30 Things You Shouldn't Throw Away + What to Do With Them

One man's trash is another's craft stash. Reduce waste with our clever organizing, storage and decorating projects that breathe new life into items you usually throw away.

By: Chelsea Faulkner

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Photo By: Jalynn Baker

Photo By: Shain Rievley

Photo By: Jalynn Baker

Photo By: Heather Baird

Photo By: Jalynn Baker

Baby Food Jars

Transform those sweet little glass jars into handy storage for small items like push pins, ponytail holders and more. Unscrew the lid from the jar, then glue a small wooden drawer knob in the center of the lid. Spray paint the lid and knob your favorite color and let dry before placing back on the jar. Use these cute containers as storage or to gift small items like candy or nail polish.

Plastic Straws

Don't let those plastic straws end up in a landfill! When you're done slurping up your iced coffee, save the straws to make a few of these gorgeous faux copper air planters. P.S. - they make great gifts.

GET THE HOW-TO: Make a Chic Copper Air Planter Out of Upcycled Plastic Straws

Glass Bottles

Light up those long nights of porch sitting (and rid your deck of pesky bugs) with DIY citronella torches made from last weekend's emptied wine bottles.

GET THE HOW-TO: Turn Old Glass Bottles Into Citronella Torches

Soda Bottles

Vintage soda bottles have a nostalgic charm that works as both decor and as a room freshener when you turn them into a scent diffuser using chopsticks or ordinary bamboo skewers. Just fill a bottle with a simple 3:1 ratio of water to rubbing alcohol, mixed with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Add decorative rocks, beads or glass marbles to the bottom of the bottle, if desired.

SEE MORE: 20 Easy Upcycles for Old Kitchen Gear

From: Heather Baird

T-Shirts

Made from recycled t-shirts, these eco-friendly produce bags are perfect for gathering a harvest from the garden or toting home your farmer's market finds.

GET THE HOW-TO: Recycled T-Shirt Produce Bags

Coffee Canisters

Stylishly store plastic bags by turning an empty coffee canister into a handy bag dispenser. Using a utility knife, cut an X-shaped slit in the center of the lid. Cover the canister with brightly-colored cardstock and decorate with stick-on letters. Roll plastic bags together in a tight circle (like a sleeping bag) and place them in the canister, threading the first bag through the slit. Each time you pull out a bag, a new one should take its place.

30 Things You Shouldn't Throw Away + What to Do With Them

Related To:

Shop This Look

Baby Food Jars

Plastic Straws

Glass Bottles

Soda Bottles

T-Shirts

Coffee Canisters

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