Question of the Week - How do you Recycle food containers

[Guest guest]

We have a Question of the Week to help get to know each other, inspire each

other and help folks share their ideas. We hope you will join in.

 

Our Question of the Week this week is -

 

What Things that you buy food items in have you recycled or repurposed and

what have you used them for?

 

Here's to lots of good ideas from all of you, that will inspire us all with

ways to save us money, be creative and keep these things out of our land

fills.

 

Judy

[Guest guest]

I make fire starter blocks using egg cartons, dries lint and wax.

Katie

 

wwjd <jtwigg wrote:

We have a Question of the Week to help get to know each other, inspire

each

other and help folks share their ideas. We hope you will join in.

 

Our Question of the Week this week is -

 

What Things that you buy food items in have you recycled or repurposed and

what have you used them for?

 

Here's to lots of good ideas from all of you, that will inspire us all with

ways to save us money, be creative and keep these things out of our land

fills.

 

Judy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Everything imaginable - all jars, be they glass or plastic of all

sizes, jugs with wides mouths for storage of flour, beans, etc. Save

veggie bags from the grocer for home baked bread. Wash and reuse zip

locks, plastic cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt containers, Food

grade buckets from the bakery with their lids that formerly contained

icing, wash them out and store large quantities of rice, flour, beans,

non fat dried milk, etc. All cans with re-attachable plastic lids for

dry goods. Even some Pero (coffee substitute drink) cans with

re-attachable plastic lids (they are made of cardboard tube) rinse

gently, wipe dry and store nuts, home made cocoa mixes. You name it.

 

Susan in ABQ

 

, " wwjd " <jtwigg wrote:

>

> We have a Question of the Week to help get to know each other,

inspire each

> other and help folks share their ideas. We hope you will join in.

>

> Our Question of the Week this week is -

>

> What Things that you buy food items in have you recycled or

repurposed and

> what have you used them for?

>

> Here's to lots of good ideas from all of you, that will inspire us

all with

> ways to save us money, be creative and keep these things out of our

land

> fills.

>

> Judy

>

[Guest guest]

--- > What Things that you buy food items in have you recycled or

repurposed and

> what have you used them for?

 

 

I use my quart yogurt containers at the Co-op when I buy deli salads

or bulk rice, beans, or grains. We are really lucky as our recycling

center takes all plastics except #5. I try to buy most things bulk

and recycle when I can't.

 

I made a clothes pin holder out of a 1-gallon vinegar bottle. I also

made a toilet brush holder also from a vinegar bottle.

 

Deb in Idaho

[Guest guest]

We have often reused boxes to make patterns and templates, put a gift

in for wrapping (you can unfold them and refold with the plain side

out,) make models for our sons' various projects, and even sorting and

storing various things. (Some cereal boxes are the perfect size for

magazines. Wrap in a decorative paper or paint if you want.)

 

The baby food my son uses for his son comes in little plastic tubs.

Perfect size for beads, buttons, and scrapbooking embellishments.

 

My mother-in-law reused almost all jars for her own canning. I worry

about the seal, so we don't do this unless a regular canning lid and

ring fits the jar. However, I have reused jars for many things

including making candleholders. You paint or etch the clean jar, wrap

wire around the neck and make a hanger. Put a candle in, light, and

hang from a tree, clothesline, eave, or wherever you can hang one

safely. It makes a nice effect for an outdoor party. Next Christmas,

I'm planning to put those battery operated candles in painted jars for

luminaries near our walkway. Safe, inexpensive, and pretty.

 

~ Doris

 

, " wwjd " <jtwigg wrote:

> What Things that you buy food items in have you recycled or

repurposed and what have you used them for?

[Guest guest]

The large wide mouth Miracle Whip jar can hold one pound of yeast, a pound of

salt, coffee creamer (so the cats don't get into it and eat it), brown sugar,

other sugar, grits, cellophane wrapped spice packets from the Ethnic foods

section at the store, pound of coffee beans, loose tea or tea bags; my bottle of

B complex, alcohol packets and a week's worth of needles/syringes, leftover

chili, spaghetti sauce, beans, soup (don't microwave in it) and other things.

 

Carl loves Frito Lay's onion dip and he uses the jars for nails, screws, little

things I hate stepping on, etc. When I am allowed to use one, it is the perfect

size for putting fake sugar and coffee creamer in and leave on the counter

because the cats cannot get into the jars. They really like coffee creamer and

I buy the large thing of Coffeemate at Sam's Club. The first time they knocked

it off the counter and it popped open, I woke to a kitchen floor covered in

Coffeemate, cats covered in Coffeemate and cats and dogs licking it up as fast

as they could.

 

Our grandson loves chicken pot pies and I save the aluminum pans to make veggie

pot pies, individual quiche, shepherd's pies (veggie only version), individual

crumb pies, tarts...not really storage but I hate throwing those wonderful

little pans away only to have to buy them when I do the mass veggie pot pie prep

and freezing.

 

Plastic milk cartons are used for iced tea or Kool Aid, or to carry water to the

cat houses. Once they've been well used, I cut the tops off and use the bottom

half for seedlings.

 

Empty veggie cans make great quick bread pans. They also make lovely hanging

lanterns for Christmas, Yule or Halloween. (Fill clean can with water, freeze.

Punch holes in can. Let ice melt. Dry and paint cans. Put a little sand or kitty

litter in bottom of can, place votive candle inside. Hang in trees far enough

away from branches/leaves to keep from burning, or line driveway.)

 

I buy the huge commercial size thing of ketchup at Sam's and refill the small

bottles of ketchup from the big one. (The pump is on sale at Wal Mart near the

big things of ketchup and mustard there on the coffee aisle.) Hugs savings doing

that. We'd do the same with mustard, but we just don't eat that stuff.

 

Styrofoam egg cartons go back to the farmer who supplies our eggs for refilling

by the biddies.

 

Pickle jars are reused for refrigerator pickles. NEVER pressure process, or

boiling water bath in a jar not specifically intended for canning.

 

I also re-use wide mouth jars for storing dried fruits after opening the bag

they came in. It keeps them a lot fresher and safe from the furry ones in the

house.

 

Old habits die hard, and the food inspector always demanded that things not

stored in original containers were marked with the identity of the contents. I

use a strip of masking tape and Sharpie marker to make labels and then label the

contents of the jars. When making refrigerator pickles, I also include the date

made and refrigerated.

 

Frugality is good. Love and Hugs, Jeanne in GA freezing her southern fried

fanny off. (It got down to 26*, it NEVER gets this cold.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

1. Any large number 1 or 2 plastic--goes to our local recycle

center, except for powdered creamer containers. We use those to hold

other granular things--sugar, flax seed, etc.

2. Bread bags-- I empty out the crumbs and keep them folded in a

drawer. They are reused for lunch sandwiches, storage of biscuits,

or slices of pizza when you don't want to put a big ol' cardboard

box in your fridge. They are also good for when you can't find a

lid for a container. Slip the whole container into the bag to keep

fresh. We haven't bought cling-wrap in ages.

3. Small glass jars with a good screw-on lid---hold dry goods that

we use often (millet, nutritional yeast, sesame seeds, sunflower

seeds). Those stay on a platter in the center of the table so we can

add the stuff during a meal.

4. Cool whip style containers---(often a 5 or 6 plastic) with lids

are used for food storage in the fridge. I haven't paid for Gladware

or Rubbermaid in years! LOL

5. We use canvas bags for all shopping. The occasional plastic

shopping bag that comes home becomes a trash liner in a small

bathroom can. We also hang one on the doorknob to the garage to

catch kitchen paper for recycling.

6. Coffee cans---become containers to hold tall kitchen spoons and

utensils, crayons, color pencils, even plants! Take them to work,

or send them to your child's teacher for classroom storage.

7. Crochet yarn scraps go to an outide container for birds to take.

8. Plastic lunch spoons/forks come home from school and work to be

rewashed and used again. Generally my husband just takes regular

silverware and brings it home to be washed--haven't lost any yet.

9. One last idea: we bought a 2 1/2 gallon bucket with handle. When

someone is ready to shower, they slip the bucket under the faucet to

catch the water that runs when you are " warming up " the shower

water. We've found that we waste between 5-7 gallons of water daily

for three people to warm up their water. We now dump that clean

water into our washing machine to use for a load. At 5 gallons per

day, and 30 days per month, you can see the waste we are trying to

avoid--about 150 gallons of water down the drain. We've not seen

our first water bill yet, so we'll be curious to see if there is a

difference. Experiment in progress...

[Guest guest]

What a lot of great recycling ideas. You are all so inspiring.

 

When we moved into town ;ast summer we discovered curbside

recycling. We love it and are finding our garbage can mostly empty

on garbage day.

 

We compost so we are able to get rid of those pulp egg cartons by

leaving them on the drainboard them to put coffee grounds and other

compostable food stuffs in and then putting them in the compost

pile. We live an area of heavy clay. The paper that ends up in the

compost, lightens the soil when the compost is later used.

 

I have a problem with those milk cartons that are paper and plastic

as well as some carry out containers that come from restaurants. I

began buying milk in recyclable glass bottles available at my local

Coop. I place the paper/plastic restaurant carry out containers in

the compost pile. When they break down, there is a thin sheet of

plastic that emerges--I remove it from the compost, wash it in the

kitchen sink, and place it in the recycling container. I refuse to

accept any styrofoam carry out containers because my local recycling

center does not accept them. I ask to have the food wrapped in

aluminum foil, which will reycle after I wash it. I am trying to

train myself to carry a plastic yoghurt container to carry home

food from restaurants and deli's. I have not devised a system yet so

that is still a work in progress. I appreciate some of the ideas

that have been presented.

I carry my own cloth shopping bags so I end up with very few big

grocery bags. Tucked into the cloth shopping bags are the smaller

bags [plastic bread bags, coffee bags, and small reused paper bags]

that you use to pack produce and items out of the bulk bins. I

launder the plastic bags at a low temperature in my washing machine

when they get icky. I dry them out of the sun light on my cloths

line and they are ready to reuse. They get recycled when they

develop holes in them. Old paper bags get recycled, if they are

clean, otherwise they end up in the compost pile. I refuse all

plastic shopping bags when I shop in places like drug stores and

carry my purchases out to the car in the shopping cart. Places like

Rite Aid are not quite ready for my cloth shopping bag system. I am

sure that will change.

I rarely use paper towels--only to pick up cat accidents on the floor

[i use about a roll every two years and I only buy recycled paper

towels]. Otherwise, I use cotton rags for clean up. I am knitting

rag rugs out of old clothing, especially men's white t-shirts.

Clothing that can no longer be used as rags because of the tiny size,

goes into the compost pile. We do not buy any clothing, towels, or

bedding with a synthetic content for that reason--it cannot be

composted and will ultimately end up in the landfill. Also, items

with a synthetic content do not make good rags because they are not

absorbent. Clothing that is still good, but we do not need it, goes

to St Vincent de Paul for them to sell to support their homeless

feeding program. I only buy toilet paper with a high recycled

content.

My local community is trying desperately to cut down on things going

to the landfill since, I understand that, it is now hauled out of

state to Oregon.

Happy Recycling

Kathleen

Eureka CA

We have a Question of the Week to help get to know each other,

inspire each other and help folks share their ideas. We hope you

will join in. Our Question of the Week this week is What Things that

you buy food items in have you recycled or repurposed and what have

you used them for? Here's to lots of good ideas from all of you,

that will inspire us all with ways to save us money, be creative and

keep these things out of our land fills.

[Guest guest]

I do admit to tossing most plastics in the recycling bin, but do keep

cottage cheeses containers to store cutup fruit, small portions of dog

food, and other cold items,. I love to use glass jars for left over

sauce, items where I only use a little at a time (coconut milk, etc)

I am inspired by everyone's ideas and may need to rethink what I can

reuse rather than just toss in to recycle,

 

 

, " siobhan21156 "

<siobhan21156 wrote:

>

> Everything imaginable - all jars, be they glass or plastic of all

> sizes, jugs with wides mouths for storage of flour, beans, etc. Save

> veggie bags from the grocer for home baked bread. Wash and reuse zip

> locks, plastic cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt containers, Food

> grade buckets from the bakery with their lids that formerly contained

> icing, wash them out and store large quantities of rice, flour, beans,

> non fat dried milk, etc. All cans with re-attachable plastic lids for

> dry goods. Even some Pero (coffee substitute drink) cans with

> re-attachable plastic lids (they are made of cardboard tube) rinse

> gently, wipe dry and store nuts, home made cocoa mixes. You name it.

>

> Susan in ABQ

>

> , " wwjd " <jtwigg@> wrote:

> >

> > We have a Question of the Week to help get to know each other,

> inspire each

> > other and help folks share their ideas. We hope you will join in.

> >

> > Our Question of the Week this week is -

> >

> > What Things that you buy food items in have you recycled or

> repurposed and

> > what have you used them for?

> >

> > Here's to lots of good ideas from all of you, that will inspire us

> all with

> > ways to save us money, be creative and keep these things out of our

> land

> > fills.

> >

> > Judy

> >

>

[Guest guest]

What a great question--Thanks, Judy! Everyone has such neat ideas. The

only thing that we do that I haven't seen anyone post about yet is pass

on the little baskets (that berries, cherry tomatoes, etc., come in) to

the folks who run the CSA and the grower who we get most of our stuff

from at the farmers market. They always seem as happy to get them as we

are to get rid of 'em

[Guest guest]

I take those big plastic zipper bags that sheets and blankets come in

when you buy them, I put my dog Buddy's food bgs of dried food or it

gets ants.

 

Paul

[Guest guest]

My cats want to go to your home, Paul. They can shred those bags and get

into the dog food!!!

 

Marilyn Daub

Vanceburg, KY

mcdaub

My cats knead me!!

-

" paulvatoloco " <paulvatoloco

 

Sunday, January 20, 2008 4:30 PM

Re: Question of the Week - How do you Recycle

food containers

 

 

>I take those big plastic zipper bags that sheets and blankets come in

> when you buy them, I put my dog Buddy's food bgs of dried food or it

> gets ants.

>

> Paul

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I thought those big bags were for my yarn stash to keep the moths away

from the wool. Funny me:-)

 

Kathleen

 

 

 

I take those big plastic zipper bags that sheets and blankets come in

> when you buy them, I put my dog Buddy's food bgs of dried food or it

> gets ants.

[Guest guest]

Peanut Butter Jars - My favorite! I store leftovers in the fridge.

Freeze leftovers or soup for later use. I store buttons, nails,

small parts and pieces.

 

Plastic Food/Deli Style Containers - Basically the same uses as

above. I freeze food in them that I will give to friends or family.

Or pack leftovers in that I will be giving to someone. No need to

return the container!

 

Plastic Water Jugs - I cut a wider opening in the top and use them to

catch the peelings and waste that I take to the compost heap. I use

the same cut and place one on the dryer to put the dryer lint in for

disposal. Cut them in half on three sides, bend top back on the

uncut side, put in dirt and seeds, seal cut with some duct tape,

instant mini greenhouse.

 

Plastic Packaging Bags from Feminine Sanitary Products, Paper Towels,

Toilet Paper, etc. - I use them to pick up the dog waste or other

things when I want to protect my hands.

 

I know I use other things, but now I can't think of what they are!

 

Jo-Ann

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, " wwjd " <jtwigg wrote:

>

> We have a Question of the Week to help get to know each other,

inspire each

> other and help folks share their ideas. We hope you will join in.

>

> Our Question of the Week this week is -

>

> What Things that you buy food items in have you recycled or

repurposed and

> what have you used them for?

>

> Here's to lots of good ideas from all of you, that will inspire us

all with

> ways to save us money, be creative and keep these things out of our

land

> fills.

>

> Judy

>

[Guest guest]

They are great for sweaters too. I can stack them and still see all

my sweaters. The little ones I use to hold my shampoo bottle and bath

stuff when travelling in case the bottle leaks.

Peace,

Diane

 

, " Kathleen M. Pelley "

<kmpelley wrote:

>

> I thought those big bags were for my yarn stash to keep the moths away

> from the wool. Funny me:-)

>

> Kathleen

>

>

>

> I take those big plastic zipper bags that sheets and blankets come in

> > when you buy them, I put my dog Buddy's food bgs of dried food or it

> > gets ants.

>

[Guest guest]

We pass those baskets on to my in-laws because my FIL often goes to

pick-your-own produce and repackages to sell.

 

Remember weaving ribbons in those plastic baskets to make little

Easter baskets? I wonder if anyone still does that.

 

Our egg cartons went to a friend who sold eggs. I sometimes use the

cartons for painting. It makes a nice palette. Especially if I'm

using many colors. A plus - I can close the lid to keep the paint from

drying out too soon if I have to step away for a while.

 

I like to use any " disposable " plastic containers with a clear lid to

sprout seeds. They can always be washed and recycled after we plant

the seedlings in the garden.

 

Now, I have a question - can paper bags be safely used to keep weeds

down in the vegetable garden? I seem to remember a relative using

them that way, but I wonder about the ink.

 

, Maureen <ailanthus wrote:

>pass on the little baskets (that berries, cherry tomatoes, etc., come

in) to the folks who run the CSA and the grower who we get most of our

stuff from at the farmers market.

[Guest guest]

I have used the plastic containers that I purchase baby spinach or arugula in as

compost containers, put fresh herbs in in the fridge, put two plant pots in on

the island. When they wear out, especially the compost ones I just replace them

with new ones.

 

My little guy uses them for lego, pencils, crayons, anything small that he

wants to find easily. They are stackable.

 

My little girl uses any containers she can find for beads, strings, all types

of craft supplies.

 

Pop can get used for labels in the garden. Take the tops and bottoms off, cut

into strips and use an marker that doesn't wash off.

 

Milk cartons and 2 litre pop bottles, bird feeders.

 

If I can't find a use for it then it goes in the recycle bin.

 

Barb, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

 

 

 

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Kathleen, You wrote that you compost rags what are they made from. Do you

purchase only cotton. Also do you have a pattern for the knitted rugs. Would

love to make them also. You have some wonderful ideas. Everyone does.

 

Barb, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada

 

 

 

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