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Reusing Crib Rails

Reuse Crib Rails | ecogreenlove

Once a month here in Germany there are some “Sperrmüll”, although I looked for it and there is no direct translation, is a day when garbage truck come and collect things that people signed up to throw away (big things, furniture, pieces, material,etc. that is not thrown away to the regular recycling bins). They ask to leave the stuff on a collection point (changeable, depending on the demand of the area) at least 24hrs before the collection day. When I first arrived to Germany, it was shocking all the stuff (specially on summer) that people throw away! This does not happen in Mexico (as far as I know, correct me if I’m wrong).

So every month I casually go for a walk around my neighbourhood to see what people doesn’t need anymore. You can even see stuff three days ahead. And really you can find so many things, in good conditions! There is people that already knows and arrive with a van to collect the stuff, probably the re-sell it or who knows what. We have collected many things from the “Sperrmüll”, i.e.: our bed side tables, a stool for our entrance hall, bookshelf, drawers… very useful and in great conditions, really! We saved a few euros: travelling to the nearest Ikea = 15kms (much of the furniture is bought there, convenient), time and money actually buying it.

But something that is very common to see are bed frames, which are very similar to the baby cribs rails. When searching for ideas to repurpose bed frames (I already have two, one as a shoe rack and the second still on its way to turned into a towel hanger), the bed frames I have are not precisely like the ones showing, so I searched instead for baby crib rails, and that looks more likely! So here are a few ideas to inspire you, all in one place, is a good combo I must say, enjoy!

(click on the picture to go to the original source/tutorial)

Reusing Crib Rails | ecogreenlove
Kids’ Tent / Reading Nook (could be made with crib’s rails or bed frames)
Reusing Crib Rails | ecogreenlove
DIY Wall Chore Chart From Upcycled Crib
Reusing Crib Rails | ecogreenlove
DIY Bike Rack from a Crib Rail!

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Reusing CD/DVD cases

According to Umbra from grist.org:

If you wish to recycle the plastic cases, it might be a bit tough. These are #6 plastic (polystyrene), which may be recyclable where you live — be sure to check with your local authorities. Since #6 is not wildly popular, a better bet might be one of several outfits around your country that will recycle these items for you; generally your costs are just for shipping. Check out GreenDisk, which takes all manner of “technotrash,” from iPods to X-rays; CD Recycling Center of America, which has several locations around the country; and CD Recycling Central based in California, which recycles other e-waste items too.

What happens to your CD cases when you send them off this way? According to Earth 911, they are simply recycled into new plastic items, which we hope will be useful to someone — and then eventually recycled again.

You could also contact your local library to ask whether they need any replacement cases — I see from many discussions online that library patrons are wild and reckless, and CD cases often come back smashed. Many people also recommend posting the cases on a site such as Craigslist or Freecycle. One man’s trash, and all that.

Other option is to reuse/repurpose/upcycle them, here some ideas:

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Reusing old Suitcases

Reusing suitcases | ecogreenloveFurniture: TablesChairs • More | Storage | For Kids | For Pets | Others

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Reusing old Yellow Pages / Phonebooks

IMG from wikihow

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:

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Reusing CDs and DVDs

Updated: June 2021

DO NOT place unwanted discs or packaging in your curbside or town recycling bins. They do not properly recycle CDs and DVDs because they are #7 plastic.

Each year, billions of CDs and DVDs are manufactured, while millions of these discs end up in landfills and incinerators. If you use, sell, promote, distribute, or manufacture compact discs, it is your responsibility to promote how to recycle them. Compacts Discs, when recycled properly, will stop unnecessary pollution, conserve natural resources, and help slow global warming. Spread the word to help us save the world we all live in.

When not recycled properly, discs will last forever in a landfill or emit harmful gases into the atmosphere from an incinerator. Out of the billions of CDs and DVDs manufactured each year, millions will end up in landfills and incinerators. If you use, sell, promote, distribute, or manufacture compact discs, let us help you recycle them.

Plastic discs are made from oil. Recycling your discs saves oil and conserves natural resources, while turning them back into something useful.

Before throwing away a CD or DVD please inform yourself where can you drop them, nowadays there are shops where you can bring your items such as batteries, cables, lightbulbs or discs and they take care of them. If you live in the USA, consider recycling your discs in CD Recycling Center of America.

If you CD has scratches, click on the following picture to learn how to Repair a CD with Toothaste:

Repurpose CDs and DVDs | ecogreenlove
How to Repair a CD With Toothpaste

If not, then take a look to this vast ideas to reuse/upcycle them, hope you find them inspirational 🙂

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