Unrecyclable?

[bodrighy]

Someone's 1/2 joking query on how to recycle bubble bath on another thread made me think (It does happen when there is an appropriate phase of the moon)

What do we consider unrecyclable? and does anyone else have ways of recyling something we feel we have no option but to put in the bin.


To kick off....light bulbs...what use are they when they are dead?

pete

[Critchley]

I can see this is going to be an interesting subject.
I have a query too. I am never quite sure which bin to put egg shells in. We have a little kitchen bin for compostable food, are eggshells compostible? Otherwise I save them and use them for slug repellents but I would like to know.

[beadsbydesign]

egg shells are compostable. crush them up before you add them.

[beckyboo]

was me that always ends up with umpteen bottles of bathsalt/bubbles for Xmas ( oh er hope it's not a hint,lol)....some i recycle into new pressies for friends in gift baskets ,some go as school raffle prizes and some i use

light bulbs we don't really have an issue with as all ours are energy bulbs,( some local authorities do accept the old type for recyling)and I can't remember the last time i had to replace one.

I've seen some light bulbs turned into mini ships in a bottle,I used to make the masts as a part time job when i was 14/15,maybe i should have a go

[ENIGMAG9]

One of my favourite things ive seen dead light bulbs used for are christmas tree baubles :) but they can also be used as small vases
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/ENIGMA-G9/craft/vases.jpg
and to make light shades


http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/ENIGMA-G9/craft/bulb.jpg

[wendy]

I love those vases!!

[greannancrafts]

egg shells are compostable. crush them up before you add them.


Ground egg shells make a fabulous addition to soap.

Jane

[Critchley]

Many thanks to you all for the eggsplanations regarding egg shells. I am obviously wasting my time re slug repellent then. Shame as I don't feel comfortable with pellets. The lightbulb lampshade is a great idea, I would like to have tried that but we are all energy saving now.

[bodrighy]

OK, as everyone is being cocky and using long life bulbs:)...I have had three go on me in the last month, what do I do with them apart from bin them?

Pete

[ENIGMAG9]

In my opinion no one should attempt to produce things from energy efficient bulbs and they should be disposed of quite carefully, what appears alarming is how many people actually know what these bulbs contain most of them are fluorescent believe it or not and so contain phosphor powder and mercury for this reason they should be disposed of in the appropriate way. Check out the link!

http://www.manga-fu.com/ft.html

[beckyboo]

OK, as everyone is being cocky and using long life bulbs:)...I have had three go on me in the last month, what do I do with them apart from bin them?

Pete

if you contact your local council they can advise you where your local drop off point is for recycling energy bulbs , sainsburys are also creating drop off points at some of their supermarkets for E bulbs and batteries, by law all makers of E bulbs must tell you how the bulbs can be recycled on the packaging....never ever open and E bulb to recycle them !!

[wendy]

Many thanks to you all for the eggsplanations regarding egg shells. I am obviously wasting my time re slug repellent then. Shame as I don't feel comfortable with pellets.

I refuse to use pellets too. My old garden was overrun with slugs, and I lost a lot of plants to them... my new garden is overrun with frogs, so consequently very few slugs.

You can come round and rehouse a few frogs if you can catch them!!

[swirlyarts]

Interesting thread - check out Recycle This for fab answers to questions http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/ You can ask your own questions too if they don't have the answer!

[vonnash]

Light bulbs.
Now i would say you could also aldo put a picture of someone ( the clear ones) or an image , put glitter in ( urm glitter) and make Christmas tree decs

[Nicola-D]

yeah I thought christmas tree decs, fill them with shredded shiny paper or shredded pearlescent or rainbowy type stuff.

[ldw]

Now I want old-style lightbulbs to make vases out of - that pic was incredible!

[jaydee67]

Beer traps work well for slugs. use the bottom of an old plastic bottle/ yogurt pot/ etc and 3/4 fill it with beer. Sink it into the garden leaving a small lip to stop beetles, etc falling in.

[Aviya Glass]

I didn't see this thread when it must have originally popped up but I love those vases - why can I never think of really cute ideas like that? (no answer required thank you :D)

Bodrighy, you don't strike me as the kinda guy with a large glitter or glass paint supply ;) but would you be able to turn a mini snowman and make a snowglobe of sorts?

As for slugs copper strip will repel them as they get shocked if they walk on it apparently - only really useful I would think around tubs or planters.

Salt is also a good deterrent but would get washed away in the rain.

As mentioned beer is popular with slugs, cheap lager don't use the good stuff. The traps do work well, only thing is nasty beer soaked dead slugs to dispose of which I don't think are recyclable.

I believe iron phosphate is also good and wont harm other wildlife etc. Not sure where you get it though.

[Delphine Ysh]

Yes my father swears by the beer for slugs theory. I do wonder if its just an excuse to drink beer in his vegetable plot!

We have some gorgeous bottles shaped like lightbulbs from Gloji drink. They come with a flatbase so i can't wait to recycle those into vases etc.
Thanks for all those ideas
:p

[jan1972]

Is anything really un-recyclable? I do just recycled crafts, and many things I use people will consider unrecyclable, crisp packets (made into purses), floppy discs (pen holders and currently working on a handbag idea) bullet shells (cute little critters).

Almost anything can be turned into jewellry or set in resin to make brooches and pendants. The group of crafters I attend regular fairs with like to set me challenges with items, they will give me an item and say use it in something you can sell. Most recently I was given a couple of old disposable camera's - when you take them apart they have quite a few interesting pieces that I used on earrings, they sold at the first fair I took them to.

I'm constantly looking for new things/ways to recycle so would love to hear any other items you think are unrecyclable to get me thinking about how they could be used.

Janette x

[MelaniesCraft]

I do love random jewellry made from things... you know like Lego brick earrings and keyrings made from shrunk crisp packets! I don't know why but they amuse and amaze me that people think to make things from what most of us would call nothing.

The only things I would say are unrecyclable would be anything dangerous or toxic, like things with dangerous chemicals, but most of these can be disposed of responsibly.

[Decima]

Hi Pete
The "old fashioned" light bulbs are very handy to burnish leather hard clay with, and while we are on the subject of recycling, have you tried cutting open a tomato puree tube?

Chris

[bodrighy]

Hi Pete
have you tried cutting open a tomato puree tube?

Chris


OK you have me curious, I haven't but I will when I finish the one in the fridge. Fancy saying more on this?

Pete

[Decima]

Absolutely beautiful gold/copper colour inside, depending on which supermarket you buy it from. When washed it can be easily cut with scissors, punched/die cut, pierced, used in card making, jewellery making, scrapbooking or anything that requires metal. Very cheap and easy to use.

[the card shark]

OK you have me curious, I haven't but I will when I finish the one in the fridge. Fancy saying more on this?

Pete

If you do this, wear protective gloves so you don't cut yourself on the metal.

[MelaniesCraft]

I've just been thinking now that there's so much in my kitchen that we just throw away! I remember now at my parents' house, we recycled anything we could (mostly in the conventional ways, compost bins and council cardboard etc) but I've just found a load of pretty things in the bottom of an old box of craft stuff! There's scraps of paper from god knows where, bits of broken jewellry, pretty colours of wire and even an old roll of insulating tape I rescued from my dad's garage (it's purple!).
I think I'll have my eyes open now for the pretty things that hide around the house!

EDIT: I just realised that it's nearly Easter! Think of all the pretty coloured sweet wrappers and boxes! I still have a pile of sweet wrappers from Christmas though, heehee.

[Little Miss Crafty]

Love this thread, im inspired!

[Meghan]

Wow, there are some amazing uses for lightbulbs!!!! I love the hanging vase idea

[Galls]

Absolutely beautiful gold/copper colour inside, depending on which supermarket you buy it from. When washed it can be easily cut with scissors, punched/die cut, pierced, used in card making, jewellery making, scrapbooking or anything that requires metal. Very cheap and easy to use.

Ok thank you for this! Now going to stop buying the stuff in cartons and buy the tubey stuff instead! :P