Recycling in the Home

tru

exlibris wrote:

"Talking Frame for recycling carrier bags
It is very interesting to read all these recycling articles. I am all for recycling. A few years back I bought a frame on which a carrier bag could be hung for use as a dustbin. It was very useful because, unlike a dustbin, it was not heavy to carry and could be carried and thrown into the outside blackbin as and when I went out through the front door. However, now it is broken and I am looking for a replacement. I have searched numerous shops and search engines but cannot find any such thing! Can any of you help me?"

Caravan and camping shops sell them. Look at them carefully though as some are designed to fasten onto a door.

I got mine from Betterware. I took the shelf out from the cupboard under the sink and screwed the bin to the inside of the cupboard door.

mows

This is a brilliant thread..many thanks..just a few ideas that i don't think have been mentioned yet...?
A rag bag...any old towels, sheets, clothes or duvet covers which are cotton and can't be made into other clothes / throws /floor cushions / rag rugs / patchwork etc get cut up and put in the rag bag...i use rag bag bits instead of floor cloths, dish cloths, baby wipes, tissues, kitchen towels, for straining wine as part of the home brew process, as polishing clothes, cut up as ties for vegetables and dangly plants, as stuffing for cushions and soft toys, OH uses them for "oily rags" for the bike and the car...i always seem to have piles of bed linen and towels even though we never buy any new, and a duvet cover keeps us in rags for ages..plus most car boots have a duvet cover or two for sale at 20p or so...
If i have a surplus of carrier bags, i put them in a cushion cover and use as a floor cushion
If you are in a real economising mood, you may wish to try the following...once a double sheet becomes worn in the middle, cut the sheet up the middle, turn the edges to the centre and re-hem (sides to middle). Once the rehemmed bit gets worn, make the double sheet into a single sheet...once single sheet becomes worn, sides to middle again, once worn, convert to pillow cases....once worn then consign to rag bag....i've done this, and it's a fair bit of work, but very satsifying to have squeezed all the use out of a piece of fabric..
hope this helps, all the best , mows

juliaw

I get very frustrated that everyone throws out expensive magazines (or puts them into paper recycling) when only one person has read them. Any ideas for recycling them?

Bargainloverbec

juliaw wrote:

I get very frustrated that everyone throws out expensive magazines (or puts them into paper recycling) when only one person has read them. Any ideas for recycling them?

If you give them to your local charity shop someone like me will probably buy it! I only allow myself one full price magazine per month but will happy spend 50p on a slightly out of date one. Keeps me amused for hours...

apprentice_tycoon

Our local library has a magazine swap box, it's very popular and you get to read magazines that you would never dream of buying.

squeaky

I read the other day in a magazine at the doctors:- "FLASH NEWS Titanic has sunk!!" I think their magazines need updating.

se999

What about organising a magazine group with family/friends/workmates/neighbours, so each subscibes for a different magazine & swap.

For fabric recycling if the fabric is in good condition there's always patchwork, also there are ragrugs the YHA is organising a how to weekend if you don't know how to: http://www.yha.org.uk/Stay_at_YHA/Activities/Art_and_Craft.html#rrm

Also I'm currently wearing the t-shirts DS1 & 2 have grown out of, they're plain colours and relatively uni-sex even though they say I'm a 13/14 year old boy!!

larmy16

I could not find the plug for my kitchen sink today (no longer on a chain) and I discovered the green tops of milk plastic jugs fits perfectly. I think I posted this earlier, but they also make good keeper together of socks if you score a cross in them with a craft knife.

Recently I passed a newsagents and they had a pile of those encyclopedia type books that cost a fortune to collect (free to taker). I took two and covered them with an old tea towel to make a pot stand. Now that is recycling!!:)

SilentFlute

I dont know if i am allowed but I'll try lol. This is a very good group on all things frugal and its how I got to know about this site many moons ago.

Frugal Genius UK :money:

se999

Someone had a question on water saving on utilities, so had a browse and and was amazed, I though I was good until I read this lot

Anyway here are the links I found:

I found this American Website with 49 ways to save water!! http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.htm

Also this page from the UK environment agency has seperate links through to water saving in the home & garden
http://www.environment-agency.gov.u...rsion=1&lang=_e

Found this one on using grey water.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.u...rsion=1&lang=_e

There is also a 'revolting' Australian water saving slogan I heard: "If it's brown, slush it down, if it's yellow, let it mellow", but obeying that is far beyond my current enviromental credibility