Reusing to Recycle

In our township, recycling is mandatory. 
  
(We were told we'd have to recycle to save landfill space, and then Michigan started importing Canada's garbage.  Yeah, I know!  Some things are just unexplainable.  So glad I can help Canada have somewhere to put their garbage, I mean, after all, they have practically NO useless land mass, at all.  Right?  Ha!)


They gave us a big red bin for the garage, but I hate to run out there every single time I have a can or a bottle to recycle--it's just plain annoying--plus, the greenies probably never considered I'd be wasting heat or air by running to the bin every time I need it.  Who has a kitchen big enough for these large, unsightly bins?

For a while in my kitchen sat a white plastic trashcan, with a lid, it was neat and tidy, but I hated how it looked.  It was practical, but...


In my "stuff" that gets to my attic somehow (teehee!),  I had this large vintage picnic hamper, shaped like a barn.  Actually, this picnic hamper had been in the basement of our first little house we bought from Lem's dad...and I've just kept it and for years it has had many, many uses around all three of our houses.

I decided its new purpose would be to be my recycle bin and look a whole lot better in this old farmhouse than something ugly and plastic.  


So I measured the interior dimensions and went to Target to find the perfect plastic bin to line the old basket with.  (Recycle containers can be messy!) They had one that was just the right size!


Now, once the picnic basket is full of stuff to take to the garage recycle bin, we make the trip out there, and dump it into the big, ugly bin.  This liner can be wiped out and put back.

It all works perfectly and I love it.  Here it's cozied up to my husband's grandparent's old oak ice box.  It looks right at home.

I thought the idea was worth sharing with you!
I think it's fun to find new uses for old containers of all kinds...



Have a great weekend!

(We are still held hostage by Old Man Winter...and it's making mama grouchy!  We had a couple nice days this week and now the cold wind is blowing and we are expecting some snow today!  My poor daffodils had just started to bloom!  How's your weather?)