Save Green by Going Green Tip #2

Tip #2:  Reuse Containers

I know lots of people who wash out their nice, relatively new Tupperware sets and reuse those every time, and these same people sometimes miss valuable reuse-ing opportunities.  Most food items we purchase at the grocery store nowadays come packaged in containers of some sort, whether it be bottles, tubs, jars, or resealable bags.  All of these containers can be reused!  Just wash them out like you would a Tupperware container and use it again!  When you buy pre-packaged foods, be sure to look for foods packaged in glass instead of plastic, as the carbon footprint of producing glass is a lot smaller than that used to produce plastic (plus, glass containers hold up to washing better than most plastics).  Below I've listed a few types of containers that you probably see every day.  You can wash and reuse these products, save yourself money, and save the environment, too!

• Glass Jars (Great for dry goods, and can also be made into cups!  Remember Grandma's Jelly Jar Glasses? Can also be used for arts and crafts, to store hand-mixed paint or beads. We sometimes make food gifts and give them packaged in re-used glass jars with a piece of fabric or paper tied on top.)
• Glass Bottles (Useful for everything from olive oil to maple syrup - if you buy a large bulk tin of either, you can reuse a smaller glass bottle to store in the kitchen instead. Wine bottles also make great lights or candles. For lights, stuff the wine bottle with Christmas lights and tie a bow around the neck of the bottle. For candles, just stick a taper into the wine bottle opening and let the wax drip down the sides.)
• Resealable Plastic Bags (Good for smaller items and also for airplane travel. Also great for disposing of smelly or messy items, like paint supplies, or dog or baby mess.)
• Plastic Tubs (These can be used for pretty much everything, from leftovers to dry goods.  Just don't put them in the microwave!)
• Paperboard Boxes (These boxes can be used for storage, especially for messy things like art supplies and kids’ craft supplies. Also, these boxes can be used to make all sorts of arts and crafts themselves! Cut out a rectangle and write a postcard on the back, or cut out a shape for a tree ornament. Save trees while decorating them, too!)

All in all, most of us are doing our best to try to go green but make sure we're thrifty with our dollars, too. Stay tuned to this blog to find out more tips on both!

(Be sure to check out this link to the Ecology Center to see where I got some of my facts about Plastic vs. Glass.)