Reusing tips

When you reuse a product, you are giving it a new lease of life. That's why, before you get rid of something, it is important to consider whether you can find a new use for it or whether it might be useful for someone else. By doing this, you will be helping the environment and our economy.

Here are some reusing tips that will help you prolong the life cycle of your things and products:

  1. DON'T BUY SINGLE-USE PRODUCTS
    Single-use items such as plastic bags, disposable cutlery and plates and plastic straws have such a short lifespan that they aren’t worth the time and effort that went into their manufacture. If we use alternative products such as fabric bags and metal cutlery and straws, we can reuse them as many times as we wish and reduce the amount of waste we generate.
  2. REPAIR DAMAGED OBJECTS
    We are often tempted to throw away objects that have broken or which have stopped working, even if they are completely repairable. Most of the time, repairing the item in question is quicker and cheaper than buying a new one.
    Consult the various repair projects that Barcelona City Council is currently working on.
  3. DONATE THINGS THAT YOU NO LONGER NEED
    Before throwing away something that you no longer need, consider whether it might be useful for someone else. Clothes, furniture, toys and books are some examples of things that could be donated to people who need them.
  4. BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO OLD OBJECTS
    Objects such as clothing and furniture were created in line with the trends of the time. You don't need to throw them away once they start to look dated. Instead, you can modify them to give them a fresh look. Painting, dyeing or customising them to change their appearance or purpose can be a very creative activity that the whole family can get involved in.
  5. BUY IN SECOND HAND SHOPS
    Certain objects that are no longer useful for other people might be very useful for you. Second hand shops are full of interesting objects at very reasonable prices.
  6. REUSE BOXES AND JARS
    Cardboard boxes and empty glass jars are two objects that can be used to organise your wardrobe or pantry. You can use them to store any kind of object or product as many times as you like.
  7. USE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES
    Disposable batteries have a very short lifespan and contain elements that are highly polluting to the environment. Rechargeable batteries can be used over and over again, and do not generate as much waste as standard batteries.
  8. SE REFILLABLE PENS AND STATIONARY
    When the ink cartridge runs out, don’t throw it away. You can refill it and use it over and over again.
  9. USE BOTH SIDES OF THE PAPER
    Save used sheets of paper to write down notes, drafts, etc., before recycling them. When you need to print a document, use both sides of the sheet.
  10. WRAP GIFTS IN NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES
    Wrapping paper is a product with a very short useful life. If you use old newspapers and magazines or reuse old wrapping paper, you will be giving these products a new lease of life and will manage to achieve creative and highly original designs.
  11. USE WASTE-FREE INTIMATE HYGIENE PRODUCTS
    Use menstrual cups, period pants, reusable pads, etc., instead of tampons or disposable pads. You’ll generate much less waste and save money in the process.
  12. COMPOST YOUR ORGANIC WASTE
    La matèria orgànica que generem es pot convertir amb compost de gran qualitat per a les nostres plantes i flors. Si no tens espai a casa i desitges fer compost dels teusThe organic waste that we generate can be converted into high quality compost that can be used for our plants and flowers. If you don't have space at home and would like to compost your waste, Barcelona City Council has a community composting network.