Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle 02/02/09

Recycling seems to get a lot of attention nowadays, but reducing how much we use and reusing what we already have can have an even bigger positive impact on our environment. So often, we buy something for a specific purpose when we already have something that would suffice, and that’s just as wasteful as throwing something away instead of recycling it.

I’ve seen several clever ideas in the last week or so for managing the post-holiday cleanup chaos (and most of them would work year-round):

• Use an empty wrapping paper roll for storing Christmas lights. Just wrap the strings of lights carefully around the roll, then write a note on the cardboard about how many lights are on the roll.

• Cut the legs off of an old pair of pantyhose, and use the legs to cover wrapping paper rolls that still have paper on them. A leg will fit over the roll nicely; just secure it at the end with a rubber band or twist-tie. No more dirty and crumpled wrapping paper.

• Next time you finish a box of tissues, save the box. Use it to store plastic shopping bags – it’s much less bulky than a bag stuffed with hundreds of others, and it will help you reduce clutter.

• Use old shower curtain hooks to store handbags. Just hang a hook over the rod in a closet, add a purse or bag, and voila!

I’ve found that Real Simple magazine is a great place to find creative ideas for reducing, reusing, and recycling. Where do you see smart solutions? How are you reducing and reusing?