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Reusing rubber gloves
Updated: November 2016
“I’ve realized is that regardless of the material and construction, sooner or later, they all end up reaching the point of no return thanks to pointy knife tips, chemical deterioration or simple wear and tear. What I didn’t realize is that synthetically processed (as opposed to naturally derived) latex is the norm among conventional brands and that even when it’s the latter, in some cases, the material is taken without regard toward maintaining the fragile balance of forested areas such as Brazil’s Amazon region.
It’s possible to green up my kitchen habit by specifically seeking out Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified natural latex options that ensure that rubber tappers are compensated with fair trade wages when they responsibly utilize forest resources. So many natives live in poverty and are forced by their circumstances to profit in any way they can from the diminishing resources they can extract from the Amazon, but there is a better way.
The bad news is that truly eco-friendly waterproof household gloves are very challenging to find. There are just a few manufacturers right now that offer reasonable options, such as:
- If You Care Household Gloves: These cotton-lined, naturally biodegradable lime green gloves, dipped in FSC-certified latex, are packaged in a fully recyclable cardboard box printed with nontoxic ink and sealed with equally planet-friendly glue.
- Green Tips Fair Trade Latex Household Gloves: Described as flock-lined, ethically sourced 100% latex gloves, this FSC-certified option is also bright green in color and packaged in a fully recyclable/equally compostable container.”
– By Elizah Leigh on 1800recycling.com
“Before throwing away your rubber gloves, take another look because that glove may be useful in new, unconventional ways. By recycling rubber gloves, you’ll get more bang for your buck and discover a useful item for your household. Since rubber gloves are non-slip and waterproof, they are perfect to cover slippery surfaces and to open jars, and they can even be useful in first-aid kits.”
– By Becca Janet on eHow
Below a few ideas to reuse the old/broken rubber/latex gloves, click on each image to go to the original source and tutorial:
Reusing candle wax
“Candles are wonderful at setting the mood of a room, but once the candle burns down to the bottom it can be unsightly and hard to remove from the container. Some candle containers are so delightful, so it is nice to reuse them. Candles can also be messy and wax is difficult to remove if the candle spills over (…) Once you have used up most of your favourite candle with a scent but there is still too much left to throw away, purchase tea light molds and tea light wicks. Melt the remaining wax and pour into the tea light moulds. You won’t waste your original candle and you will still get to still enjoy your favourite fragrance.”
Following are some ideas to reuse the leftover candle wax to make new ones. Click on the images to go to the original source and tutorial.
Reusing old Suitcases
Furniture: Reusing old Yellow Pages / Phonebooks
I have so far 2 yellow pages and 2 phonebooks, they are updated every year or two. Most of them are made with recycled paper already, and many times they offer to recycle them or you just have to deliver them to a paper recycling bank.
Yellow Pages opt out recommends:
- Check your local phone book for recycling information, usually in the front or back
- If curbside recycling is offered in your community, you will likely have the ability to recycle Yellow Pages directories by putting them in your curbside bin
- If curbside recycling is not an option, visit your county’s solid waste department’s Web site for recycling information
- Contact your local Yellow Pages publisher for phone book recycling drop-off locations
If you, on the other hand, have one or two (maybe more) but want a creative way to reuse them, then continue reading and find some ideas:
ecogreenlove 