Did you know that each day you produce (on average) 4.4 pounds of trash? If all the trash created in one day was packed in cubic feet, it would be as tall as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Are you ready to reduce the amount of trash you produce? If so, you should think of ways to reuse or recycle items that you would otherwise throw away, or that someone else may throw away.
To get started, why not think of some methods to create eco friendly storage solutions. Intrigued? If so, keep reading.
We have created a list of effective and unique ways to create eco friendly storage in your home that can help you reduce your carbon footprint.
1. Wooden Pallets
Wooden pallets can be used for a wide array of projects around the house. When it comes to storage, they make great garage tool organizers.
Most grocery stores or retail locations have pallets available for sale or for free. You can sand them down and then remove one of the rungs.
Once that is done, all you have to do is screw the pallet to your shed or garage wall and use it for your brooms, rakes, shovels, and other tools with long handles. This is a great way to keep them up and off the ground.
2. Use an Insulated Storage Facility
You may wonder how this is an eco friendly option. Think about it – if you are storing your items in a hot attic, outdoor shed, or cold basement, there’s a good chance they are going to be damaged by the extreme temperatures.
If your items are damaged, there’s a good chance they are going to wind up in the landfill. This isn’t an eco-friendly solution at all. You can keep your belongings safe by choosing an insulated storage facility, which you can learn more about here.
3. Gum Cups
Do you like to purchase your gum in the nifty cups with the pop tops? If so, don’t just toss them out once all the gum is gone.
Instead, keep them around to store your phone charging wires, your loose change, or any other small item that you don’t want left rolling around in your car.
4. Ketchup Bottle
Once you finish the ketchup, don’t just throw the bottle away. Instead, clean it out carefully and keep it in the kitchen.
You can fill the bottle with pancake mix and then make perfectly shaped pancakes each morning. It also makes clean-up much easier.
5. Dresser Drawers
Is your dresser headed to the dumpster? If so, take the drawers out first.
These make great under the bed storage containers. You can even attach some adhesive floor protectors or casters to make it easy to slide the drawers out when needed.
These drawers can be used to store your extra clothes, toys, electronics, or anything else you can think of. If your drawers are too tall to fit under the bed, cut them down. It’s a great storage solution.
6. Old Ice Cube Trays
You may be tempted to throw the old ice cube trays that have been hanging around into the trash. Before you do, rethink how they can be used.
Place the old trays in the junk drawer in your home. You can use the individual compartments for tacks, rubber bands, paper clips, and other office supplies or items you need.
7. Egg Cartons
Your old egg cartons make the perfect option for storing holiday decorations and other tidbits. You can fit smaller ornaments, beads, or other decorations into the egg carton.
You can also open the egg carton all the way and place it in a drawer. Then, similar to the ice cube tray, you have a great way to store smaller items.
8. Coffee Containers
While metal coffee containers aren’t widely used today, you can use both plastic and metal ones for a variety of purposes. You can store screws, nuts, and bolts inside, or other odds and ends.
Put the lid on and find the perfect way to keep things organized and easy to find.
9. Empty Baby Food Jars
Once you wash out the baby food, you can use the jars to store spices, washes, small screws, and more. Attach the lids to a wooden plank in a line approximately two inches apart.
Secure the wood over your workbench or in a kitchen cabinet. This will allow you to easily and quickly screw on or off each of the baby jars. What a great way to reuse this item!
10. Wipe Containers
Baby wipe containers make the perfect plastic bag dispenser. The hole at the top makes it simple to pull out the bags as needed.
Everyone keeps plastic bags, so make sure to keep yours organized by using an old wipe container. It will keep you from finding them all over the house.
Eco Friendly Storage: Try One or Try Them All
When it comes to eco friendly storage solutions, there are more than a few options to consider. The list gives you a number of good ideas to help you get started.
In most cases, when you are thinking about throwing something out, if you think hard enough, you can find another use for it. By doing this, you can keep more items out of the landfill, which will reduce the amount of waste you produce.
If you are ready to learn more about going green, then check out some of our other posts. For example, we offer nine ideas to help you help save the environment.
