Category: Reuse

Reuse your reusable items; don't buy too many

2/6/2026

Use what you have as many times as possible. Reusable items do not have a lower carbon footprint if they’re not used enough.

The biggest problem with reusable items is that we have too many of them. Extend a reusable product’s lifetime as much as possible. Avoid buying more, even if it is reusable. Having a large collection of reusable water bottles uses more resources than having just one to replace disposables.

Read more from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability

Potted holiday tree to reuse or plant

12/12/2025

This holiday, get a live tree that can either be planted after the holidays or used as a houseplant for the rest of the year.

Earth911.com lists a number of options as alternatives to either a plastic, artificial tree or chopping down a live tree. One option is to buy a live potted tree. If you would like to keep your tree as an indoor plant and use it again each year, some good options are Norfolk Island pines, dwarf Alberta spruces, or small junipers. If you have space to plant a new tree, there are a number of PA native pines, spruces, firs, and cedars to choose among.

Wrap gifts with reusable or recyclable materials

11/29/2025

Be mindful about wrapping materials this holiday season. Wrapping paper with plastic or metallic additives such as glitter and foil cannot be recycled. Tissue paper cannot be recycled. Bows can be reused but not recycled.

A common misconception is that all wrapping paper can be recycled.

Read more at ecologycenter.org

More reduce and reuse, less recycle

10/24/2025

Focus first on waste reduction: reduce and reuse before relying on recycling

Reducing and reusing have greater value in terms of sustainability than recycling. Buying less new stuff and getting more use out of already existing stuff uses less resources and produces less waste. Recycling can be difficult to do correctly, and many materials remain unrecyclable. Despite this, there is a tendency for people attempting to be more sustainable to prioritize recycling over reduce or reuse. This behavior has been termed “recycling bias” and “reduction neglect.” The more effective way to reduce waste is to prevent its creation rather than relying on recycling.

See more details in this 2023 article in theconversation.com by Michaela Barnett, Leidy Klotz, Patrick I. Hancock, and Shahzeen Attari.

Reuse glass jars for food storage

5/9/2025

Glass is safer than plastic for food storage: give used glass jars a new life by using them to store food.

This is especially the case for hot food which can cause chemicals to leach from the plastic container into the food. You can buy canning jars and re-usable screw-on lids, or even better, wash out jam, peanut butter, or spaghetti sauce jars and use them for storing leftovers. They are also great for storing food items that you buy in the bulk section, like dry pasta, dried beans, and rice. Another advantage to glass for storage is that you can see the contents so that you can remember what leftovers need to be eaten (link to other tip). When your glass jars are no longer useful, recycle them at the Swarthmore Recycling Center.

Borrow things, not just books, from the library

1/31/2025

The Delaware County library system has a library of things, with items that you can borrow ranging from kitchen/lawn appliances and tech gadgets to camping gear. Before buying things new, first look for it at the library to see if you can just borrow them for the time that you need it. Borrowing items instead of buying new reduces using precious resources for manufacturing, packaging, and transporting new products. It also saves you money and helps you cut back on your clutter at home. Once you are finished with your task or event, just bring the item back to the library for others to use or until you need it again. You might be surprised by the variety of items on their lending list! It includes: yard games and board games (Jenga, connect four, table tennis, horseshoes, Bocce ball, croquet), electronics (scanners, metal detectors, DVD players, power adaptors, calculator), tools (drill, wrenches), musical instruments (guitar, glockenspiel), camping gear, health needs (blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, walkers and canes), crafts (sewing machine, crochet and knitting kits), and more!

For a complete list, check out the Delco Library System webpage and search for “library of things”. Or click this link.

Use rechargeable instead of disposable batteries

1/17/2025

Rechargeable batteries cost a little more upfront than disposables, but they save you money in the long run because they can be reused hundreds of times. According to Consumer Reports, rechargeable batteries are useful for devices that draw a lot of power over a shorter amount of time and require frequent battery changes, such as toys and computer mice. Disposable batteries are still better suited for clocks and smoke detectors which draw a low amount of energy over a long time.

When they come to the end of their life, be sure to keep rechargeable batteries out of the landfill and instead deposit them where they are accepted for recycling, such as The Home Depot, and Lowes. Recycling rechargeable batteries not only recovers their toxic metals to keep them out of the environment but also reduces the need to mine metals needed for new batteries!

Read more at ConsumerReports.org

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Buy refurbished electronics

11/29/2024

Buying refurbished electronics instead of new reduces resources used and costs less.

A lot of resources are used to create new electronics, from the plastic casing to the mined metals. The end of life of electronics also contributes to the piles of waste that are created. Buying refurbished devices is not only better for the planet but comes at a lower purchase price than buying new.

Read more about this issue here.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Decline the plastic straws

9/27/2024

At home and when eating out, decline the plastic straws to help reduce plastic waste in the environment.

Plastic disposable straws are not recyclable and contribute to the mounds of plastic waste created by our disposable culture. They become harmful when they are released into the environment where they can be detrimental to wildlife. Marine mammals and birds ingest discarded plastic straws, bags, bottle caps and other trash. When these plastic items become lodged in the gut, ultimately kills these animals. If you need to use a straw, there are better alternatives to disposable plastic. Reusable straws made of metal, bamboo, or glass often come with a brush to clean the inside. There are a variety of sustainably made disposable straws made from paper, pasta, or even seaweed.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Choose an antique or vintage rug to save resources

3/1/2024

An antique or vintage carpet is unique, more sustainable than a new one, and shoppable online from trusted retailers.

An antique or vintage rug will become part of your family heirlooms. By purchasing one, you lessen the impact on resources that are used to make a new rug. You may also save material from reaching a landfill.

Read more here.

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