I recently took another step to Be More Green in 2013! I removed the paper towels from our home and replaced them with DIY rags. Then I added recycle containers to the trashcans in the rooms around the house. Bathrooms and bedrooms can be small spaces so it may not be feasible to add another trash can to a room. In my small spaces I used cardboard cereal boxes that easily tuck inside a cupboard or along side the trash can . I covered them with decorative papers so that they are nicer to look at and don’t look like trash.
Here is how easy it is to create an out of the way recycle box.
You need:
a cereal box (or other cardboard box)
glue gun and glue sticks
decorative paper or wrapping paper
scissors
Starting at one side, use the glue gun to glue the paper to the box all the way around. At the top, cut the paper at the corners so that they can be glues and folded inside the box.
Folding the paper inside the box makes it look better than having the paper simply cut off at the top. It also keeps the paper from tearing while in use.
These tall and slim boxes are great for recycles in every small space. Here is one of mine tucked behind the waste basket in our half-bath. Now small bits of paper, plastic and glass will be recycled instead of thrown away in the landfill.
Look how much recycled materials are taken from my bathroom in a week! And note how little “regular” trash there actually is to be thrown away.
Making your own DIY for clean waste is such an easy way to lower your carbon footprint! Adding a small recycle container near every trash can is very responsible to our earth.
Debbie Corbin
oh wow what a great idea! I am going to do this! thanks!
Debbie Corbin
oh wow what a great idea! I am going to do this! thanks!
Kelly Stilwell
This is so clever. Just this morning I put 2 empty plastic bottles in the trash can in the bathroom, and thought, will I remember to put them in the recycle bin? Great idea and it looks good, too!
Crista Hebel
OH this is very cute! I’m sure my husband will disapprove of yet ANOTHER reason for me not to throw away something he deems “garbage” but I just LOVE repurposing! THANKS A TON!
Alyssa McVey
Such a good idea! It’s hard finding space in a small bathroom to do ANYTHING. Nice job making underutilized space work!
Jennifer Williams
That is such a great idea so I can have one in each room that needs them. That might make my oldest less likely to throw things out (you would think his mother making him dig it out of the thrash would do that, lol)
Hobbies on a Budget
Great idea! Love the way you covered the box so it still looks cool!
Hobbies on a Budget
Love the way you covered the box! Really creative way to recycle!
Cheap Is The *New* Classy
That is a really great idea! We have a half bath that is SUPER small that this would work great in. And look really cute, too!
Dawn
jesicaj1
This is a great idea! My husband is always getting on me about the shampoo bottles he has to dig out of the trash, lol. I bet if I made one of these that would make him much happier!
jesicaj1
This is a great idea! My husband is always getting on me about the shampoo bottles he has to dig out of the trash, lol. I bet if I made one of these that would make him much happier!
Jeffrey Helfrich
We have been trying to solve this same problem for over a year. We developed a combo recycle bin/trash can to help lower our family’s eco-footprint, check out the Solecan. We will launch our Kickstarter to bring it into production next week (hopefully)! Thanks and happy recycling!