City of St. Louis
Department of Streets
Refuse Division
Recycling Program

Reuse

What You Can Do

Household Dining Home Decor & Maintenance Lawn & Garden Packaging Paper Miscellaneous Ways To Revive Materials Exchanges Links

NOTE: The following information is also available as a downloadable PDF Flyer or Word Document.

HOUSEHOLD: ACCESSORIES, APPLIANCES, BOOKS, CLOTHING, EQUIPMENT, FURNITURE, TOYS

Books, films, and music can be borrowed from libraries. Rent films from a video store.
Buy used from antique stores, classified ads, consignment shops, estate sales, flea markets, garage sales, secondhand stores, thrift shops, etc.
Donate or give items to charities (e.g., Goodwill Industries, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Salvation Army, Vietnam Veterans of America, etc.), shelters, group homes, senior centers, nonprofits, schools, youth programs, libraries, hospitals, used equipment dealers, family, friends, or neighbors.
Hold a garage or yard sale.
Maintain it well and repair it when necessary.
Use runners in high traffic areas to reduce wear and tear on flooring.
Use scrap fleece or felt for dusting or sweeping hardwood floors, then wash and reuse.
Power electronics with rechargeable batteries.
Electronics http://www.ecyclestlouis.org
Cellular Phone Reuse and Recycling
Charities That Pick Up Donations
Electronic Media Reuse and Recycling
Household Batteries: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Ink Cartridge Reuse and Recycling
Textile Reuse and Recycling
DINING
Carry and reuse fabric linens (e.g., napkins, tablecloths, towels, etc.), flatware/silverware, a refillable cup/mug, bowls, plates, etc. in cafeterias, homes, offices, and restaurants.
In restaurants, ask for aluminum foil or bring your own reusable containers.
Lunch bags, lunch boxes, or coolers are reusable, durable, and spacious.
Purchase a reusable coffee filter rather than disposable paper filters.
Reuse plastic microwave dishes as picnic-ware.
Store food in reusable containers rather than plastic wrap or disposable plastic bags.
Refill water bottles with tap water. Use a Thermos to keep drinks icy cold or piping hot all day.
Purchase milk and/or juice in refillable containers. Most require a deposit that you will get back once you return the container to the store.
Remove the top and bottom from short, steel/tin cans (e.g., tuna, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots). Use the can to cook perfectly round eggs, pancakes, etc. or use as a form for making sophisticated plating presentations.
HOME DECOR & MAINTENANCE
Borrow or rent equipment that is used infrequently. Share seldom-used equipment and tools with family, friends, and neighbors.
Decorate with area rugs, which are available in a wide variety of sizes, instead of permanent wall-to-wall carpet.
Install reusable air conditioner and furnace filters, and clean as directed.
Reuse containers to store supplies (e.g., bolts, nails, nuts, screws).
LAWN AND GARDEN
After it freshly snows, lay old doormats under birdfeeders to catch fallen birdseed for birds who can't get the seed that falls into the snow.
Old file cabinets can store gloves, hats, hand tools, pruning tools, seeds, string, etc.
Plastic miniblinds can become plant markers.
Start seedlings in egg cartons, or juice and milk containers.
Trim jugs (e.g., juice, milk) around the handles to make scoops, such as for sand or gravel, or make funnels to refill birdfeeders.
PACKAGING
Carry small, reusable bags and containers for use when purchasing bulk foods and produce.
Foam "peanuts" and bubble wrap can be reused or donated to company mailrooms. Take foam "peanuts" and bubble wrap to a local shipping service or check with the Peanut Hotline at 1.800.828.2214 for an automated list of local businesses that will reuse clean, dry, loose fill packaging materials.
Large, durable, reusable bags are useful when shopping.
Make scouring pads from onion and potato mesh bags.
Paper or plastic bags can be reused to line trashcans instead of buying trash bags or plastic liners.
Return clothes hangers to the cleaners.
Reuse bread bags, glass jars, grocery bags, plastic tubs, produce bags, etc. to store food and other items.
PAPER
Brown paper grocery bags are sturdy enough for wrapping packages to be mailed.
Clean messes or spills with reusable dishcloths or rags, rather than disposable paper towels.
Envelopes can be reused by placing labels over typed or written areas.
Handkerchiefs reduce paper tissue waste and are softer on your skin.
Reuse holiday and greeting cards by cutting off the back, then writing and posting the card covers as postcards; or by using the card covers as gift tags.
Share catalog and magazine subscriptions.
Use both sides of a sheet of paper (particularly for draft documents).
Book Reuse and Recycling
MISCELLANEOUS
Old, used, or worn out textiles (e.g., bandanas, clothes, curtains/drapes, scarves, sheets, washcloths, etc.) can be reused to cover buttons, to create or cover pillows, to make patches for decorations or hiding holes in clothing and linens, or to make quilts.
Refill lighter fluid and blades, rather than using disposables.
Refillable pens and pencils conserve resources.
St. Louis Teachers' Recycle Center, Inc. or Leftovers, etc. will accept items and materials that could be reused (e.g., bottles, bottle caps, buttons, canisters, fabric, film containers, jars, stickers, yarn, wood scraps, etc.).
Habitat for Humanity's ReStore accepts building materials and fixtures.
Miscellaneous Reuse and Recycling
WAYS TO MAKE SOMETHING NEW FROM SOMETHING OLD
Are you wondering just how creative you can be? Are you handy around your home, preferring to do-it-yourself? Below are links to some websites where you can find suggestions for what to do with "it" or share your own ideas.
How Do I Recycle This?
http://www.recyclethis.co.uk
ReadyMade
http://readymademag.com
ThriftyFun
http://www.thriftyfun.com
MATERIALS EXCHANGES (aka Where You Can Swap Things)
Materials Exchanges

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This Page Last Modified: 09/01/09

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