How to Reduce Waste with Everyday Upcycling Hacks

Did you know? The average Australian household produces around 540 kg of waste per person every year. That is more than 10 kg a day for all 26 million residents!

As much of this goes to landfill, which in turn can have a significantly negative impact on the environment, it pays to take steps to reduce the amount of rubbish we throw away.

One great way to do this is through upcycling, a creative experience that transforms waste into something innovative and valuable in a form markedly different from its primary purpose.

If you want to make a concerted effort to reduce the amount of rubbish you throw out and get a little artistic at the same time, here are some everyday upcycling hacks you should embrace.

A word about rubbish

Before I showcase the hacks, it’s worth mentioning that adopting more sustainable practices can reduce a significant amount of rubbish that is thrown out of your home.

For instance, you should see if you can sell any of the possessions you no longer want rather than just throw them away. Additionally, you can donate other items to registered charities. After all, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure!

Moreover, what waste you do throw out should be done in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Check out this page for more details.

If we all adopt these strategies, a lot less rubbish will end up in landfills.

Upcycling ideas to reduce waste

Okay, so with that note, here is a snapshot of the fabulous upcycling ideas you can adopt to reduce your overall levels of household waste.

1. Glass Jars

Glass jars are an excellent resource which can be used in many different ways around the house.

For example, they can be turned into vases, candle holders, storage solutions for spices and crafts materials, and even as a piggy bank to save their pennies.

If you cook often, you can fill these jars with jams, pickles, chutneys, or sauces, while gardeners can plant bulbs in them.

Should you have kids or fancy yourself as a bit of a Picasso, you can fill them with paint and have fun creating works of art.

2. Cardboard Boxes

In any given household, there are bound to be cardboard boxes lying around of various shapes and sizes. Rather than throwing them out, you can prolong their life in several creative ways.

Of course, they have excellent storage options for papers, books, DVDs, and toys. But you can also create dog beds out of them for your pooch, let children use them as forts or to paint or scribble on, and arrange them as temporary display box shelves on which you can put trinkets and vases.

Boxes can also be left to compost in the garden and are very good for improving your soil.

3. Old clothes

Old clothes are a fabulous resource for upcycling. So, rather than throwing them out, consider turning them into rags for cleaning, reusable shopping bags, pillowcases, quilts, or hair scrunchies.

If you have a dog, you can create a dog blanket for it, and clothing can even be used as gift wrapping for birthday or Christmas presents.

4. Toothbrushes

Once you’ve finished with a toothbrush, don’t throw it out straight away. Instead, you can use them to clean grout, laptop keyboards, and other surface areas that are hard to reach.

Additionally, they can be used for creative painting, to shine your shoes, and to apply hair dye when you fancy changing your look.

5. Used tyres

Old tyres can be a nuisance to replace. Thankfully, you can upcycle them in various ways to get more out of them.

One that will no doubt provide your kids with endless hours of fun is to turn it into a tire swing, which you can do by securely tying a rope around it and a tree.

They can also be laid down in the back garden as part of an obstacle course or used as garden planters. Additionally, if you are handy with tools, you can turn them into ottomans with a bit of creative thinking.

6. Coffee Grounds

If you love coffee, you probably throw away a lot of coffee grounds every day. However, it’s worth keeping them because they can be used in many different ways around the home.

Given that they are rich in nitrogen, coffee grounds can be used as a natural fertiliser for plants. They are also an excellent natural pest repellent and could be mixed with coconut oil to make an eco-friendly, homemade body scrub to exfoliate your skin.

Some dermatologists and nutritionists even recommend using coffee as a way to reduce the presence of cellulite. Alternatively, you can donate them to Reground.

7. Toilet Paper Rolls

Toilet paper rolls are often automatically thrown out. However, they can be very useful around the house and garden.

For instance, they can be used to wrap cords, string or wool around to make them neater in your drawers.

They can also be used for seed starters, as a bird feeder or for children to use in arts and crafts.