There are a number of ways we can reuse everyday items to reduce our footprint on the environment. Check out the ideas below:

Things that everyone can do:

• Give away or sell items you no longer need; if you don't need it, someone else might!
• Try using a reusable mug for coffee in the morning instead of a paper cup.
• Use canvas shopping bags instead of plastic grocery bags (Canadians go through 55 million plastic grocery bags a week!) or use plastic grocery bages to stuff boxes for shipping.
• When bringing your lunch to work or school, make use of a reusable lunch bag.
• Instead of individually packaged snacks, buy them in bulk and use a reusable container; you'll save money and significantly reduce the waste you produce.
• When margarine and other plastic containers are empty, use them to freeze soups and sauces.
• If you do any gardening, use paper egg cartons to germinate your seeds. When you are done with it, you can put it in the compost.
• Eat leftovers! An extra baked potato at supper time makes great hash browns for breakfast the next morning.
• Fill empty pop and water bottles with a bit of water and freeze them for a great cold pack.
• Use old, holey t-shirts for cleaning rags.
• Toilet paper rolls can be used to organize your extension cords, or, if you use a wood stove, can be stuffed with old newspaper and used for a fire starter.
• Reuse Sunday Comics for wrapping paper.  
• Baby jars are great for organizing things like nails, screws, tacks, spices, or seeds.
• Tires: everybody loves a tire swing.
• Got an old pair of sneakers? You can send them to Nike and they will reuse them to create sports fields (www.nikereuseashoe.com).