Do you like to reduce, to reuse, to recycle, to be organized, DIY solutions, and CATS? Then this is for you! If you are a cat owner who buys litter in those plastic jugs (pictured) you may have wondered, as I have, if there was some way to repurpose these things, especially since they fill up almost half a trash can. Well, today I hit on a solution that really satisfies the recycler and organizer in me.

recycle-organizers

It also satisfies the “simplist” in me because it is so easy to do. I simply got my sharp utility knife and cut off the spouts and handles of my cat litter jug collection.  It’s a straight easy cut. I then do a quick clean and label each one saying “batteries,” “light bulbs,” “e-waste,” “eyeglasses,” and “cell phones.”  Now, I don’t expect most people to need a corral for eyeglasses and cell phones (I gather them from my clients to donate), but there may be other items you collect to recycle and of course you may not need five bins. Here’s the cool thing about five bins though, they fit a standard size utility shelf PERFECTLY!

You may find this to be a tad fussy with stuff that is essentially garbage, but think about it. Recycling has gotten easier with the single-stream recycling program now offered in many towns, but toxic disposal has not gotten any easier. In the real world you don’t want to take your drained T.V. remote batteries to Staples the moment you replace them. You want to make it worth the trip. So give yourself this simple solution to collect a worthwhile load. Same goes with the e-waste you return to Best Buy.

Many is the time I have seen loose batteries in a drawer and the client tells me they haven’t tossed them because they want to properly dispose of them. Of course this doesn’t happen hidden in a drawer, so they get mixed up with the NEW loose batteries. Then the drawer gets filled up with batteries that are neither used nor tossed. Now THAT’S a waste!

By the way, in case you’re thinking that collecting empty litter containers sounds like hoarding, allow me to distinguish. I knew that they would provide a clean, well-sized, and well-shaped structure for something, but I didn’t know just what. I kept them all in the garage and all in the same area so I could clearly see how much space they were taking up AND I gave myself a 6 month limit. If half a year passes and I can’t find a use for these things, out they go! They are now no longer wasting space but freeing up space in more important areas of the house by establishing an exit zone to safely circulate toxic items out of my home.

Finally, if you like this idea, but don’t have cats, let me know. I can count on Sally and Daniel to provide a surplus of new mini recycling bins that you can have!