Stores selling storage and organization accessories appeal to our fantasy selves. With the right box, rack, sorter, labeler, or over-the-door-gift-wrap-organizer our lives will finally become peaceful, or beautiful, or sane.

Rather than give your hard-earned money away to the empty-promise plastic gods, look in your recycling bin for scads of “organization” tools.


Most folks are all about the box, but I’ll take a nice set of cans any day. They come in every size, from sardine and tuna fish to whole peeled tomato. With the labels peeled off, they work for the stainless steel aesthetic or the country-chic aesthetic. Nail a few in the laundry room for household essentials like scissors, tape, dust rags, etc. Decant dog biscuits into one by the back door. Use a clean tuna can for your keys. Not everything needs a box!

But boxes are wonderful, which is why we all keep buying them. Plastic boxes can be very helpful, especially in the attic, basement, and garage, but don’t overlook the utility of the everyday boxes you might automatically throw away. Even the prosaic shoe box can provide decades of storage, and after decades, its print will start to look charmingly retro. Don't you wish you'd saved your Air Jordans box now?

Glass jars are the free, non-toxic alternative to plastic food storage. Write directly on the jar with a dry erase marker to remind yourself what’s in it. In some parts of the country you can still buy your berries in wooden baskets and your oranges in crates. A dozen cans in a crate makes a wonderful catch-all for wrapping or craft supplies. Plastic containers, like the oblong arugula or mixed green boxes, or the tub from miso paste are great for holding small toys, like Legos or Playmobile. Tubs that once held baby wipes can now hold puzzles, bathroom supplies, or hardware.

Cans and boxes take on even more possibilities with some paper and glue. I use Mod Podge, a glue made especially for decoupage (a fancy words for pasting paper to things). Modpodge is the perfect consistency. But Elmer's glue, diluted with a little water, works well too. With either product, take your chosen paper (try old wrapping paper, beat-up children’s books, sheet music, or a foreign language newspaper), brush glue on the back. Paste it down. Brush glue on the front. Let dry. If you want, you can seal it again with shellac, spray lacquer, or varnish, but it isn't necessary. Fabric works well too, especially on cans.

This is a great project for children. They’ll see their handiwork become a vital part of running the household.

Do you have any other ideas for recycling the recycling? Please share them below!

CFL bulbs contain mercury gas, which are safely contained in an intact bulb but can escape if the bulb breaks - either in your home or in a landfill. Many communities now have CFL recycling programs, and you can find one using the EPA's directory. But if a CFL bulb breaks in your home, there are a few precautions you should take to make sure you aren't exposed.

1. Open windows and leave the room for fifteen minutes or more. This helps ensure that mercury vapors can escape and you won't inhale them. Make sure children or pets can't get into the room during this time.


2. Wearing disposable gloves, use a piece of cardboard to scoop up the powder and glass into a plastic bag.


3. Use a wet paper towel or rag you don't mind disposing of to wipe down the area. Place them in the bag.


4. Tie the bag shut and wrap in a second bag, closing it securely as well.


5. Wash your hands.


6. Take the broken bulb to a recycling facility that accepts them. Call ahead if you are unsure, as some facilities will only accept intact bulbs.