Do you believe that I can find cheap substitutes for the things you want to buy on Singles’ Day in the garbage dump?

It’s Double Eleven again. Is your shopping cart full? Today we’re going to do the opposite and talk about “Save 100% if you don’t buy anything”!

Some of the things you want to buy may be hidden in the discarded "garbage". Yogurt boxes can be used as storage, glass bottles can be used as oil bottles, milk tea cups can be used as vases... Through waste utilization, the life of "disposable items" can be effectively extended and turned into treasure.

We have listed some common and easy-to-use methods. Come and see if there is what you need!

Glass bottles are now used to store various seasonings

One bottle for multiple uses | Small towel

Glass bottles are a sustainable and environmentally friendly container that is very durable, not easily deformed, and not easily corroded by chemicals . It also does not release harmful substances and is relatively safe for storing food. Compared to plastic, glass bottles do not absorb food odors and can be used multiple times without worrying about odors.

You can buy special corks on Taobao or Pinduoduo and use them to store dry food; add an oil spout and use it as an oil bottle.

Buy an oil nozzle and use it as an oil bottle | Taobao

Square yogurt box, no need to worry about microwave heating

If you have some grains and dry ingredients that don't fit into a small glass bottle, the one-liter Tianrun yogurt bucket can satisfy you! Its packaging is made of food-grade PP material and can even be put into the microwave.

Can be used to hold dry ingredients for stewing soup | Small towel

Before reusing plastic products, you need to identify their "identity" to better confirm their new use. Usually, there is a circular triangle composed of three arrows on the plastic product, as well as numbers and English abbreviations to refer to the material used in this plastic product.

Not every type of plastic is suitable for reuse! Relatively speaking, the most recommended material for reuse is ♷ PP (polypropylene) . In addition to yogurt boxes, other plastic packaging boxes with this logo can also be kept and put to good use!

♷ PP (polypropylene): Commonly used in juice bottles, take-out boxes, etc., it is a recognized safe material for food containers . It has good resistance to bending fatigue and can be heated in a microwave oven, but it is best not to heat it for a long time or repeatedly.

♳ PET (Polyethylene terephthalate): Commonly found in mineral water bottles, this material will release some toxic substances over time . Avoid multiple uses, and do not use it to hold oil, wine , etc.

♴ HDPE (High-density polyethylene): Commonly used in the packaging of daily cleaning products such as shower gel and shampoo. This material is not very smooth and is usually difficult to clean . It needs to be effectively cleaned before recycling.

Plastic products of different materials | Future Life Laboratory

Big ice cream box, good sealing

The container itself is a box for ice cream and can be used for freezing. The lid has snaps on all four sides and is very airtight.

The box capacity is also large｜Maimai

In addition to the plastic recycling logo, there are also snowflakes, tableware and other shapes on the bottom of the box. These are usage guides that tell you whether the container can be put into the microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, etc. Depending on the standard, these signs may look different. We have compiled the following common usage guides. It is best to take a look at these signs before using the container for different purposes.

There are usually these usage signs on the bottom of plastic containers | Li Zilin

Can it be used to hold food?

The internationally recognized symbol, featuring a wine glass and fork, signifies food contact.

The national standard is chopsticks and spoons, which also means they can come into contact with food. Have you seen them on containers?

Can it go in the microwave?

Usually, there is a microwave or microwave logo on it, which means that the container can be put into the microwave. PP material has good heat resistance and can generally be put into the microwave.

Can it be frozen in the refrigerator?

This symbol is the easiest to recognize and means that the container can be placed in the freezer.

Can it go in the dishwasher?

A commonly used sign is the one on the left in the picture below, which means that the container can be put into the dishwasher.

Facial cleanser foaming bottle with built-in kneading function

The bottle of Curel facial cleanser has a built-in foaming function , which is very useful for storing cleaning products, such as hand soap and dishwashing liquid. Dense foam will come out with a press, saving rubbing time.

I used to put soapberry in it for cleaning, but the soapberry blocked the bottle mouth, so I ended up using it to hold hand sanitizer. | Small towel

In addition, Curel facial cleanser has replacement packaging , so you can directly use the existing bottles. The skin care bottles we throw away may flow into the counterfeit market; if the merchants can provide more replacement options, we can also make better use of the existing cosmetic bottles.

Milk tea takeaway insulation bag, suitable for repeated use

Most of the non-woven bags commonly used for takeout are not "cloth bags", but plastic products, mainly made of PP (polypropylene). Compared with disposable plastic bags, they are stronger and more durable and suitable for reuse.

In addition to general storage of sundries, it can also be transformed into a tissue bag through simple design and production.

The little guy is passing you paper～｜Qiqi

Milk tea cup

Many milk tea cups are beautiful enough in themselves. No good plastic container can leave the home of gardening enthusiasts and handicraft makers intact! o(｀ω´ )o

My friend came to my house and ordered milk tea. I took both the cup and the tray! | Da La

Yogurt jars, food trays, and used plastic bags are all great gardening containers | Da La

Local Item Exchange

Local item exchanges are also a good opportunity to try new things at a lower cost. You can buy used furniture after someone moves, extra electronic products, or new plants you want to grow... Compared to buying directly on the second-hand market, exchanging items between colleagues or friends can save on postage , as well as the carbon emissions from express packaging and mailing.

Our editorial department has a second-hand exchange group where colleagues can find the next "successor" for the items they don't need temporarily.

The name of the group is "The Heirs"｜Small Towel

But in the final analysis, waste utilization is only a remedial measure to reduce garbage. We should reduce the amount at the source . In addition to buying less and reusing more, businesses should also provide more environmentally friendly options , such as reducing complicated packaging, recycling containers, etc. Refusing disposables within your ability and choosing a more sustainable lifestyle will also make our daily lives more interesting!

Now that you’ve read this far, come and share how you reuse old things!

1. What do you use plastic boxes for vegetables and fruits for?

Generally, when you buy vegetables and fruits online, you will get plastic boxes.

2. Besides recycling coffee capsules , what else can we do with them?

Small coffee jar | Small towel

3. The ultimate question! Can anyone really make use of the foam filling in the delivery box?

Plastic filling foam that is difficult to recycle｜gzgzgj.com

Author: Little Towel, Li Zilin

Edit: Small towel

Title image source: Small towel

This article comes from GuokrNature (ID: GuokrNature)