P&G Conserve-it-All Program – How We Are Re-Purposing Items! #EverydayEffect

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G but my thoughts remain my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

So now that my kids are getting bigger they are starting to understand more about how to make a difference in the environment.  They know not to waste water, to recycle and to not throw trash on the ground.  P&G is a company that believes the most effective changes don’t necessarily start with grand acts but rather everyday things we do at home.  They have challenged me to work with my family on reducing, reusing and recycling.  Its perfect timing too because I have wanted to go deeper and start teaching them how we can create less waste in general and how we can re-purpose things.

First things first though, we moved our recycle bin to a better spot and we have conversations about what can and can’t be recycled.  They are so excited to try to figure out whether items go in the recycle bin or garbage can.

I went a step further though and we are re-purposing things.  Like the plastic parmesan cheese container is now my green onions container.

Paper we recycle by using the backs of school forms we receive and don’t need.  My boys don’t care about that one side has school writing on it and I love that we are not wasting so much paper.

Finally, my son’s favorite is re-purposing our gallon milk containers.  I cut them on an angle and then they use them for digging in the dirt or sand!  I have also cut them up to be a Valentines Day card holder (instead of a boring shoebox) and for my youngest to carry little toys around in.  This summer I will be re-purposing them into Bozo buckets game and seeing what else we can come up with.  We go through about 2-3 gallons a week so I have a lot to work with!

By re-purposing items, we are creating less waste and hopefully reducing our carbon footprints.  I want my kids to grow up to be responsible adults and that means caring their environments too.  Recycling was not something I grew up with but I have made it something I do now without thinking about, which I hope it becomes for my kids.  Its amazing though how much can be recycled and if you want to get crafty (which believe me I’m not and I can do it) you can re-purpose many things you normally wouldn’t have given a second thought about.  I believe every little bit helps.

Here is a video I quickly made too to show our re-purposing in action:

How are some ways you are (or will be ) challenging your family to reduce, re-use, and re-cycle?