Re-using paper plates and utensils
toomuchglass
16 years ago
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flgargoyle
16 years agotoomuchglass
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Composting paper plated and soda/ beer boxes
Comments (13)In Canada, those beer cases are what we return the bottles in...they are hardly something to consider throwing away. But, aside from whatever cardboard you have, it is really not that much to tear up. Taking the carton down to its flatness, it easily tears if you put emphasis on the creases. A box knife will make short work of it; just lay it on hard surface and swipe it. Paper plates...you could just assume its small enough as it is and put them into the compost. But, here....we give cardboard, milk cartons, paper plates, orange juice containers....and their ilk, to the "blue box"....our name for the box that goes out to the curbside for pickup by special trucks that takes it to a recycling station. They frown on seeing material like that in the garbage. Ontario has reduced its "garbage" just in the last half-dozen years, by about 40%. Besides, our garbage goes to a site in Michigan...and soon, by 2010....no more. By that time, what is in our garbage now will be reduced that much more by 30%. Reduce, re-use, re-cyle....See MoreFrugal or Foolish? Second and third re-uses for items
Comments (28)I have 4 kids so we do try to be frugal whenever possible! We save printer paper that is only printed on one side for scratch paper. We save school notes that are one sided so my kids can draw or do math problems on the other. We save big plastic yogurt containers and such for leftovers. Why buy tupperware?? And with these containers I can sent leftovers home with family when they come over for a big meal. I also save grocery store bags and pack my kids school lunches in them instead of buying those small paper bags. We save napkins from the bags of fast food restaurants. We also save the condiment packets and use them when needed or to pack in school lunches. I save some sales flyers for my kids to do crafts with. I also save some egg containers and some cereal boxes for the same thing. Sometimes we stuff newspaper inside some food boxes and tape the top shut. Then my kids play store with those items till they are falling apart and we then recycle them in our recycling bin. When a board game is missing too many pieces to use anymore we still save the pieces and my kids use them for crafts or to invent new games. I save all gift bags we receive presents in and most of the tissue paper. We then reuse them to give gifts. If my kids get a present they don't really like or my dh or I get a present I don't really need (and we have no gift receipt) they go on a closet shelf and are re-gifted to someone different for a birthday or holiday. If my kids tear out the knees of a pair of pants then I cut and sew to make them shorts or capris for that spring and summer. If my kids get a stain on anywhere but the sleeve of one of those long sleeve t-shirts then they wear it under a regular t-shirt for a new winter shirt. When I get address labels in the mail from one of those places that try to get you to donate money I save them and actually use them! I have never paid to get address labels made. When we are expecting rain we put a few buckets outside to catch the rain and then use that water later to water plants. Speaking of water we have all made a conscious effort to save on our water bill by turning off the water when brushing our teeth and only turn it on to rinse our toothbrush instead of leaving it on the whole time. We also all try to turn the shower off as we lather up with soap and shampoo and then turn it back on to rinse off. If we have pencils that are too small to write with anymore, but have good erasers left we save them so we can still use the eraser....See Moreuseful to have hafele base plates in _all_ drawers?
Comments (8)I would only put them in a few drawers initially. Later, if you find you could use more drawers with that kind of divider, it seems you could retro-fit the drawers. I was planning on adding dividers to my dish drawer later, but used non-skid mats as a temporary solution and have had no problems, so I will just leave things as they are. My drawers are 30" wide and 11" deep. I had also looked at the Ikea plate dividers but decided their sizes would be too restrictive and at about $10 each times 6 stacks, they would be almost as expensive as the Hafele....See MoreStorage of paper plates, cups etc
Comments (24)They are with the picnic/potluck/party stuff in a spare room closet. I like themed party ware for grand kids and my Red Hat group so I pick patterns that catch my eye on sale. I keep various insulated carriers and picnic totes there also. I have over sized plastic shoebox type bins dedicated to certain holidays I have labeled. Those hold holiday cookie cutters, cake toppers, cupcake liners/wrappers, treat bags etc. along with the plates,napkins etc. for that theme. They stack nicely on a shelf. We don't use everyday paper things other than paper towels and plain napkins. Not even for when we grill outdoors....See Morewestern_pa_luann
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