This post is part of the Closed-Loop Zero Waste series.
In Closed-Loop Zero Waste, “reuse” has a two-part definition. The first: choose reusable items over single-use, disposable items. Here are 20 reusable items I use in my home to reduce the amount of recycling and trash I create:
1. Reusable toilet cloths instead of toilet paper (also known as family cloths)
2. Cloth menstrual pads
3. Refillable glass soap jars and pumps
4. Refillable glass spray bottles
5. Reusable milk jugs (this is a deposit system in which the consumer brings back the empty jug to the store for the milk company to sanitize and use again)
6. Steel safety razor (only the blade is replaced, and the company Albatross takes used blades back to recycle)
7. Compost pail (just an old plastic mudding bucket I found lying around)
8. Push pins (instead of tape)
9. Egg cartons (If you don’t have chickens, Co-ops may accept donated ones for local businesses or ask a farm near you)
10. Cloth mop pads
11. Reusable plates, bowls, cups, and silverware
12. Reusable straws and chopsticks
13. Cloth napkins
14. Cloth washcloths (instead of paper towels)
15. Cloth bags (tote and produce) for buying groceries and other items in
16. Mason jars for buying bulk liquids
17. Pyrex glass dishes (with lids) for buying bulk meats and cheeses
18. Refillable leather planner for writing out my activities for the month/year
19. Reusable water bottles (I use old kombucha bottles)
20. Cloth handkerchiefs
The second part of the “reuse” definition is to reuse items and materials as-is before repurposing them into new things. When we choose to reuse items as is, it gives them a longer life and doesn’t lessen the quality of the material or item, as we often see with down-cycling, which could be considered similarly as down-repurposing in this context. An example of this is to reuse a glass jar as it is: as a vase, drinking glass, bulk shopping container, etc., instead of it being purposely broken at a facility to be recycled or purposely broken at home to be repurposed for a project.
When we prioritize reusing items as-is, we start to deeply question what is brought into the home, which leads to reducing consumption. When I think I need to buy an item, I usually already have something that can work in its place. You start to develop a thrifty mindset when you reuse items often. By generating what you need through the reuse system in the community or from items you already have in your home, there will rarely be a time when you will need to buy something new.
Giving a material to an organization or someone in the community that would use it as-is rather than recycle it contributes to a Closed-Loop Zero Waste community. Fewer resources will be taken from the earth if we share resources and give each other what we need. Creating more trade or share groups to exchange items and materials for free in communities would be a great way to use items as they are and contribute to the reuse cycle.
“Reuse as-is” ideas:
| Item to give/reuse as-is: | How to reuse as-is: |
| Bubble wrap, air pouches | Donate to a place that ships packages |
| Cardboard boxes | Donate to a place that ships packages; give to someone moving; use to box unwanted items to donate |
| Jars | Community-wide sharing sites; vase for flowers as gifts; canning |
| Plastic tubs | Storage; windowsill gardening |
| Junk mail and other paper packaging | Use as scratch paper for note-taking or children’s artwork; save blank envelopes for your own mailing needs |
| Leftover construction/ building supplies | Donate to an adventure playground or loose parts playground. These playgrounds are set up as children’s programs, dedicated to creating spaces for them to explore building with real tools and materials, using their imaginations, growing their critical thinking and teamwork skills, etc. |
A HUGE thank you to my talented cousin, Aili Juusola at Design by Aili Juusola, who helped me make this Closed-Loop Zero Waste diagram look cohesive and engaging!