Zero waste is all the rage, but it can be hard to pull off. Trash can accumulate so quickly, even when you’re trying not to be wasteful.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to upcycle things that would otherwise end up in a dumpster. With a little creativity, elbow grease, and craft glue, you can turn your trash into treasure. Here are seven things you probably have in your apartment that you can save from the landfill.
Grocery Bags
You know that corner of your pantry where you’ve been shoving your grocery bags since you moved in? Now’s the time to clean it up by turning your grocery bags into coasters!
Start by flattening two grocery bags on an ironing board, then line them up on top of each other. Place some parchment paper on top of the grocery bags, then iron over the parchment paper to fuse the plastic bags together.
Once the plastic bags are fused together, trace and cut out a 4-inch circle. Just like that, you have a water-resistant coaster that’s perfect for your porch!
Soda Cans
Whether you call it soda, pop, or cola, you can save your empty drink cans to use as a succulent planter. Simply remove the top of the can with a can opener, rinse out any remaining soda, and pot your plant!
Keeping the original drink label can give your planters a quirky look, but you can also paint the cans with multi-surface acrylic craft paint.
Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard shipping boxes can build up quickly, especially after a birthday or the holidays. Instead of bringing all your boxes to the dumpster, save them to make cute storage bins for your apartment. All you’ll need is a cardboard box, scissors, hot glue, craft rope, and a pillowcase.
Start by cutting off the flaps to turn the box into a bin. Then, use hot glue to attach the rope to the box, starting at the bottom and wrapping it around until you reach the top. Let the glue dry, then line the bin with the pillowcase. Now you have a cute storage bin that’s perfect for tools, books and magazines, or your candle collection.
Wine Bottles
Once you finish enjoying a bottle of wine, save the empty bottle to use as a vase. Simply rinse out the wine dregs at the bottom and place a single flower stem in the bottle for a minimalist look.
If you prefer to remove the wine label, soak the empty bottle in hot (not boiling) tap water for at least 30 minutes. Gently peel off the corners of the label and use a sponge or plastic scraper to remove any remaining residue. Add some color with glass craft paint and protect the paint with a layer of craft sealant.
Wine Corks
Keep the corks, too! You can turn wine corks into fridge magnets by gluing them to craft magnet buttons.
While the plain cork can create a rustic look, it might not go with the rest of your décor. Spruce up your cork magnets with acrylic craft paint and some fake greenery.
Candle Jar
Finished your favorite candle? Don’t throw out the jar! Glass candle holders are the perfect size for storing cotton balls and cotton swabs on your bathroom vanity.
To remove the remaining wax, pour a little bit of boiling water into the jar. The wax will melt and float to the top. As the water cools, the wax will re-harden on top of the water, making it easy to grab. Once all the wax is removed, pry off the wick holders with a knife or fork. Wash the jar with soap and water, let it dry, and it’s ready to use!
Magazines
You could just recycle the magazines you never subscribed to yet still somehow receive, or you could turn them into wall art! All you’ll need is a canvas, a wide paintbrush, craft glue, craft sealant, and some magazines.
Start by tearing out colorful pages from the magazines and cutting or ripping them into different shapes. Then, lather craft glue all over your canvas and use the paintbrush to spread it evenly. Arrange your magazine pieces around the canvas to create an abstract mosaic, and let it dry for a few hours. Brush craft sealant over the top to protect your work, let it dry, and then hang your recycled abstract art in your apartment!
While shopping for new apartment decorations can be fun, there’s plenty of material right in your home. Grab your hot glue gun, get creative, and find new ways to use old items!
