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Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. If, like us, you live in a rural area without municipal trash collection or (or “and”) want to live more sustainably and reduce your household’s environmental impact—also like us—you might be thinking about ways to minimize the trash you generate. We are, too. According to the EPA, the largest component of household trash in the United States is typically paper and paperboard, which make up about 23.1% of municipal solid waste (MSW). Food waste follows closely, making up about 21.6% of MSW. Plastics and yard trimmings account for about 12% each, followed by metals at nearly 9%. Obviously, reducing those and other kinds of household waste is not only beneficial for the environment but also for our wallets. For those of us who don’t live in a place with curbside pickup, we have the added cost of taking our trash (in our case, more than 50 miles round-trip) to the landfill to dispose of properly, so the less waste we have to haul, the better. In this post, we’ll brainstorm as many ways as we can to reduce trash, considering that even small changes in our daily habits can collectively make a significant impact. Here are some practical ways to minimize household and yard waste. Can you add more? General Trash-Reduction Lifestyle Tips Adopt a minimalist lifestyle by decluttering and only purchasing items you truly need. This will reduce overall consumption and waste, not to mention save money. Practice mindful consumption. Make thoughtful purchasing decisions to reduce overall consumption and waste. Invest in durable products that last longer and reduce the need for replacements. Support sustainable brands by choosing products from companies that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly practices and packaging. Get organized. When items, including food and leftover hardware, for example, are well-organized and accessible, you can easily see what you have. This prevents overbuying and reduces the chances of food or other perishables going to waste. How To Reduce Household Trash Compost organic waste to convert food scraps and yard waste, such as grass clippings, leaves, and pine needles, into nutrient-rich soil to use for gardening or spread on the lawn or around trees and plants. (Can you compost pine needles? Yes.) Use reusable shopping bags to reduce the need for single-use plastic bags. Keep some in each vehicle and the small stuff-sack kind in your purse or pockets so you always have some on hand. Choose products with minimal packaging when possible, including zero-waste products, to reduce trash. Instead of buying single-use plastic bottles, use durable, reusable products, such as BPA-free water bottles. Refill bottles to keep in your fridge and vehicles. Switch to reusable cloth napkins and towels instead of disposable paper ones for meals and cleaning. Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones. Use soap nuts or detergent sheets for laundry to reduce plastic waste. Repair items when possible instead of discarding them to extend their lifespan. Recycle electronic items that can’t be reused. Some companies, like Best Buy, Staples, and Walmart, accept a variety of items for recycling and sometimes give you cash back, store credit, or rewards points in return. Avoid single-use items like plastic cutlery. If getting takeout food, for example, be sure to ask the provider not to put plastic utensils in the bag. Keep reusable utensils in your glove box or camping cutlery set in your pocket or purse instead. Use digital methods for bills, receipts, and tickets to reduce waste. Some companies offer discounts for customers who opt for electronic statements. Use vinegar and baking soda for cleaning for natural and eco-friendly cleaning solutions and reduce plastic waste. Opt for e-books, audiobooks, and other digital formats for reading to reduce paper waste. Repurpose glass jars for storage or DIY projects instead of discarding them. Upcycle old clothing and transform it into new items or repurpose it as cleaning rags. Use recyclables or leftovers to create art and functional items. Reusing pallets is one example. Give away or sell useful leftover items, such as construction materials. Post these items on social media and other sites like Craiglist and Ebay. Ways To Reduce Kitchen Waste Buy items in bulk to reduce packaging waste. You can also save money by splitting bulk items with friends and neighbors. Practice mindful eating and plan meals carefully to minimize food waste. Use up ingredients before they spoil, and incorporate leftovers into new dishes. Support local farmers by purchasing produce from local farmers' markets or joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program to reduce packing waste and the environmental impact of food transportation. Create a weekly meal plan to avoid overbuying. Make a shopping list based on your planned meals. Check your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry before shopping to prevent purchasing items you already have. Buy only what you expect to use to reduce the chances of food going to waste. Cook the right amount of food to prevent leftovers from ending up in the trash. Get creative with leftovers. Transform them into new meals or freeze them for later consumption. Repurpose food scraps. Vegetable peels, stems, and other scraps can be used to make flavorful stocks or broths, and spent coffee grounds can also be reused. Pickle, dry, can, ferment, freeze, or cure perishable food you buy in bulk to extend its shelf life. Designate a “use it up” shelf in your fridge and pantry for foods that need to be consumed soon. Prioritize using these items to prevent them from going to waste. Use reusable containers for storing food, including leftovers and snacks, to reduce reliance on disposable packaging. Make your own bread and tortillas to reduce packaging waste from store-bought products. Use beeswax wraps instead of plastic wraps for food storage. Brew loose-leaf tea instead of using tea bags to reduce waste or compost used tea bags. Make your own yogurt to avoid disposable plastic containers. Use a popcorn maker instead of single-use microwave popcorn bags. Utilize food scraps for DIY beauty products, including leftover fruit peels, coffee grounds, and other natural ingredients. You can create homemade skincare products like scrubs and masks. Ways To Reduce Trash from Personal Care and Hygiene Use a biodegradable bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one. Use a reusable razor instead of disposable ones. Use reusable sponges or rags instead of disposable paper towels when cleaning. If you do use paper towels, compost them when possible. Make your own personal care products, including deodorant and skincare products, to reduce packaging waste. Use reusable silicone baking mats instead of parchment paper or foil. Save soap bits to make a new bar of soap from the leftovers. Grow medicinal herbs at home and learn to make herbal teas, tinctures, and salves, reducing reliance on packaged over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. Reducing Waste in Landscaping and Gardening Opt for natural pest control methods like companion planting (carrots love tomatoes, you know?) to control pests without harmful chemicals and reduce packaging trash from store-bought products. Compost leaves, pine needles, and grass clippings instead of bagging them up and sending them to the landfill. Ways To Support Sustainability and Community Initiatives Host a community composting initiative to collaborate with neighbors to compost organic waste and reduce landfill contributions. Donate or sell usable items you no longer need to extend their life cycle. Host clothing swap parties to exchange clothing items and give them a new life. Participate in local recycling programs to properly dispose of recyclable materials. Start a swap meet to exchange items and reduce waste. Host repair workshops in your community to teach basic repair skills for common household items like clothing, appliances, and electronics. Join a repair café to fix broken items and reduce waste. Start a community seed exchange to share seeds with others to promote biodiversity and reduce packaging waste. Small, Sustainable Steps Can Lead to a Big, Positive Impact Reducing household waste isn't just about environmental responsibility; it's also about embracing a lifestyle that's mindful of our planet's limited resources. By implementing even just a few of the suggestions listed above, we can significantly reduce both the amount of trash our households generate and our ecological footprint. Every action counts, no matter how small it may seem. As we strive to live more sustainably, let's continue to explore innovative ways to minimize waste generation, reuse what we can, and recycle responsibly. Together, we can make a meaningful difference. If you have other suggestions for ways to reduce trash at home—and we welcome out-of-the-box ideas—please add them to the comments below. Thanks!

Coffee grounds are worth their weight in gold! Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but those leftovers from your daily cuppa (or potta) joe are more valuable than you might think—certainly more than just a trip to the trash bin. While composting coffee grounds is always a great option, there’s another fantastic functional way to use those leftover grounds that will also enhance your winter nights or chilly mornings: coffee ground fire logs. Today, we’ll go through the easy-peasy process of creating these aromatic wonders, transforming what some might see as waste into a source of fragrant warmth and ambiance. Let the repurposing begin! What You’ll Need Leftover coffee grounds: Yes, I know—duh. You’ll need about five times more grounds than you will binder material, so I’d save up at least five cups of grounds before making your first fire log. Sawdust, old newspapers, or used cooking oil: Any of these will serve as the binder for our logs. We have more sawdust these days than the other options, so that’s what we use. A bucket, bin, or large bowl for mixing the ingredients A mold to shape your fire logs, which can be tubes, discs, blocks, etc. In keeping with our reuse and repurpose theme, here are some ideas for molds: Cake pan: You might want to puncture holes in the bottom to let the moisture out. PVC: Cut a PVC pipe to the desired length and drill some holes near the bottom to press out the liquid. You'll need to cap or cover one end so you can pack the fillings in there. Cardboard boxes: Small cardboard boxes can be used as molds or cut larger ones down to the desired size. Plastic containers: Old, cleaned plastic containers, like from yogurt or sour cream, can also be used as molds. Easy Coffee Ground Fire Log Step-by-Steps 1. Drink your brew and save those coffee grounds You can also check with your local coffee shops to see if they want you to do a pickup. Store the grounds in a container in your fridge to prevent mold growth until you have enough for a log. We keep ours in a covered five-gallon bucket in a cool place and have no problem with mold. An important note: Dry the coffee grounds (we use a tray) before placing them in a bucket or other container for storage to prevent molding. 2. Collect Your Binder Save sawdust, old newspaper, or even used cooking oil. 3. Prepare Your Binder Once you have enough grounds and binder, prep your binder of choice Sawdust can be used as a binder by mixing it with a small amount of water to form a paste. The paste can then be mixed with the coffee grounds and shaped into logs. If you use newspaper, you can use it as a binder by soaking it in water for a few hours—a few days is even better—before mixing it with the coffee grounds. The water will help soften the newspaper and make it easier to mix. Cooking oil can be used as a binder, too, although we haven’t tried this ourselves (yet). Straining the oil isn’t necessary, but it’s a good idea to remove any large food particles or debris that might be present. You can use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to do this. Apparently, using used cooking oil as a binder shouldn’t make the fire logs smell strange, but if the oil is rancid or has a strong odor, it’s best not to use it (to state the obvious). 4. Mix Your Ingredients In your bucket or large bowl, combine the coffee grounds and binder. You’ll want a ratio of about 1 part binder to 5 parts coffee grounds. 5. Form Your Log Once your mixture is well combined, pack it tightly into your chosen mold and press out as much liquid as possible. The tighter you pack it, the better your log will hold together. To ensure the logs come out of the mold easily, line the inside with a plastic bag or wax paper. If you’re using a PVC pipe, you can lightly grease the inside with cooking oil to prevent the log from sticking. 6. Let It Dry This is the hardest part—waiting! You’ll need to let the log dry completely before you can use it. This can take anywhere from a few days to a week, depending on the size of the log and the humidity in your area. If the log is still damp, it may break apart when you try to remove it from the mold. 7. Remove the Log from the Mold If you’re using a cake pan or plastic container, turn it upside down and gently tap until the log comes out. If you’re using a PVC pipe, push the log out. If the log is stuck, you can carefully use a butter knife or similar tool to loosen the edges and then try again. 8. Enjoy Your Fire Log In your fireplace or stove, put down some crumpled paper or kindling (or both). Then, add your coffee ground fire log on top of the kindling. You can add two or three of the logs, but no more than that because they can make some serious heat. Light the fire using matches or a lighter, and then leave the log for 15 minutes while they ignite. Final Words on Fueling Your Fire with Leftover Coffee Grounds Did you hit the mother load of used coffee grounds and make a whole bunch of fire logs? If so, store those extras in a dry, covered area so they don’t get wet and fall apart. If you don’t have a shed, stack the logs on an old pallet or anything else to keep them off the ground and cover them with a tarp. We store some in a plastic tote bin. As for flue build-up—something I wondered about—coffee-ground logs don’t produce as much soot build-up as traditional wood logs. That said, no matter what you burn, it’s always a good idea to regularly inspect and clean your flue to ensure the safe operation of your fireplace or wood stove. Enjoy those coffee-scented flames! Looking for other ways to reuse and repurpose spent coffee grounds? Here's a list with 11 other ideas.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Zero waste isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a philosophy. It’s about minimizing waste production and doing our part, however small, in trying to reduce our collective human impact on the world we live in. It's basically about more sustainable living. Now, one could argue (and many people do) that nothing is truly "zero" waste, that there's always something that ends up in a landfill or otherwise tossed somewhere along the line in making, selling, and shipping a new product, not to mention the energy consumed and pollution generated. Recycling isn't 100% zero waste, either, of course. True, true. But there are definitely ways to go about manufacturing and consumption that create much less waste than others. So, I prefer not to pick too many nits on the "zero" part. So, instead of buying a new plastic bottle filled with liquid soap each time you run out, you get a solid shampoo or dish soap bar, use it up, and instead of discarding a bottle, you've already shredded and composted the small recycled cardboard box it came in, recycled it again, or used it as a firestarter in the wood stove. Voilà! That’s zero waste in action. Repairing that old mop instead of buying a new one? Yep, that’s part of it, too. The 5 Rs are our secret sauce: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot (that last one means compost). So, my fellow sustainable living enthusiast, let’s enjoy this zero-waste adventure together. Whether you’re transitioning to solid soaps or want to give laundry detergent sheets in a cardboard dispenser a try, every small step counts. Zero-Waste Solid Dish Soap We've tried several brands of natural dish soap, reusing the same original container (any old dish will do) and a scrub brush we already had, and have found a favorite: Solid Round Dishwashing Soap from Lora's Beauty. It comes in seven scents and in unscented, too. One bar lasts us for over a month, sometimes as long as six weeks, of daily use. We've tried several brands of solid dish soaps in zero-waste packaging, including the natural soap bars from Simplut via Amazon, which were also good, but we kept buying different ones until we found one we liked enough to call it our favorite and reorder. So, what is it about Lora's product that puts it at the top of our list, you ask? It suds up and cleans really well, including super greasy dishes, pots, and pans, without leaving a residue. The price is better than others we've tried, given how long each bar lasts for us. We order enough each time to get free shipping, too. It smells great, and that goes for all the scents. Like all zero-waste products should, it comes in a small recyclable, burnable, compostable box and a little packing paper. Lora makes these soaps by hand and sources her ingredients from local companies. She buys organic, too. So far, with each order, Lora has sent a little sample of another of her natural, zero-waste soaps, like a piece of a shampoo bar. We like samples. :) We order Lora's dish soap and other zero-waste soap products from her Lora's Beauty Etsy shop. Overall, Etsy is a great place to find similar zero-waste, handmade, natural products from small companies. Zero-Waste Laundry Detergent Sheets Be gone, big bottles and large, drippy plastic dispensers of liquid laundry soap! We have fully embraced the laundry detergent sheet lifestyle, which is much more compact, much less messy, and much less wasteful. It's also economical and travel-friendly. Okay, so we haven't tried multiple brands like we did with the zero-waste dish soaps, but why change when we're very satisfied with the one we have? And we've had this 80-count box of CLEARALIF laundry detergent sheets since we ordered it nearly a year ago. (Each sheet is perforated, so you can use half a sheet per load.) Besides the zero-waste-friendly packaging you see here, we also like: How well these clean our clothes, which is pretty important in a laundry soap The very mild scent That they have no skin-irritating ingredients That each sheet is pre-cut and pre-measured, meaning no more measuring cup needed That they're compact, so they take up little space in our small laundry room That they're compact (again) and easily carried, including being airplane-friendly if we want to pack a few for doing laundry on a trip You can order these in single 80-count boxes or multi-packs of two or three and save a bit per box that way. Zero-Waste Shampoo and Hair Conditioner Bars When you've been using liquid shampoo and conditioner in plastic bottles for decades, solid hair care products that come in cardboard boxes take a little getting used to, but now I'd never go back. (My husband is bald, so I'm just speaking for myself here.) Since switching over to zero-waste hair care, I've tried several brands, including ANIHANA's Grapefruit & Chamomile Shampoo and Grapefruit & Lime Conditioner Bars, which I liked, and products from other zero-waste companies. While some of the shampoos have been sudsier than others and some of the conditioners... well, more conditioning, all have been anywhere from good to great. But I've settled on EcoRoots Solid Shampoo Bars (I kept typing "bras," but that's for another post) and their Zero-Waste Conditioner Bars as my favorites so far. In addition to how well the shampoo suds up and the conditioner works on my curly, tangly mess of hair, I also like: The price, considering how long these last, which is at least three months each for me The scents and number of options That they're handmade with plant extracts and natural essential oils That they're silicon-, palm oil-, and paraben-free (I had to look up paraben, too; they're chemicals often used in cosmetics.) Like many zero-waste products, solid shampoos and conditioners are still hard to find locally, if at all, where we live, so I continue to order them online and get enough for free shipping. If I eventually find them locally, maybe even at the farmer's market, I'll buy that way instead. A Final Word on Zero-waste Products and Packaging One of the reasons we prefer these zero-waste soap and cleaning products is their eco-friendly packaging. Unlike plastic, which can take hundreds of years to decompose and often ends up in the oceans, cardboard and paper packaging are more biodegradable and generally take less energy to recycle. So, not only are these products effective at cleaning ourselves and our homes, they also help, at least a little, to clean up our planet. For more of our recommendations under the sustainable living product category, check out Use This, Not That: Durable Reusable Products to Reduce Waste.

Disclaimer: I get a commission for purchases made through some of the links in this post. If you live within the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world, as we do here in northern Arizona, or any other size or type of pine forest, you’ve probably seen those black trash bags bulging with pine needles stacked along neighborhood streets, waiting for bulk trash pick-up. Unfortunately, pine needles are often seen as a nuisance to be raked up and discarded. But they can be a valuable and readily available, not to mention free, resource for gardeners and homeowners. Rather than bagging and sending them to the landfill, there are many ways to use and repurpose both brown and fresh pine needles. Here are some of our favorite practical and creative ways to put all those pine needles to work, from mulching to making tea. Use Pine Needles as Mulch Pine needles, also known as pine straw, form a great mat of garden mulch that won’t blow away—even in the big winds we get out here. Simply spread a layer of needles around the base of your plants. Pine straw decomposes slowly, providing a long-lasting mulch that will suppress weeds while allowing water through and reducing evaporation. When it comes to using pine needles as mulch, you sometimes see the caveat that pine needles are acidic, so they can lower soil pH, which is beneficial for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons but detrimental to others. However, according to my alma mater, the University of New Hampshire, this is a common gardening myth, and even a two- to three-inch layer of pine needle mulch won’t change the soil pH enough to measure. We’ve found this to be true in our own garden and raised beds, where we mulch everything, from zucchini to strawberries to spinach and Swiss chard, with pine needles and with great results. Compost Pine Needles Pine needles can also be a beneficial addition to your compost pile. They’re considered a composting “brown,” meaning they add carbon to your mix. That said, they’re nutrient-thin, so you’ll want to add plenty of other organic materials. Some composters advise that pine needles should make up no more than 10% of your bin or pile. On the plus side, the water-resistant pine needles also decompose slowly, so they can help to aerate your compost. Mixing them with other composting materials will speed up the decomp process. Breaking the needles into smaller pieces can also help them break down more quickly. Make Pine Needle-Infused Oil Pine needle-infused oil is a simple but versatile product that can be used for a variety of purposes, including polishing furniture and as an herbal salve for treating wounds and dry skin. To make pine needle-infused oil, pack a jar full of fresh or dried pine needles and fill it with vegetable oil. Let the jar sit for two to three weeks, then strain out the needles. To make a salve, add a little coconut oil and beeswax to the pine needle oil until you have a creamy consistency. Use this salve to help heal cuts, scrapes, insect stings, and splinters and moisturize dry and chapped hands. You can also buy handmade pine needle essential oil. This organic fir needle oil is steam-distilled. Use Pine Needles as Livestock Bedding Pine needles can be used as bedding for chickens, goats, and other livestock. They can also help keep the coop or barn smelling fresh. To use pine needles as bedding, simply spread a layer of needles on the floor of the coop or barn. It’s best to mix the needles with other types of bedding, though, like straw or wood shavings, as pine needles are not very absorbent on their own. Use Pine Needles as Kindling Actually, tinder would be the more correct term here. Kindling is bigger than tinder. Pine needles have a lot of resin and are, therefore, highly flammable, making them excellent tinder for firestarting. To use pine needles as tinder, gather a handful of dry needles—green needles won’t take as easily and could even put out the fire—and place them in the center of the fire pit, wood stove, or fireplace. Add small sticks and twigs on top of the needles, then light the needles with a match or lighter. Blow gently on the flame. The needles will ignite quickly and help to get the fire going. Make Pine Needle Tea A tasty and healthy drink (when you use the right varieties of pine, that is), pine needle tea can be made from fresh or dried needles. Pine needles are rich in vitamin C and have been used for centuries to treat scurvy. Pine needle tea has a citrusy flavor—some describe it as “piney,” go figure—and is a great way to use up at least a little of those excess pine tree offerings. That said (and this is important!), learn more about making pine needle tea before you try it yourself because some varieties of pine are safe and beneficial to drink, while others, including the ponderosa pine we have all around us here in northern Arizona, are toxic. Eastern white pine and balsam fir are among the best varieties to use for pine needle tea. To make the tea, rinse about two tablespoons worth of fresh or dry pine needles and put them in a mug. Pour eight ounces of boiling water over the needles and steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the pine needles and sweeten the drink with honey if desired. As with most things, drink pine needle tea in moderation. If you don't have access to the right kinds of pine and want to try this healthy drink, there are lots of organic pine needle tea options on Etsy. Use Pine Needles for Making Cob and Adobe We used a bunch of our pine needle stash this past summer while building our cob oven and making adobe bricks for various projects, including lining our Dutch oven cooking pit. Traditionally, cob and adobe, both building materials composed of clay, sand, and a reinforcing material, are made with straw. But in our case and others’ projects we looked at, pine needles were the reinforcer. And they worked great! In fact, having made cob and adobe with straw in the past, we found the pine needles easier to work with and to mix in, which we did either in a bucket with an old paint mixer for small batches or with our feet for large quantities. Other Creative Ways To Use Pine Needles Around the Home Make Pine Needle Sachets Fill small muslin bags with dried pine needles and place them in your drawers and closets. The pine needle sachets will help repel moths and other insects and leave your clothes smelling fresh at the same time. Create Pine Needle Potpourri Mix dried pine needles with other fragrant herbs and spices like cinnamon and cloves, then add some citrus peel to create a fragrant potpourri. Place the potpourri in a bowl or sachet to add a natural scent to your home. Use Pine Needles as a Natural Dye You can use pine needles to create a natural fabric dye. Simmer pine needles in water for several hours, then strain them out and soak the fabric in the dye for several hours to achieve a light green color. Create Pine Needle Art and Craft Repurpose pine needles to create unique art pieces. Glue the needles onto a canvas or paper to create a landscape or abstract design. You can also use pine needles to make wreaths, garlands, and other decorative crafts. Use Pine Needles as a Natural Air Freshener Place a handful of pine needles in a small muslin bag and hang it in your car or near your air vents at home. Like with the sachets above, the pine needles will help to freshen the air with a natural scent. This is definitely a more sustainable way to do it than buying those disposable spray cans of sometimes overpowering mist. Repurpose Pine Needles for a Sustainable Home and Garden If you didn’t think so before, we hope you’ll now agree that pine needles are a valuable resource that can be used and repurposed in many ways around the home and garden. From composting and mulching to fire-starting and making air fresheners, there are many ways to use pine needles that can benefit both you and the environment. By repurposing pine needles, you can reduce waste and create a more sustainable home and garden. What do you do with your or a friend or neighbor’s pine needles? Let us know in the comments below.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. At a time when our planet is crying out for some extra eco-love, it's high time we all rethink our everyday choices. In this buying guide to reducing waste (and maybe a little guilt at the same time), we’ll suggest some small changes that can collectively make a significant impact. So, say goodbye to the endless stream of disposable products and hello to a smarter, more sustainable lifestyle. How about trading in those single-use coffee filters for reusable ones? That morning brew just got a little bit greener. And who needs disposable AA batteries that end up in landfills when you can power up with rechargeables? Ready for a fresh perspective on cotton balls? There are reusable alternatives available that are kind to your skin and the environment too. Join us on a journey where every choice counts. It's time to use this, not that. Our planet and—because you’ll spend less over time when using and reusing these things at home—your wallet will thank you! A Reusable Products Table of Contents Here’s an idea: Choose from some or all of these categories and put together a basket of useful reusable items for sustainable gift-giving. In the Food Storage & Beverage Department Coffee Filter Alternatives Disposable Coffee Cup Alternatives Tea Bag Alternatives Disposable Plastic Bottle Alternatives Plastic Straw Alternatives Aluminum Foil Alternatives Plastic Wrap Alternatives Plastic Baggie & Freezer Bag Alternatives In the Cleaning Department Paper Towel Alternatives Dryer Sheet Alternatives In the Personal Hygiene & Beauty Department Cotton Ball Alternatives Wet Wipe Alternatives Other Products Disposable AA Battery Alternatives Single-use Plastic Bag Alternatives Party Balloon Alternatives In the Food Storage & Beverage Department Coffee Filter Alternatives Instead of tossing a paper filter every time you brew, use and reuse one of these instead—and repurpose those used coffee grounds while you’re at it. Our Top Pick - GoldTone Reusable 8-12 Cup Basket Coffee Filters are designed to fit various coffee makers and brewers and replace paper coffee filters. They’re BPA-free and easy to clean. We’ve used ours for years. Reusable K Cups Coffee Filter Pods come in packs of three and four. These inexpensive pods are compatible with Keurig 2.0 and 1.0 coffee makers. Just dump out the used grounds into your designated container or compost, rinse, and repeat. Coffeesock The Original Reusable 100% Organic Cotton Coffee Filters are designed to fit 3-6 and 6-13 cup coffee makers. This pack of two is made of sustainably sourced, 100% organic cotton and can be composted when the filter is eventually worn out. Coffeesocks come in various styles and sizes. Disposable Coffee Cup Alternatives This is one we all know well: Instead of disposable coffee cups, use and reuse these eco-friendly alternatives when you stop by your favorite coffee-to-go shop. Obviously, there are bazillions of options out there, but here are a few functionally stylish suggestions to narrow things down a bit: Our Top Pick - KeepCup Reusable Coffee Cups come in both tempered glass and BPA-free plastic, with either a cork or silicone band and lid. They’re lightweight, splash-proof, and designed to fit under most espresso machines. Contigo Autoseal West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug is made of stainless steel and has double-wall vacuum insulation that keeps drinks hot for up to 5 hours and cold for up to 12 hours. It has a one-touch auto-seal lid that automatically seals between sips to prevent spills and leaks. This durable, reusable travel-style mug comes in a dozen colors. Ello Jane Ceramic Travel Mugs have a silicone boot as a built-in, non-slip coaster, and a splash-resistant slider lid. They’re both microwave and dishwasher-safe with a comfortable grip. Tea Bag Alternatives Instead of using disposable tea bags, consider using a reusable tea infuser made of stainless steel, glass, or silicone, which can be used for years (decades in our case). They’re also available in a variety of sizes and styles like these: Our Top Pick - Stainless Steel Tea Balls are made of mesh and come in sets of two, with three different sizes. Glass Tea Infusers with cork lids are see-through alternatives that can be used for loose-leaf tea, fruit infusions, organic coffee, cocoa, or flavored water. Silicone Tea Infusers are also food-grade, non-toxic, and easy to clean. Disposable Plastic Bottle Alternatives This is a well-known no-brainer, too, but it’s worth repeating. Instead of single-use plastic water bottles, use and reuse these eco-friendly alternatives. There are options made of BPA-free plastic, glass, and metal, with varying mouth sizes and cap styles. Reusable bottles make great gifts, too. Here are three suggestions: Our Top Pick - Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Water Bottles are popular for a reason. They have a double-wall vacuum insulation that keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12 hours. Here are some of the many colors, shapes, and sizes to choose from. Lifefactory Bottles with Silicone Sleeves and Flip Caps are made of glass with a stylish silicone sleeve for non-slip gripping and to help prevent breakage. The flip cap is leak-proof, and the handle makes for easy carrying. A variety of colors, designs, and sizes are available for this brand. Nalgene 32-ounce Wide Mouth Tritan Bottles are popular with hikers for a reason. This durable brand makes its bottles out of BPA-free Tritan plastic with a loop-top cap that can be clipped to a backpack or gym bag. I prefer the wide mouth for easy cleaning and also to fit various types of water filters and purifiers. Someone gave me one of these Glow-in-the-Dark Nalgenes, partially made of recycled plastic, that helps me find my way back to my tent at night. Plastic Straw Alternatives Estimates suggest that 500 million plastic straws are thrown away daily (!) in the United States, including clear plastic straws, bendy straws, straws on juice boxes, cocktail straws, and plastic drink stirrers. Every. Day. We can help bring that number down. Instead of single-use, use-and-toss plastic straws, use and reuse one of these stainless steel, glass, or silicone straws instead. Our Top Pick - ALINK Stainless Steel Straws come with removable silicon tips to protect lips and teeth. This inexpensive set of 8 includes four straight and four bent straws and comes with cleaning brushes and a carrying case. Glass Straws,14-Pack Drinking Straws include six straight and six bent straws. They’re shatter-resistant and come with two cleaning brushes. Bent Reusable Silicone Straws (Set Of 10) And Cleaning Brush are flexible, long, and come in a variety of colors. They’re compatible with 20 and 32-ounce tumblers and smoothie cups. Aluminum Foil Alternatives Instead of tossing foil every time you’ve used it to line a baking sheet, cover a pan, wrap food, etc., use and reuse one of these instead. Our Top Pick - Vasdoo Reusable Aluminum Foil Stand-up Food Pouch Bags come in an affordable pack of 50 and are available in three sizes. These bags are sturdy, have a strong seal, and, like baggies, have a transparent window to view the contents. Bee’s Wrap Assorted Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps are made of organic cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin and are compostable. This reusable pack of three is a great alternative to foil and plastic wrap. Silicone Baking Mats are non-stick, dishwasher-safe, and a great reusable alternative to aluminum foil when—you got it—baking. Plastic Wrap Alternatives Instead of using and discarding a new piece of plastic wrap every time you need it, use these greener alternatives instead. Our Top Pick - TCOTBE Reusable Elastic Food Bowl Storage Covers come in an inexpensive 60-piece set with three translucent, stretchable sizes. These BPA-free bowl covers can used with your microwave bowl hugger or as a lid for freezer food storage, among many other uses … and re-uses. Eco-Bags Products Organic Cotton Lunch Bag is a great alternative to plastic wrap when packing lunch. It’s machine washable and has a velcro closure. Akeeko Assorted Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps are similar to the Bee’s Wrap product above under aluminum foil alternatives. Also made of organic cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin, you use the warmth of your hands to soften the wrap and mold it over a container or piece of food. Wash it in cool water with mild soap and air dry. Silicone Stretch Lids are another great alternative to plastic wrap when covering bowls and containers. They’re stretchy, reusable, and dishwasher-safe. Plastic Baggie and Freezer Bag Alternatives Instead of one-and-done baggies, these alternatives can be used over and over again to store food, snacks, and other small items, and they’re dishwasher-safe too. (That said, we wash and re-use regular Ziplocs too.) Our Top Pick - Qinline Reusable Food Storage Bags come in an affordable set of 24, with eight BPA-free, one-gallon bags, eight leak-proof sandwich bags, and eight food-grade snack bags. Bags have double closures and are freezer-safe. Ziploc Endurables Reusable Silicone Bags can be used in the freezer, oven, and microwave, and they’re dishwasher-safe too. The Cool Grab Tabs allow for easy handling after heating, and a secure seal helps prevent spills. These durable bags come in large, medium, and small sizes and variety packs. Zip Top Reusable 100% Silicone Food Storage Bags are made of 100% platinum silicone and are dishwasher-safe. You can purchase them as a set or individually. These durable bags are pricier than other options, but use them over and over again for long enough, and you’ll eventually surpass the cost of creating trash. In the Cleaning Department Paper Towel Alternatives Instead of tossing paper towels and continuously buying those increasingly pricey multi-packs, use and reuse these instead: Our Top Pick - Qinline Reusable Food Storage Bags come in an affordable set of 24, with eight BPA-free, one-gallon bags, eight leak-proof sandwich bags, and eight food-grade snack bags. Bags have double closures and are freezer-safe. HOMEXCEL Microfiber Cleaning Cloths are the go-to reusable, all-purpose cleaning tool in our house. They’re super durable yet soft, lint-free, and inexpensive. We stash a pile in almost every room in the house and in the workshop too. Swedish Dishcloth Cellulose Sponge Cloths are made of natural cellulose and cotton. This affordable pack of 10 sponge cloths is a great alternative to paper towels. Not only are they reusable (“hundreds of times”), but they’re also biodegradable once you do want to dispose of them, so you can toss them in the compost bin. EcoSoul Reusable “Paper” Towels, which come in a pack of 12, are actually made of absorbent cotton flannel and are machine washable. Dryer Sheet Alternatives Instead of dryer sheets, which are unnecessary single-use items often made of synthetic, non-biodegradable material, use and reuse one of these instead: Our Top Pick - Wool Dryer Balls Organic XL 6-Pack by OHOCO are a great alternative to disposable dryer sheets. They’re made of 100% New Zealand wool and are chemical-free. SnugPad Wool Dryer Balls XL Size are another great reusable alternative, also made of 100% New Zealand wool and chemical-free. Purecosheet Reusable Dryer Sheets last for hundreds of loads, are chemical-, perfume- and dye-free, vegan, and hypoallergenic too. In the Personal Hygiene & Beauty Department Cotton Ball Alternatives Usually a one-and-done item, cotton balls are another disposable product for which there are plenty of reusable alternatives, including the simple, multipurpose washcloth. Here are some others: Our Top Pick - Reusable cotton rounds can be used for a variety of things, like removing makeup, applying toner, cleaning your face, and more. LastSwab is a reusable cotton swab that can be used to clean your ears, apply makeup, or touch up your nails. It’s made of easy-to-clean silicone and comes with a carrying case. Greenzla Reusable Pads come in a pack of 20 with a storage box and mesh laundry bag. These two-sided pads are soft and absorbent. Wet Wipe Alternatives Reusable wet wipes are available in the market. They're often OEKO-TEX certified, meaning they’ve been confirmed chemical-free. Here are a few good options: Our Top Pick - FAMOPLY Reusable Flannel Cloth Baby Wipes are soft, durable, super absorbent, and hypoallergenic. This pack of 54 comes with a dispenser and a laundry bag. Babygoal Washable, Reusable Baby Cloth Wipes are made of two layers of 80% bamboo viscose and 20% polyester for maximum absorbency. Or, if you don’t want to wash and reuse wet wipe alternatives, these Compostable, Plant-Based Baby Wipes from The Honest Company are a great, eco-friendly, and dermatologist-tested option that’s been verified by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Other Products Disposable AA Battery Alternatives Why focus on AA here? Because they’re the most commonly used battery size used around the home. So, instead of replacing them whenever they run out of juice and tossing this hazardous waste, use and reuse (and reuse, etc.) one of these instead: Our Top Pick - Pale Blue USB-Rechargeable Lithium-ion AA Batteries charge much faster than most other rechargeable batteries, and these use a 4-in-1 USB-A to USB-C charging cable with LED indicators. This is the kind we prefer, and the USB charging makes it easy for traveling, too. Amazon Basics Rechargeable AA Batteries come in packs of 8-24. They’re made of nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and have a capacity of 2000mAh. They come pre-charged and can be recharged up to 1000 times. The charger is sold separately, but if you already have one, it should work with these batteries. Panasonic Eneloop Pro Rechargeable AA Batteries are also made of nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and have a capacity of 2550mAh. They’re pre-charged and can be recharged up to 500 times. Single-use Plastic Bag Alternatives We all know about reusable shopping bags, which are often available right in the checkout line. And many of us already have more than enough. But just in case you’re on the lookout for some durable ones, maybe to use as reusable gift bags for the gift-ee, here are a few good green options. Our Top Pick - BeeGreen Reusable Grocery Bags are a popular alternative to plastic shopping bags that come in tons of colors, patterns, and counts. They’re made of durable but lightweight ripstop nylon and are machine washable. Another nice feature is that each bag is equipped with an integrated square pouch, so you can stuff it in, and it fits right in your pocket or purse until you need it. Earthwise Reusable Grocery Bags are made of 80-gram non-woven polypropylene with recycled cardboard walls for a rigid structure when opened. This is a pack of three, but you can get these bags in other counts, colors, and patterns. Reusable Canvas Bags like these with interior compartments (great for glass bottles) and side pockets are spacious, sturdy, and made to last. These quality bags have an 80-pound load capacity and two handle lengths. Party Balloon Alternatives Balloons, especially mylar ones, are made from materials that take a very (very, etc.) long time to decompose. Even latex balloons marketed as "biodegradable" can take up to four years to break down, and in seawater, they deteriorate even slower. So instead of using those types of balloons, which are also harmful to wildlife, use and reuse one or more of these: Our Top Pick - Paper Lanterns are easy to inflate, and if you take good care of them, you can reuse them over and over. They come in many different shapes and colors and can be illuminated too. To hang them, tie a bit of thread to an uncoiled paper clip and insert it in the hole. Reusable Water Soaker Balls are a great alternative to water balloons that can be used for outdoor games and activities. Reusable Party Pom-pom Balls are a great alternative to party balloons. They come in many different colors, sizes, and styles to match any theme. Do you have suggestions for other types of disposable products that have reusable, more sustainable alternatives? Please let us know your ideas and suggestions in the comments below.

Disclaimer: I get a commission for purchases made through some of the links in this post. Here in the high desert of northern Arizona, rain is not as frequent a visitor as it is in other parts of the country, making every drop a precious resource. At our off-grid home, we've set things up to collect the often sporadic rainfall to meet our home's daily and annual water needs. Join me as I walk you through building a potable rainwater harvesting system and how you can replicate and modify it for your own home. Speaking of raindrops and codes, our county has recognized the value and increasing popularity of rainwater harvesting by implementing a dedicated building code. What you'll see here complies with those guidelines, but you'll want to check with your own local building department to see if they have a rainwater harvesting code of their own, especially if you're integrating this type of system in new construction and as your primary (or only) water supply. Calculating Rainwater Collection Potential First things first, decide on how much storage capacity you need based on how much liquid gold you estimate you can collect from the sky where you live. The magic numbers come from the square footage (the area) of the roof serviced by your gutter system and the annual precipitation—rain and snow—that falls on that roof. To simplify this calculation, you can turn to various rainwater harvesting calculators available online, including this one courtesy of WaterCache. For our rainwater collection, we have two main roof areas, on the house and the workshop, with six-inch seamless gutters all around, totaling about 3,000 square feet. Inputting that figure into the rainwater harvesting calculator, it comes up with 1,869 gallons per inch of rain that our downspouts send into three interconnected potable water tanks. That said, we don't often get a full inch of rain from a single storm, so inputting the average annual rainfall for our area unveils the potential liquid bounty we could amass in a year. Where we live, between Williams, Arizona, and the Grand Canyon, the current annual average is 22 inches of rain. Add to that an average of 65 inches of snow, which is equivalent to approximately 6.5 inches of water (thank you, NASA, for the 10-to-1 snow-to-liquid ratio). At a grand total of 28.5 inches of precip per year, with our roof coverage, that's a whopping 52,332 gallons we might collect! However, given the nature of Mother Nature, tempering expectations is crucial. Averages are just that, and we've gotten less than that average—sometimes much less—for the past few years. Yet, armed with our own historical average water usage of 1,500 gallons per month, or 18,000 gallons annually, a figure we got from our less conservation-minded water bills of yesteryears, we know we could comfortably subsist on less than half of that 52,000-gallon figure. If you want to look up the figures for your own area, USClimateData provides data on average annual rain and snowfall. And on the practical side, measuring rainfall need not be an elaborate affair. A simple, inexpensive rain gauge, like the one we use, is an easy way to compile your own numbers over time. Each time it rains (or snows), we see how much we get, put the number in the rainwater calculator, and record it in our dedicated notebook. A Note on Snow and Water Collection Potential Keep in mind that if the snow just gets blown off your roof, like it often does here, or it doesn't sit up there long enough to melt into your collection system, it basically won't count, right? We recommend putting snow breaks on your roof, not only to protect your gutters from heavy snow and ice but also to help prevent the snow and ice from sliding off, to instead melt beneath or through the guards and into your collection system. There are different types of snow breaks. We used and installed these commercial snow guards (pictured below) on our workshop, and our roofer put up breaks similar to this one on our house. Deciding on Rainwater Storage Capacity How much rainwater tank capacity is too little, and how much is too much? That's tough to answer because, for one thing, you're continuously using the water you collect, drawing down your tank(s). But if you can't collect and store it all when it comes down, you'll obviously lose some of that potential. And, while you don't need enough storage capacity for an entire year's water consumption, neither do you want your tank(s) frequently overflowing—especially if most of the rain happens (or snow melts) during one season or within a few months of the year as it does here during the monsoon. While adding more storage capacity or switching to a larger cistern at a later date is an option, that would cost more and add logistical issues compared to installing all the storage you'll need at once. Based on our historical usage, our collection potential calculations, and some neighbors' experiences with rainwater harvesting, we decided on a system with three 5,000-gallon cisterns plus two 275-gallon cubes. We also added a series of 50-gallon overflow barrels, especially for outdoor use in the garden, cleaning, and more. Just before the 2022 monsoon season started, we had the gutters installed on our newly constructed house. It rained the next day for the first time in about two months. One month later, all three of our tanks, including the one by the workshop, the cubes, and the overflow barrels were full. Needless to say, now we wish we had more storage! Equalizing a Multi-Tank Rainwater System When the architect drew up our building plans, including the rainwater harvesting system, he explained the need to equalize our tanks, meaning that once in place, the overflows should all be at the same elevation. So we did a little experiment in our kitchen to prove to ourselves that what he said was true. (Not that we doubted him—he has a similar system.) I don't have a picture of that experiment, but we took three plastic bottles (ours were the same size, but you can do this with different-sized bottles) and connected them near the bottom with snuggly fitted straws. This mimicked how our real tanks would be connected by PVC pipe between their outflows, located inches above the base. We then slowly poured water into one of the bottles and watched how it moved from that bottle, through the straw to the second and into the third, until the water level had equalized among the three. Next, we put a block under one bottle to raise it and repeated the process. The result: the elevated bottle ended up with less water than the other two once the three bottles had equalized. So, in real life, if your tanks are connected, but their overflows are at different elevations, one will overflow before the others fill completely. That's why it's important that the overflows are all at the same elevation if you have multiple tanks, whether they're the same size or dimensions or not. This means you may have to use a transit or another tool or method to get the tanks as close to level, both on or in the ground and with each other, as possible. This is made all the more tricky if your tanks are spread out at different locations around your home, the ground is sloped (even a little), or both. If you're required by code, as we are, or by necessity to partially bury your tanks, you'll probably need to do so at different depths in order to make them all level at the overflow. Even if the area around your home appears flat, there's often at least some difference that can make a difference to your rainwater harvesting system. And, of course, the more the slope between tanks, the bigger the difference in how much digging you'll need to do. A Note on Burying Water Tanks If you want to completely bury a rainwater cistern, you'll need one specifically designed for that purpose. The polyethylene tanks we have are not designed to be buried. In fact, the manufacturers of these tanks suggest you don't bury them at all—but if you do, do not bury them more than halfway up the straight sides. There are reinforced tanks available that can be buried deeper, so be sure you're getting the right kind of cistern for your situation. Installing Underground Water Pipes Once our three cisterns were partially buried to a minimum depth of 31 inches per county code and equalized, it was time to find a backhoe operator to dig trenches—about 150 feet of them—for the PVC pipe that would connect the tanks and bring the water into the house. We also installed a shut-off valve on each tank's outflow below grade so we'd always be able to isolate any one of them for things like cleaning, repair, water management, and so forth. We placed a vertical access tube around each valve so that, once the tanks were backfilled, the shut-offs would still be... well, accessible to open or close it, just as you would use a water key to shut off a municipal water supply. The PVC pipes pictured here connect three polyethylene tanks, one of the workshop and two others on either end of the house, coming together to then enter the house below grade. We air-tested the system per county code before we backfilled the water pipe trenches. For a non-pressurized system like ours, we tested it to 30 psi, making sure it held the air for at least 15 minutes. It actually held at that level for days. Adding Screens and First Flush Diverters It's not only required by our county code in our case, but it's also a good idea to screen the rainwater as it makes its way from the roof to your tanks. A first flush, also called a roof washer, is a simple device that removes the initial flow of water in a potable rainwater collection system. The first pass of stormwater washes your roof of all the sediment and other "stuff" that's built up since the last time it rained or snowed so that cleaner water goes into your tanks and then into your house. With a first flush, the water heading from the gutter into the downspout first passes through a "leaf eater," which is a screen that catches the bigger things, like leaves or pine needles, bugs, a field mouse dropped by a passing bird (happened to us, anyway), or whatever else might end up on your roof. After passing through the screen, the water drops into the first flush downpipe. As the downpipe fills, a ball inside rises. Once it reaches the top of the vertical pipe, the water then goes into the pipe that continues to your tank. A drip valve at the bottom of the first flush downpipe slowly releases the diverted water (which you can collect for other uses, too). While now required by code in our county and others, not everyone agrees that first flush rainwater diverters are such a good idea, and we know some folks end up removing them down the line. Here's a good article about the pros and cons of first flush systems: To First Flush or Not to First Flush. A Note on Optional Gutter Guards In addition to the leaf eaters, we added these simple gutter guards at the top of our downspouts. Why? Well, for one, we once found that dead mouse I mentioned above in one of our gutters, and we really don't want a mouse carcass going any further into our system. We know the leaf eater would have stopped that mouse, but we decided this inexpensive extra protection wouldn't hurt. It goes without saying, though, if you do have gutter guards or any other screen in your system, it's a good idea to get up there and check them periodically to clean out whatever may have been stopped by the screen so it doesn't dam things up. Filtering and Purifying Rainwater in a Potable System Is it really necessary to filter and purify rainwater, especially if it's already been through a first flush or roof washer system? According to the county where we live, it is, and we agree. After all, we do get bird poop on the roof, and other goodies float around in the air and get mixed up in rain and snow, so may as well not drink it. So, we purchased a 10-gallon-per-minute (GPM) Pulsar Quantum Disinfection System, which requires no electricity, and a BBF Series 2 Whole House Filtration System with a 5-micron pleated filter and carbon block filter from US Water Systems (shown below). When the water enters the house, it's drawn through the pump, located in a sump," a recessed part of the floor below the level of the foundation. We use a Grundfos Scala2 pump. Then the water goes through the filter and disinfection unit before moving on to an on-demand water heater and the rest of the house. In the photo above, you can see we have (red) shut-off valves before and after the (blue) filter and (black) disinfection units. These shut-offs are required by code and are also necessary to turn the water off when we need to change the cartridges in either unit, which for us is every one or two years. Testing Your Potable Rainwater Supply Whether it's required where you live or not, we think it's a good idea to have your water tested. Our county building code does require a water quality test, so we had one done through a local laboratory to present to the inspector once the whole system was in place. While the code doesn't specify what exactly should be tested for, we requested a bacteria test and another for zinc. Zinc is present in metal roofs, particularly in galvanized metal, which ours is not, but we wanted to show that to the inspector. The water test cost us $25. We passed with an "A" on all counts. Adding and Raising Overflows Once our system was completed and inspected and the tanks started filling, we directed any overflow into a series of smaller barrels and cubes for use in our raised beds, for watering some fruit and nut trees, sharing with the birds and other local wildlife, and so forth. And we've had plenty of overflow water since we added those barrels and cubes. As you can see in the photo below, a pipe from the bulkhead sends any overflow away from the tank (rather than letting the water shoot out or run down the side) and into a 50-gallon rainwater barrel, which itself has an overflow with a pipe to another tank. There's a spigot near the bottom of each barrel, so we can easily use that bonus water from there. The overflow pipe from the cistern is raised a little to allow the tank to fill to the actual 5,000-gallon line and beyond. A Satisfying Part of Sustainable Living: Using a Potable Rainwater Harvesting System In an area where the word "drought" is often part of the local lexicon. it feels good to get the water we need for our home and garden directly from the sky, even during extended dry stretches. It's a fact that the upfront cost of installing a potable rainwater collection system can be significant—with our three large polyethylene cisterns, seamless gutters and first flush diverters, 150+ feet of underground pipe, filtration and disinfection system, and overflows, ours cost about $18,000 in 2021/22—but it's nice to no longer pay for municipal water, which isn't available where we now live, or for hauling or delivery, not to mention eliminate the fuel involved in the latter. And living a more self-sufficient, sustainable lifestyle simply feels good, too. Do you plan to install a potable rainwater harvesting system or already have one? Do you have any questions about rainwater collection? Let us know in the comments below.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Creative & Functional Wood Pallet Projects for a More Sustainable Home & Garden 190 million. That’s how many pallets are estimated to end up in U.S. landfills each year while over 500 million new ones are manufactured.  That’s a lot of useful lumber and a lot of unnecessary waste. So, today, we're diving into the world of reusable wooden pallets—those humble, versatile platforms that hold immense potential for creative minds and thrifty, sustainable-living souls alike. If you've got an old pallet lying around—so many of us do—maybe from a shipment of paver bricks, a new washing machine, or a million other things moved around on the 1.8 billion pallets used annually in the U.S., or if you’re considering snagging some for free, you've come to the right place. These simple structures can transform into myriad functional and beautifully cool items. And if you’re relatively handy and a little ambitious, pallets can even form the basis of a profitable new side hustle. That said, here’s our list of 50 practical and decorative ideas for reusing, repurposing, and upcycling those retired, unburdened pallets. Ideas and plans abound for any one of these projects, so rather than giving you a how-to for each and every one, this list is more to get your (and our) creative, pallet-repurposing juices flowing, to decide what to make with that stack of pallets you just scored—like a bunch of blank canvases. 50 DIY Pallet Projects While most of these projects can be pulled off with whole or partial pallets, taking them apart and reusing the lumber is always an option. So, at the end of this page, you can pop over to some tips on how to take apart a pallet—hopefully without breaking it—and prep that old wood for a future metamorphosis into something wonderfully repurposed or upcycled. We'll also share some suggestions for where to find free pallets. A Pallet Furniture Paradise Pallet Coffee Table: Stack a few pallets, add some wheels, and voila! You have a trendy, rustic place to set your movie snacks, beverages, and whatnots. There are SO many ways and styles to make coffee tables out of pallets. Outdoor Lounge: Nail or screw a few pallets together, toss on some cushions, and you've got an outdoor lounge or sectional that costs a lot less than one from Home Depot, etc. Pallet Sofa: Much like the outdoor lounge, stack and secure pallets vertically to create a comfortable sofa. Add cushions and upholstery for a seating option that’s sure to be different than anything the Joneses have. Pallet Bed Frame: Connect pallets to form a sturdy bed frame. You can even leave spaces between the pallets for built-in storage or add lights underneath for a unique, glowing touch. Pallet Dining Table: Having an extra-large dinner party? Secure several pallets together to create a group-sized dining table. Sand the surface for a smooth finish, or add a tabletop. Want something more permanent? Add a glass top for a nice combination of rustic and refined. Pallet Bar: Arrange pallets to your desired height, add a countertop, and you've got yourself a stylish basement or person-cave bar. Customize it further by adding shelves for glassware and bottles. There are endless pallet bar ideas and styles out there. Pallet Desk: There are so many ways to pull off a pallet desk. On the simple side, stack a few pallets horizontally and place a flat surface on top to create a functional workspace. Add compartments or drawers for storage. Pallet Pet Bed: Create a cozy bed for your fuzzy family member by stacking pallets and adding a soft cushion. Paint, stain, or stencil it to match your home decor. Storage Solutions a la Pallets Pallet Bookshelves: Stacked pallets against the wall make excellent shelves. As with any pallet project, you can paint or varnish them for a polished look. Pallet Wine Rack:  Secure pallet pieces at an angle to hold wine bottles. Stylish and practical! Here’s a small, wall-mounted wine and wine glass rack made of pallet wood that you can make yourself. Shoe Organizer: Mount a pallet horizontally on your wall, and you have instant shoe storage. Add hooks for keys and accessories. Pallet Wardrobe Organizer: Hang pallets and add hooks, shelves, and small baskets to create a wardrobe organizer for accessories, bags, and scarves. Pallet Jewelry Display: Nail small pallet pieces together vertically and horizontally to create a jewelry display. Add hooks, knobs, and small shelves to hang and showcase your collection. Pallet Bathroom Storage: Mount pallets on the bathroom wall to create shelves for towels, toiletries, and other bathroom essentials. You can also incorporate hooks for hanging bathrobes or shower caddies. Pallet Garage Shelving: Use pallets to create sturdy and affordable garage shelving. Stack pallets horizontally and add wooden planks on top to create shelves for organizing tools, paint cans, and other garage-y items. Pallet Tool Rack: Mount pallets on the wall of your garage or workshop to store tools. Customize the slots to hold hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, and more for easy access. Craft & Art Supplies Organizer: Hang a pallet on the wall and attach hooks, small bins, and jars for easy, organized access to all your crafting, sewing, or art supplies. Pallet Projects for Home Decor Photo Frames: Disassemble pallets and use the wood to create rustic photo frames. Mirror Frame:  Frame a mirror, large or small, with pallet wood to add a touch of rustic elegance to your bathroom, bedroom, or any other room. Coat Rack:  Attach hooks or knobs to a pallet for a charming and functional rack for coats and jackets, scarves, dog leashes, and anything else you want to hang and grab on your way out the door. Pallet Wood Wall: Create an accent wall by affixing pallet wood planks horizontally or vertically. You can sand and finish the wood to bring out its natural beauty. People spend money on this rustic-chic look, but you can do it yourself and for much less cost with a little time and elbow grease. Floating Shelves: Cut pallet wood into smaller pieces and attach them to the wall as floating shelves for decorative items, books, or small indoor plants—you name it. Pallet Clock: Use pallet wood to craft a unique wall clock. Cut the wood into a circular or other creative shape, add clock hands and a mechanism, and you have a rustic timepiece. Wall Art: Cut pallet wood into various shapes and sizes, then assemble them to create cool wall art. You can leave the wood natural or paint it in vibrant colors to match your decor. Here’s a creative piece of lighted pallet art with a holiday theme to dress up a drab corner. Hanging Planters: Craft hanging planters by suspending pallet wood pieces vertically from ropes or chains. Plant small flowers or herbs in containers attached to the wood, bringing a touch of greenery into your home. Room Divider: Stand pallets vertically and secure them together to form a partition, providing privacy and visual interest in open living spaces. Pallet Headboard: Attach pallets vertically and mount them behind your bed to create a rustic headboard. You can leave the wood as-is for a natural look or paint or stain it. You can also attach reading lamps, framed photos, and other decorative items. Candle Holders: Cut pallet wood into various lengths and assemble them into candle holders for votive or pillar candles to add a cozy and romantic ambiance to your living room or dining area. Palatable Pallets in the Kitchen Kitchen Utensil Holder: Attach pallet slats vertically on a wall, creating pockets to hold kitchen utensils, cutting boards, and even small pots. Herb Garden:  Hang small pots filled with herbs on a pallet mounted on your kitchen wall for fresh ingredients at your cookin’ fingertips. Kitchen Island:  Combine pallets to craft a rustic kitchen island for extra storage and a farmhouse vibe. There are tons of ideas and plans out there, from simple and inexpensive projects like this one to more complex and elegant centerpieces. Pallet with a Purpose in the Garden and Other Outdoor Projects Potting Bench: Elevate your gardening by repurposing a pallet into a potting bench. It's sturdy and functional and keeps your tools organized. Compost Bin: Create a simple compost bin by fastening pallets together—easy access for turning your kitchen and garden scraps into nutrient-rich soil. Vertical Garden: Attach pots to a pallet's slats and hang them vertically. Perfect for growing herbs, flowers, or succulents, even if you're short on space. Recycling Organizer: If you’re like us and have to take your recyclables to town, build an outdoor storage area with separate bins for plastics, metal, etc., to separate and store your recyclables until your next trip to drop them off. Garden Fence: By standing pallets upright and securing them together, you can create a cool fence to enclose your garden or yard. Raised Beds: Stack pallets to your desired height, fill them with soil and plant your favorite flowers, herbs, or vegetables. Swing Chair: Hang a solid pallet swing from a sturdy tree, add a cushion, and you've got a nice spot to relax and ponder your next pallet project. Outdoor Bar: Impress your guests by repurposing a pallet into an outdoor bar (you can serve ice cream, too!). Add a few stools, and you have a stylish and functional space for outdoor entertaining. Tool Shed: Build a compact storage shed using pallets to form the walls and roof, leaving an opening for the entrance. Wood Shed: This one isn’t much of a stretch, but make a lean-to-style pallet shed with one or more sections to stock up firewood for the winter or, if you enjoy outdoor cooking as much as we do, for your cob or brick oven. Pallet Bird Feeders: Repurposing wooden pallets can be for the birds, too. Attract wild birds to your garden or backyard by turning a full or partial pallet into a feeder. Use the slats of the pallet to create trays for holding seed. Nail or screw additional pieces of wood to the bottom of the slats to prevent the seeds from falling through. The Pallet-made Kids' Corner Pallet Playhouse: Let your little ones' imagination run wild by building a pallet playhouse. Add some paint and decorations for a personalized and fun touch. Pallet Toy Storage: Stack pallets to create open-fronted cubbies. These can be used in children's rooms to store toys, books, or art supplies. You can add wheels and paint them in vibrant colors. Pallet Chalkboard: Convert a pallet into a chalkboard by painting one side with chalkboard paint. Hang it on the wall or prop it up like an easel for drawing, doodling, and leaving messages. Pallet Puppet Theater: Convert one or more pallets into a puppet theater by attaching curtains and painting them in vibrant colors. Repurposed Pallets on the Move Bike Rack:  If you're a cycling enthusiast, use pallets to create a space-saving bike rack in your garage or shed. Car Camping Table: Stack a few pallets in your trailer or bed of the truck and convert them into a portable table when you get to camp. It's easy to assemble. Garden Cart or Trailer: Attach wheels to a sturdy pallet, and you have an instant garden cart. Use it to transport plants, soil, tools, or harvested produce around your garden with ease. This mobile cart simplifies your gardening tasks and saves you from multiple trips. Check out this quick and easy pallet trailer project. Pallet Dolly: Need to move heavy items within your home, garage, or workshop? Create a pallet dolly by attaching sturdy casters to the bottom of a pallet. It becomes a versatile tool for moving furniture, boxes, or equipment without straining your back. Countless Ways of Repurposing Wooden Pallets Even these 50 ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. Wooden pallets offer endless possibilities, limited only by your creativity (okay, and some patience and skill, too). So, the next time you spot a discarded pallet, don't just look at it as trash or firewood—see it as a treasure trove of potential waiting to be unlocked. Want to know how to take apart pallets, prep the old pallet wood, and where to find free pallets, too? Here you go… Stay tuned for more in-depth guides on how to bring these ideas to life. Happy reusing, repurposing, upcycling, and saving! Together, we can make our homes greener, cozier, and thriftier, one pallet at a time.

Build it, and they will come. At least, that’s what we hoped. And it worked! In fact, much of our oddly, often trapezoidal-shaped and irregularly sized scrap wood has turned into various avian nesting boxes, from more mainstream styles to funky, free-form, and rather far-fetched. This time, Jeremy decided to make a larger birdhouse to attract some type of northern Arizona owl to help keep the healthy local field mouse and pack rat populations in check. Scrounging a variety of scrap wood pieces, along with some leftover hardware and hinges (and a little help from me), Jer created the following owl abode. As you can see, perfection isn't part of our vocabulary—or skills—but at least one western screech owl doesn't seem to mind. Embracing a sustainable lifestyle goes beyond reducing our carbon footprint; it's also about creating habitats for our wild, winged neighbors. One way to contribute to local biodiversity is by building a scrap wood owl house. In our guide to “creative” avian home building, we'll explore the art of crafting an owl nesting box using reclaimed materials. Let's turn scrap wood into a haven for these nocturnal hunters, promoting ecological balance in our own backyards. Locate a Site for the Owl Box Selecting the right spot is crucial for the success of your owl house. Owls prefer elevated locations with good visibility, so mount your box on a tree or pole—in our case, it was on top of an old railroad tie fence post (that no longer has a fence) only about seven feet tall—ensuring it faces away from prevailing winds. Our winds generally come from the south/southwest, so we placed the opening of the owl house to the north/northwest. A field or meadow or the edge of a wooded area is ideal, providing easy access for owls to hunt. They also like to glide to and from their nesting places, so look for a location that has an unobstructed path to the box opening. Our owl box faces an area that's more open than most of our property, with fewer juniper trees, lots of wild grasses and flowering plants, and plenty of field mice, pack rats, and ground squirrels in residence. Making an Owl House: Materials to Gather Basic carpentry tools and hardware will suffice. Scrap wood: If possible, use untreated, weather-resistant wood. Plywood or cedar scraps work well. We also used a bit of HardieBoard scrap for the roof. Tools: You'll need a saw, hammer and/or screwdriver, drill, hole saw if you have one, and a variety of nails and/or screws—whatever you have lying around. Waterproof paint or sealant, paintbrush: Protect your owl house from the elements by applying a non-toxic sealant, stain, or exterior paint. Hinges and a clasp or screws: Allow easy access for cleaning and replacing nesting material by adding hinges or screws to one side of the box. Nesting material: More on this below. DIY Scrap Wood Owl House 101 This is such an easy project; even Jeremy and I can do it! Owl houses don't need to be anything fancy or cost much of anything to build—just like any other type of birdhouse, they need to be the right size to accommodate the type of owl you hope to house. Design your owl house: Tailor your design to the specific owls in your area. For example, barn owls prefer a simple, open-front design, while screech owls prefer a more enclosed space. Research local owl species to determine the best dimensions and features. (I've added some details for common North American owl species below.) Cut and assemble: Using your chosen scrap wood, cut pieces according to your design (or you can be like us and see what you can build with as few cuts as possible). Drill out a circular hole (sand or smooth as needed) large enough for the species of owl in your area. Assemble the box, ensuring a snug fit to provide insulation. Add a perch: Attach a small perch or “grab bar” below the entrance to help owls land and take off more easily. (That’s what the wood piece below the owl box opening is on ours. We put one on the inside of the box also) Drill ventilation holes: Drill small holes near the top of the box to prevent condensation and maintain a comfortable temperature. Paint or seal: Apply a waterproof sealant or paint to protect the wood and enhance durability. Opt for earthy tones to blend seamlessly with nature. Mount: Securely mount the owl house, ideally 10-20 feet above the ground (although ours is lower), ensuring it remains stable in various weather conditions. That's why ours has extra mountain brackets on the bottom, around the top of the old railroad tie. Add Owl Nesting Material Unlike some other bird species, owls typically don't bring in their own nesting material. They rely on the structure of the nesting site itself, creating a simple "scrape" or depression in the natural substrate within the nesting cavity. So, providing a layer of suitable nesting material inside your owl box can enhance its comfort and appeal. To make your owl box more inviting, you can add a thin layer of soft materials such as: Wood shavings: Add a layer of untreated wood shavings at the bottom of the box. These can mimic the natural environment and offer insulation. Leaves or pine needles: Dry leaves or pine needles can add a touch of the outdoors to the owl box for a more natural feel. Straw, hay, or dry grass: A thin layer of straw or hay can also be used as long as, like other nesting material, it stays dry to prevent mold. Remember to keep the nesting material sparse, as owls prefer a minimalist approach (much like I do). Providing too much material can make the box less appealing to them (yep, mm-hm). Also, avoid using synthetic materials or anything treated with chemicals, as these can be harmful to the owls. Keep an eye on the nesting material during routine checks, replacing it if it becomes soiled or compacted. Types of Nesting Boxes for Common Owls One size and shape doesn't fit all when it comes to owl nesting boxes. There are about 225-250 different species of owl in existence, with about 21 of those in North America. So you'll want to find out which species are common to your area and then build accordingly. Here are some examples of owl species common in the U.S. and the basics of nesting boxes for each: Barn Owl Owl Size: 12.5-16 in. Nesting Box: A simple wooden box approximately 24 inches in height, depth, and width provides enough room for a pair of owls and their young, but you can go even bigger, up to three feet square, if you want. Create an opening about 6 inches above the base of the box. The opening can be square or round with a diameter of about 5-6 inches. Barred Owl Owl Size: 19-22 in. Nesting Box: Barred owls prefer upright nesting boxes with a single hole in the center near the top of the box. This mimics the tree hollows where they usually take up residence. A typical barred owl nest box is about 24 inches tall with a floor area about 13 by 13 inches. The entrance hole should be 12 inches from the bottom of the box and have a diameter ranging from 7-10 inches. Great Horned Owl Owl Size: 18-25 in Nesting Box: These large owls like nesting in open boxes or flat platforms instead of cavity-style boxes. The box should be at least 22x22 inches. The entrance should be large enough to allow the owls easy access but small enough to prevent larger predators from entering. It’s recommended that a nest box for a great horned owl be mounted in a hardwood tree or tall post at least 15 feet above the ground. Screech Owl Owl Size: 7-10 inches Nesting Box: Screech owls prefer upright boxes that mimic tree hollows, whether natural cavities or holes abandoned by other birds, like woodpeckers. A typical screech owl box is about 10 inches wide at the floor, 18 inches tall, and 10-14 inches deep. The entrance hole should be around 3 inches in diameter. The International Owl Center has some good information on DIY owl nest boxes for various kinds of owls. Scrap Wood Owl House Dos and Don’ts If owl houses had to be a very specific size, design, or placement, ours wouldn't have worked as intended or so quickly. That said, we did try our best to follow some scrap wood owl house best practices like these: Owl House Dos Face the owl house opening away from prevailing winds. Mount the owl house in or on the edge of an open area or meadow. Make the owl box opening large enough for the species you're hoping to attract. Owl House Don'ts Avoid light pollution. Owls are sensitive to light. Place your owl house away from bright lights, as this can disturb their nocturnal activities. Avoid invasive monitoring. While it's important to monitor your owl box, avoid intrusive checks, especially during nesting season. (We always have a good but inexpensive pair of binoculars on hand to watch wildlife comings and goings.) Excessive disturbances can lead to abandonment of the nesting box. Don't overdo it with nesting material. Just a one-inch layer, at most, of natural material, like leaves or grass, will do. Make and Monitor a Scrap Wood Owl House in Your Own Backyard By repurposing scrap wood, you've not only created a sustainable haven for local owls but also contributed to the delicate balance of your local ecosystem. Watching these amazing and mysterious birds take residence in your own handmade owl house is a rewarding experience, reminding us that even small, imperfect efforts can have a big impact. One fun and non-intrusive way we watch our owl house and other bird homes and wandering wildlife at 36-Acre Wood is with a few strategically placed, easy-to-use game cameras. We recommend the Muddy brand trail camera or the Cuddeback, both of which we use with Pale Blue USB rechargeable batteries.