On a personal level, finding new uses for your old stuff is one of the best ways to reduce pollution and save the environment. Think about it. Most of the things we consume go to the trash. In a 2008 study done by the US Environmental Protection Agency, an American produces an average of 4.5 pounds of solid waste each day. That number may not be that much, but to put it in perspective, let's compare it to the blue whale. According to a page in Discovery Channel's website, a blue whale is huge and weighs roughly 100 tons. With 300 million people living in the United States in 2008, the garbage produced by the country each day was the equivalent of 6,750 blue whales. Now that's a lot.
Perhaps it's time for us to make it a habit to repurpose old things that are about to be thrown away. Tin cans, soda cans, bags, newspapers and old wood are all prospects for reuse. In this post, we'll look at some of the nicest things that people were able to make with their old stuff. Hopefully, it will inspire you to do the same.
Vinyl Record
Aside from DJ's and collectors, demand for these records has been shrinking in favor of digital music players. Vinyl records almost have no use today. But there's a whole new niche called vinyl art, and artists are really making good use of the material. The photo below shows a vinyl wine rack.
Newspapers and Junk Mail
It's amazing how a bunch of newspapers, magazines and junk mail can turn into a container that can hold anything from toys to clothes. It's an eye-catching home decor too.
Old Suitcase
Give your old suitcase a chance. Don't just let it rot. Give it legs instead. Here's a suitcase that has been turned into a chess table.
Biscuit Can
This can has turned into an awesome iPod dock.
Cardboard Side Table
Here's a Georgia Tech project that uses cardboard from packaging. If you order a ton of stuff from Amazon, you'll surely want to repurpose those boxes you have lying around.
Old Tires
Old tires can be useful in the garden or at the playground. In any case, they have many uses that's away from the road.
Used Pallet
Used pallets were often thrown away to make way for new ones. Thanks to DIYers, there's a whole new industry giving these old pallets new life.
Wine Bottle Corks
Who would have thought that wine corks can be turned into a mosaic?
As you've seen, there are many ways to repurpose old stuff that many take for granted. Find some good use for yours. Remember, it's not waste until you waste it.
Click here if you want to see some repurposed wine racks.
