Recycling top tips
Do you have a great idea for reducing, reusing or recycling
something that you'd like to share with others? Then tell us
about it! We'll feature the best suggestions on this page and
we'll also send you a free reusable cotton bag as a thank
you.
From Mrs Kathy Wynne, Kirkhouse
- Ask at your local supermarket or fishmongers for their unwanted
fish delivery boxes. Punch drainage holes in the base and you can
use the boxes to grow salad crops or even strawberries. If you
raise them off the ground they are a great way to avoid slug damage
and can easily be netted to deter flying pests and birds.
- Tetra Pack Potting Plants - wash out the
Tetra pack, and pull out the 4 flattened corner 'wings'. Using
scissors cut off approximately 5cm of the bottom. Cut off a
triangle at each corner of the pouring end to allow for drainage.
Now turn it so that you have a container open at the top with
drainage holes at the base. You can now fill the Tetra pack with
compost and use it for potting plants (see photo).
From Emma Newbold, Cargo
- Old yogurt pots make good pots for growing seeds in.
- Tops of plastic bottles can be used in the garden to cover and
protect small plants.
- Old bed sheets can be cut and sewn up to make sleeping bag
liners. They also make good coverings when decorated.
- Old egg boxes can be used as Christmas bauble storage
and for starting off seed potatoes.
- Old margarine tubs make good storage for food in the
freezer.
- Old takeaway plastic boxes are a good size for sandwich
boxes.
- Old takeaway foil containers are useful for roasting small
quantities of food.
- Old wrapping paper can be cut up and is great to use when card
making.
- The hanging ribbons from shoulders of clothing are good for
card making.
From Trish O'Hara, Carlisle
- Re-use birthday and Christmas cards by using the fronts
to create new cards and the backs for shopping lists.
- Use polythene bread bags as doggy bags when out
walking.
- Compress old newspapers and use for fuel for example in
log burning stoves.
Belinda Lloyd,
Carlisle
- Use old plastic bags as
dog poo bags
- Use cardboard from old
boxes to make greeting cards. Decorate with wrapping paper or sweet
wrappers
- Use newspaper or
magazines as wrapping paper for presents
- Foil quiche trays make
great saucepan lids
- Use old jam jars or
sauce jars to store lentils, chickpeas etc
- Margarine tubs are good
for storage in the freezer
- Old clothes (not good
enough for charity shops) can be cut into rags for cleaning
bikes.
- Old boots make good
decorative plant pots
Miss H Nixon, Linstock
- Take a reusable bag when you go shopping
(Carlisle City Council offer reusable bags at events throughout the
year – look out for one near you soon!)
Mrs Baty, Upperby
- Use cardboard shoe boxes as a kitchen fruit
and vegetable scrap bin. Once worn out, use it for the last time
and put it (and its contents) into a compost bin.
Mrs M J Campbell, Upperby
- In streets/areas where there are
several families with young children, exchange clothes - recycles
the clothing and gives children different outfits!
Mr G Barratt, St Edmunds Park, Carlisle
- Use your old black dustbins for growing
vegetables in, or as a water butt or storing your green recycling
bags in to keep the cardboard dry.
David Altham, Stanwix
- Buy items, such as fruit and
vegetables, without packaging
Mrs Alice Murphy,
Lowry Hill, Carlisle
- Shredded paper can be used as an alternative
to pet litter
- Soak the outside of cabbage leaves in water
for a few days (smelly, but the liquid is excellent for pouring
over plants and vegetables to deter pests i.e. slugs)
- Spectacles can be recycled at opticians