GreenYour.com

Second only to reducing consumption, reuse is a top way to create less garbage. Opportunities for reuse abound: about 2 to 5 percent of what Americans toss out as trash is potentially reusable. In fact, in Hennepin County, Minnesota alone, about 32 million pounds of usable clothing and household goods are thrown out each year—enough to fill shopping carts reaching from Minneapolis to Milwaukee (about 300 miles).[1] If you can't think of any ways to reuse your trash items yourself, consider donating them and giving someone else the chance to breathe new life into your used items.

Here are some ideas on how to reuse what may otherwise get thrown away to get you started:

Around the house

• Choose used or secondhand items
• Salvage a pre-owned door
• Exchange or donate your leftover paint
• Reuse household items to make cleaning supplies
• Make toys from salvaged materials

Clothing

• Reuse your old underwear and hosiery
• Reuse your undershirts
• Reuse old sweaters
• Choose used T-shirts
• Donate old shoes instead of throwing them away
• Donate used lingerie
• Buy a vintage wedding dress

Electronics

• Buy rechargeable batteries and a charger
• Use ink cartridge refills or remanufactured cartridges
• Donate your old computer to charity
• Donate your wireless device

Furniture

• Opt for used furniture

Kitchen

• Choose reusable or recycled coffee filters
• Use refillable water and beverage bottles
• Reuse and recycle your baby food jars
• Reuse and recycle used soda bottles and cans
• Reuse and recycle old wine bottles

On the go

• Opt for used outdoor gear

Paper

• Reuse office paper
• Reuse paper
• Reuse and recycle reading materials
• Wrap presents in reusable items
• Reuse your greeting cards

Personal care and cosmetics

• Reuse and recycle used lipstick and tubes
• Choose cloth menstrual pads

Shopping

• Use a reusable shopping bag
• Reuse your paper and plastic shopping bags