
Don’t throw away old crepe paper and table decorations as they can be reused. Also, have you ever made paper flowers from Kleenex or toilet paper?
Mobiles
How about making a mobile out of old mobile phones? Babies love bright colours, and the old phones can dress up any room.
Candles
I personally recycle my old candles. Candles rarely burn themselves out totally—usually, there’s a scrap of wax left behind. I simply re-melt them and put in new wicks. At one sitting, I turned old scraps into 15 new, beautiful candles!
Recycle your candles into. Erm. Candles
Bird feeders
Bird feeders are a lot of fun to create from milk cartons, food tins, or cardboard boxes.
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[...] are some more tips here: 21 Audacious and Creative Recycling Ideas | Recycle Blog I like the idea of turning old waste into works of art, like a clock or something. Perhaps you [...]
[...] Gareth Robinson wrote an interesting post today on21 Audacious and Creative Recycling IdeasHere’s a quick excerptA belt could be manufactured from many things such as an old necktie or scarf. Jewelry may be one of the most common and fun things to recycle. Almost anything can be made into a piece of jewelry, from old silverware and pieces of … [...]
[...] Gareth Robinson wrote an interesting post today on21 Audacious and Creative Recycling IdeasHere’s a quick excerptLamps can be made from almost any kind of container with a little bit of creativity and a couple of items from your local home-improvement store. Lamp shades can be made from paper or fabric to create a unique look. … [...]
[...] 21 Audacious and Creative Recycling Ideas Lamp shades can be made from paper or fabric to create a unique look. Dishes can be made from woven items, plastic, glass, or metal. Artwork The term artwork is quite subjective, but there are many things in the house that can be turned … [...]