Environmentally Friendly Egg Cartons

You've changed your light bulbs, and you've added an extra recycling bin to your trash lineup. But are you being as creative as possible with your recycling? Remember, recycling items not only saves the planet but it also saves your budget. One particularly useful household item normally finds itself in the garbage can, but it can be put to better use elsewhere. Before they find their ways into the garbage or recycling bin, catch those egg cartons and put them to one more better uses.

Egg-stra Savings

Paper egg cartons are already environmentally friendly. They are made from recycled materials, and they're processed minimally to have an even better impact on the planet (thus their grainy gray appearance.) But before you recycle them once again after the eggs are gone, try some other uses.

Organization

Use your egg cartons for crafts. Those who enjoy bead crafts know that multiple products are sold for bead organization during stringing. Instead of these products that cost $10 and upwards, try an egg carton. Sort the beads in order in each compartment of the egg container and close the lid. The cartons can be stacked with multiple projects easier than the bead trays that are sold in stores, and these are free. Kids can even paint the containers to make them look prettier or coat them with glue and roll them over seed beads to create a glitzy craft storage container.

Small Pet Feeders

Small pets like hamsters, mice, hermit crabs, and land turtles all require small food bowls. It's nice to have two bowls to offer a variety of foods. Yet, these pet bowls sell for several dollars each at pet stores. By cutting the individual egg holders from the cartons, you can create a small food container that can safely be chewed and quickly replaced. For pet hamsters, you can also try to offer the individual "cups" as beds, filling them with shredded paper or straw. The little guys will enjoy nesting in the space.

Seed Starters

Why purchase peat cups to start seeds when egg cartons work the same way. Remove the lid and fill the egg holders with potting soil. Then, as the seedlings mature, you can easily separate the cups and plant them directly into the ground. They will compost themselves just as the peat cups do, and you've saved money on your plantings. You can also stretch Saran Wrap across the top to keep the seeds extra moist and to generate additional heat until they sprout.

Pop a few holes in the plastic with a toothpick for air circulation. If you'd like to separate the cups before planting, use the lid of the egg carton as a carrier and place the separated cups on the lid once they're planted.

Shipping

Instead of purchasing expensive packing peanuts and bubble wrap, try placing egg cartons around your items as you box them. Whether you're sending items across the country or packing them for long term storage, egg cartons were made for this. Very few items in your attic are more delicate than an egg.