Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Since the weather is getting warmer, we want to help you get out there and take advantage of all that the Lowcountry has to offer! We offer guided tours of the beautiful Lowcountry by kayak, paddleboard, ferry, boat, and private charter. We also have hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, and camping. Basically, anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. Our last article talked about water birds, which are birds that live on or around water. This includes pelicans, gulls, skimmers, sandpipers, and more! Today, we’ll be discussing ways you can recycle and repurpose items at home! If you are interested in learning more about how you can care for the Earth and be creative simultaneously, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into reusable materials. This reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills or incinerators and conserves natural resources such as water, timber, and minerals. Additionally, recycling saves energy and prevents pollution. Repurposing is the act of finding a new use for an object instead of throwing it away. This is a form of recycling and can be done right at home. Repurposing saves money, time, and waste by reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. Recycling and repurposing are great ways to help the environment while being conscious of the waste we create. It puts us in charge of our waste, rather than making it someone else’s problem by putting it in the trash. 

There are many ways to recycle, and most cities, towns, and communities have a recycling program that allows residents to gather recyclable materials for pick up. Recyclable materials include paper or cardboard, plastics, glass, aluminum, and more. You can check here for a full list of recyclable items. If you’re looking for ways to recycle at home without sending materials off, repurposing is a great option. This is especially true for items that are broken; Instead of throwing them out, you may be able to find another use for them. Not only is it a simple way to recycle within your own home, but it also allows you to get creative– And it helps the environment! Sounds like a win-win situation to us. Here are some ideas for recycling and repurposing materials at home.

Containers

Save glass and plastic containers and reuse them for miscellaneous storage. For example, when you finish your jar of trail mix, wash it out and use it to hold items like loose paper clips or cotton swabs. This can work nicely in a garage setting or other workspace to hold nails, screws, and bolts. You could also use them to hold ingredients in your kitchen, such as flour, sugar, or even pasta. Old jars or cups are also great to use for holding writing utensils, like pens, markers, and pencils. They can also hold items like makeup brushes to add more organization to your vanity. If you want to be extra creative, you could decorate the outside of the container to give it a more personalized touch! Larger containers also make for beautiful centerpieces that liven up any room. 

Some containers like jars also make great planters or seed starters. Old teacups are great for planting little succulent plants, and even large plastic soda bottles make for great planters. Whether you are looking to repot a plant, grow a new one, or even start growing small herbs, jars and other containers are a great way to do this. 

Wooden Crates

If you happen to have a few wooden crates laying around, there are plenty of uses for them! First, a little paint goes a long way. Consider painting the crates any color you desire before using them for storage. Once they’ve been painted, they’ll look even better as storage bins in any room of your house. However, if you’re going for a more rustic look, you don’t even have to paint them– You could simply sand down any rough edges before using them, or stain them for a more natural look. If you place multiple crates strategically, you could create a coffee table or decorative piece for the center of your living room. Mount wooden crates to a wall to use as shelves, which is great for extra storage, or place one next to your front door to put shoes in after taking them off when you enter the house. 

Coffee Filters

If you’ve got leftover or unwanted coffee filters, it may be tempting to throw them out. However, you may be surprised to find out that they can have other uses! For example, place coffee filters in between stacked plates or bowls. This will protect your favorite dishes or serveware from scratches and scuffs. You can also use coffee filters to wipe down windows and mirrors– They are lint-free, so they’ll provide a shine without streaks! When potting plants, place a coffee filter at the bottom of the planter or container, to cover the hole at the bottom. This allows excess water to escape but traps the soil in place. 

Baking Pans

Baking pans and cookie sheets need replacing? No problem. But instead of getting rid of the old ones, consider repurposing them into trendy magnetic boards. Spray paint the pan and add a layer of decorative fabric on the inside with some adhesive. You can mount it to your wall, or lean it against a wall, and now you can use magnets to stick important notes or to-do lists, display photographs, and pretty much anything else! 

Additionally, you could also spray paint your baking pan or cookie sheet and decorate it as you see fit– And voila! You have a portable tray that can come in handy for traveling, using your laptop, or even a tray to serve guests at a party. It also makes a great tray for kids to use for snacks or do activities such as coloring when on a road trip! Muffin tins are also a great, spill-proof way to serve drinks or ice cream for up to 12 people at a time. 

Newspapers and Magazines

Instead of tossing newspapers, magazines, and other paper goods into the trash, consider saving and reusing them as gift wrap! This is great for small or medium-sized gifts, and can give it a little bit of a vintage look, depending on how old the newspaper or magazine is. You can also crumple up some gently to use as tissue paper within a gift bag, or as packing paper if you are mailing a gift to someone. Paper goods also come in handy if you want to wrap valuable or precious items up before putting them in storage. For example, when you are putting holiday decorations away for the season, wrap ornaments or other breakable items in newspaper, magazine paper, or even paper towels to give them some protection before you place them in a box or storage bin. This not only gives new life to paper goods, but it saves you from having to buy new packing paper, since you can continue to reuse it for years to come.

As you can see, recycling and repurposing are great for the environment, and also provides a fun and creative outlet for all. We encourage you to get creative and come up with new ways to repurpose everyday household items! We hope that you found this article informative and helpful. As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! At Coastal Expeditions, we are always looking for ways to participate in conservation efforts through our Coastal Expeditions Foundation. We also provide guided tours and educational opportunities. If you’re looking to explore all that the Lowcountry has to offer, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We also offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!