33 Reuse Solutions to Reduce Waste in Your Daily Life (Video)

Since 2008, I’ve been leading a passionate reuse life by incorporating reuse solutions for my needs and wants whenever possible. I’ve also been connecting other people with reuse solutions, like my friends at EcoRI News. Our working relationship kicked off in 2017 when we made a series of EcoRI / STAY VOCAL Reuse T-Shirts. Most recently, they asked me to host a webinar as part of their Low Carbon Academy series. They wanted it to be about reducing home waste and promoting reuse, but the specifics were up to me.

So, I got thinking about a question that I get asked a lot: "What's 1 easy way that I can reuse in my daily life to reduce waste?" So, I decided to share 33 easy ways that you can reuse to reduce waste in your daily life. And I wanted this webinar to be fun. Zero power points. Lots of props!

Some of the ideas in the video might be no-brainers, some might be a little weird, and some might be perfect for you. I included a little something for everybody, as we can all reuse more. These are ways to still meet your needs and wants, but also help save money AND make less impact on the planet. I hope you get inspired by one or two.

Here's the list of the 33 reuse solutions to avoid waste from the video. Let me know in the comments if you start incorporating any into your life or if you already do any of your own.

KEY FOR BELOW

(👤) Benefits the People - can still fit your interests and tastes, custom, personalized, fun

(🌎) Benfits the Planet - save resources, keep items out of the landfill

(💰) Benefits the Wallet - save money

1. French Press (👤 🌎💰) – great coffee, no disposable filters, regularly found at thrift stores

2. Coffee Mugs (👤 🌎💰) – so many unique mugs out there for every interest, most thrift store have dozens mugs of you’d like for at least 1/10th of the cost

3. Hot Water Kettle (👤 🌎💰) - example of a specific thing I wanted for The REUSE Box Truck and was able to find it pre-owned

4. “Paper Towels” (👤 🌎💰) – made from T-Shirt scraps and you can have it in preferred colors or patterns, easily added to your laundry

5. Coasters (👤 🌎💰) – can be made out out of so many things for little to no money and easily customizable

6. Desk (👤 🌎💰) – so many used desks at thrift stores, online marketplaces, yard sales, etc. And it just takes a bit of paint to give it a new custom life and you can save potentially hundreds.

7. Laptop (👤 🌎💰) – plenty of great refurbished ones out there for different needs, you can save thousands and even get a warrantee

8. Weekly Schedule (👤 🌎💰) – print personal things on the back of scrap paper, who sees it besides you?

9. Binders (👤 🌎💰) – one of most common things at thrift stores, available online in bulk

10. Cabinets (👤 🌎💰) – so much cool storage potential out there for many different tastes, just get a little creative, and again, paint works wonders

11. Oatmeal (👤 🌎💰) – reusing glass jars for food prep, easy to take on the go

12. Bulk Foods (👤 🌎💰) - get how much you need, avoid packaging, and it costs less

13. Pens (👤 🌎💰) – they're everywhere: thrift stores, estate sales, ebay

14. Cell Phone (👤 🌎💰) – plenty of great refurbished phones out there for different needs, you can save hundreds and even get a warrantee

15. Pants (👤 🌎💰) - so many pairs of pants hardly worn, can easily search for styles on eBay

16. Shirts (👤 🌎) – lots of people making great upcycled clothing for all different tastes

17. T-Shirt (👤 🌎) – can still make custom T-Shirts and merchandise, but do better for the planet

18. Car (👤 🌎💰) – beyond buying used, repair is a huge component and there are plenty of used parts out there

19. Travel Mug (👤 🌎💰) – can be a customized accessory, get discounts when used

20. Food Container (👤 🌎💰) – durable container, protects food better, great for businesses to allow, as they can save money too

21. Reuseable Shopping Bag (👤 🌎💰) – can be a customized accessory, so many that already exist, don’t need new ones

22. Shipping boxes (👤 🌎💰) – why buy new boxes ever, free boxes with the food you buy, packages you get, etc, shop with reuse packaging in mind

23. Cereal bags (👤 🌎💰) – bonus reuse supply in cereal box, small trash bag, dog poop, etc

24. Cookware (👤 🌎 ) – plenty of pre-owned options out there, also upcycled options like sets made from skateboard wood

25. Food Waste (👤 🌎💰) – so many stores discard food on a regular bases, ask your store if there are things that can’t sell (damaged, ripped, etc), team up with a local organization

26. Leftovers (👤 🌎💰) – the tastiest form of reuse, make enough for multiple meals

27. TVS (👤 🌎💰) – lots of pre-owned, open-box, refurbished TVs out there for different needs, you can save hundreds and get a warrantee

28. Art (👤 🌎💰) – why buy a new canvas, everything is a canvas, look in thrift stores, recycling, garbage, etc – scrap wood, mailing envelopes, vinyl records - save endless money

29. Shelves (👤 🌎💰) – scrap wood, can be customized to size and decorates, repurposed ideas like skateboards

30. Frames (👤 🌎💰) – there are so many out there at thrift stores, online marketplaces, yard sales, etc., Take the art out if there’s some in it, use paint to make them your own

31. Books (👤 🌎💰) – almost every book in the world is available used after a couple days, libraries are some of the oldest and best forms of reuse

32. Ironing Board table (👤 🌎💰) – repurposed to something more useful, from a regifting event

33. Custom Dad Pillow (👤 🌎) - way to honor and remember family members and get something useful

I’ll reiterate what I said in the video, whenever you need or want ANYTHING, consider a used option. Do yourself a favor, do your wallet a favor and do the planet a favor.

Here are some places to look:

• Family

• Friends

• Max Sold - local pick up auctions, almost anything, large lots

• ReStore - used building supplies, housewares

• Facebook Marketplace - local pick ups for almost anything

• depop - pre-owned clothing

• eBay – almost anything. Use the "Condition" filter and choose pre-owned, open-box, etc

• Gazelle - pre-owned, refurbished tech devices