Lately I’ve been trying to reuse food packaging or at least consume it in some useful way:
Lint makes decent kindling
On that note, so does any cardboard packaging
I use the plastic bags for fruits/veggies at store for wrapping up soiled diaper so they stink less/attract fewer flies in trash band.
Rubber bands/twist ties from packaging are saved, always comes in handy
Kids play with big boxes (cars, Time Machine, etc.)
Old cans used to hold grease from cooking.
What do you all do?
Note—I had to select a flair so I chose food, but this could be any type of packaging.
How do you reuse packaging from food or other things?
byu/garibaldi18 inFrugal
Posted by garibaldi18
15 Comments
Old jam jars for disposing of kitchen grease.
Egg cartons are perfect for making fire starters!
I always save deli containers and the thicker black takeout containers. Wash them well and then when Thanksgiving rolls around, I use them to send leftovers home with guests. The deli containers are great cause it doesn’t matter what size you have, 8oz, 16oz, or 32oz, the lids are all the same size and they go from freezer to fridge to microwave to dishwasher.
Produce bags from Walmart gets reused as trash bags in my trash bowl when cooking. Plastic bread bags get saved for homemade bread.
I always save rubber bands and twisty ties. I also have a roll of trimmer string from the hardware store if I need longer ties. I also use plant velcro from the hardware store (super cheap) as cable ties or anything that needs velcro-like ties.
Button mushroom containers get reused as drawer organizers. These are great for holding piping tips, paper clips, binder clips, rubber bands, push pins, etc. etc.
I only buy Kinder BBQ sauce cause once they’re empty and the bottles are cleaned out, they make great oil and sauce condiment squeeze bottles. The labels come off super easy.
Crinkly/plastic bags from bagged produce get turned into crinkly stuffing for cat toys.
Cardboard boxes just go to recycling, but those thicker cardboard boxes like you can get at Aldi, or Costco, or Sam’s gets used as shelving storage containers. They work great in the garage and freezer cause they’re sturdy as heck. They also make great cat houses.
Old oil gets put back in the empty oil bottle or in an empty cat litter jug.
Every year before hurricane season we always buy a case of bottled water and refill our gallon water jugs. I’ll freeze these and leave them in the freezer. When we go out and about grocery shopping, I put them in a cooler and then if we end up buying frozen items, they can serve as temporary ice packs. Once hurricane season is done, we’ll use up the water and then repeat next year.
The unavoidable plastic is find for wet kitchen trash to reduce plastic trash can liners. I use a cardboard box like from cold cereal or pasta to hold the bag upright in the sink during food prep. Our recycling company doesn’t accept any cardboard except plain brown corrugated board. The big packs of toilet paper are in plastic bags that if opened carefully are good liners for the bathroom trash can.
Idk how no one’s said it yet but obviously glass jars are great for anything really. I use it a lot for storing seeds and nuts, for laundry powder, to have small rubbish bins around the house like for makeup cotton balls, to water the plants, store brushes, store dice, etc etc….
Also had a friend who would use ice cream containers like tupperware. Just have the plastic be thick enough and a lid that snaps
I live in a rural area where our “bonfire” rules are pretty lax… so I have been using all my paper food packaging and cardboard waste to FILL an entire wicker laundry basket (broken). Im almost to the top, and Im so excited to light this baby up. Anyways, probably not too frugal unless you spend a ton on kindling. Im just ready to start a burning man in my backyard.
I save bread bags (and clips) to use when I make and store my own bread.
I save my egg cartons for friends and family who raise chickens. I reuse jars to store homemade kombucha. I reuse bags from bread or tortillas to pack lunches
I have a bunch of mason jars and to save on buying screw on lids, certain food containers like mayonnaise use the same lids so I’ll keep those lids before recycling the container.
For things like flour or rice, I save any ultra wide mouth screw on container and transfer the loose flour, rice, beans, etc into these type of containers. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, it’s those containers you typically see hold economy sized portions of trail mix or M&Ms at Costco.
I also save all my 5 gallon buckets. If you’re thinking of storing anything that you’ll eat or put on your skin, make sure the container is food grade and never held anything toxic. I like these buckets because they are sturdy enough to sit or stand on, can stack, etc.
I reuse jars for leftovers and pantry stuff all the time. Bread bags and produce bags get a second life for freezer storage or trash liners. Takeout containers are great for organizing small things around the house too.
Plastic containers from Cool whip are very good
You can make a papier mache wall covering that insulates heat and sound. Use a fire retardant mixture that you can get at diy stores. Plaster it on the wall. Once fully dry it can be painted.
Of course.
I reuse jam, pickle, sauce, etc jars. They seal in liquids better than Tupperware you pay money for. I have some that I liked so much, I used them decoratively like in place of a vase for flowers.
Rubber bands make good grips for opening jars.
I mostly use reusable shopping bags but if I get a paper bag, I use that instead of a garbage liner and then toss everything in the recycling to save spare a bag. Same applies to delivery cases, wine cases, etc.
My mom is gardener and has used egg cartons, yogurt cups, and k cups to sprout seeds.
Glass jars for leftovers or dry goods, bread bags or cereal liners for messy trash, cardboard boxes as drawer dividers, takeout containers for leftovers/freezer, paper bags for recycling or compost, and I save bubble wrap for storing fragile stuff. I try to only keep what I actually reuse so it doesn’t become clutter.