I dislike throwing things away. I do like de-cluttering, but I also like reusing as much as I can, especially if a product I buy semi-regularly comes in packaging that can clearly be reused in myriad ways.
Exhibit A: The Trader Joe's Coffee Canister
This well-made container has a hard cardboard shell, and a metal bottom. It is rugged and sturdy with a plastic lid that seals, and I would feel awful throwing it into the trash. To date, I have mostly used these cans at the library when I needed a can for people to leave responses in (interactive displays are the best!). Since the label is just paper, I took it off, made a pretty wordle picture and put that on instead.
The problem now is that I have four empties and no idea when else to do with them. BF is accusing me of hoarding, but I just don't know what else to do with them! There's got to be something.
Exhibit B: The Nuun container
Nuun is a fizzy vitamin supplement similar to Emergen-C though it mostly is supposed to help with hydration. It comes in a variety of flavors, and I like to start the day out with one because the fizz makes it a little bit filling, and it perks me up. The problem with this stuff is that it comes in hard plastic, watertight tubes.
That makes these perfect for the gal on the go, but what to do with the empties? It says right on the bottle--"Reuse your Bottle", but there's no way, that I've found, to buy this stuff in bulk and put it back into the empty bottles. What to do!?!
Thankfully, these are smaller and easier to hide than the coffee cans, but I was lamenting the other day to BF what I should do about these containers, and he looked at me like I'm deranged. The funny thing, he hoards actual stuff--clothes from forever ago, books from college, etc.; whereas I hoard packaging--boxes and assorted other containers that I know will come in handy some day.
So I turn to my clever readers. The Frugal Girl, a while back, asked for suggestions as to what to do with those crates that clementines come in, so I'm asking what in the world you can think of for me to do with these nuun and coffee containers.
Exhibit A: The Trader Joe's Coffee Canister
This well-made container has a hard cardboard shell, and a metal bottom. It is rugged and sturdy with a plastic lid that seals, and I would feel awful throwing it into the trash. To date, I have mostly used these cans at the library when I needed a can for people to leave responses in (interactive displays are the best!). Since the label is just paper, I took it off, made a pretty wordle picture and put that on instead.
The problem now is that I have four empties and no idea when else to do with them. BF is accusing me of hoarding, but I just don't know what else to do with them! There's got to be something.
Exhibit B: The Nuun container
Nuun is a fizzy vitamin supplement similar to Emergen-C though it mostly is supposed to help with hydration. It comes in a variety of flavors, and I like to start the day out with one because the fizz makes it a little bit filling, and it perks me up. The problem with this stuff is that it comes in hard plastic, watertight tubes.
That makes these perfect for the gal on the go, but what to do with the empties? It says right on the bottle--"Reuse your Bottle", but there's no way, that I've found, to buy this stuff in bulk and put it back into the empty bottles. What to do!?!
Thankfully, these are smaller and easier to hide than the coffee cans, but I was lamenting the other day to BF what I should do about these containers, and he looked at me like I'm deranged. The funny thing, he hoards actual stuff--clothes from forever ago, books from college, etc.; whereas I hoard packaging--boxes and assorted other containers that I know will come in handy some day.
So I turn to my clever readers. The Frugal Girl, a while back, asked for suggestions as to what to do with those crates that clementines come in, so I'm asking what in the world you can think of for me to do with these nuun and coffee containers.
If you buy coffee in bulk, you can put some in the container and the rest in the freezer.
ReplyDeleteIf you buy Tums in bulk, you can use the nunn containers to have a supply at work, in the car, and any other strategic place you might need them.
Coffee container can also be a less conspicuous place to put some bathroom items rather than have them slop around under the sink or in a drawer, although the metal bottom might be problematic.
That's all I got.
I miss all metal coffee cans. You can use this one as a pot for a tomato plant or pepper plant, then set it in the window.
ReplyDeleteDo you have kids? If so, throw the canisters in a craft box with some cardboard and markers and ask them to make presents for family birthdays.
ReplyDeleteThe Nuun containers would be great for
ReplyDelete= collecting coins for the laundromat, toll booths, donation time (I put aside pennies & nickels for Christmas kettle and Labor Day firemen "Fill the Boot" contributions).
= portable sewing kit (needles threaded w. white, black & red thread, safety pins)
= on-the-go first aid kit (small & large bandaids, pain reliever tablets (in a small ziploc or sealed in plastic, moleskin, safety pin)
= keeping tampons from rolling around loose in your purse, tote or gym bag.
The coffee canister can double as a yarn dispenser for knitting/crochet (w. smoothed hole in its lid), carryall for needlework project (keep instructions, threads/yarn, needles, scissors & canvas together), collector for beer bottle tops so they all get into the metal recycling bin, plastic grocery bag stash for those super-messy messes.
When my kids were little, we covered oatmeal boxes (similar to these coffee tins) with adhesive wrap & used them to store small blocks, puzzles (1 per canister), counting toys, markers, etc. Local day care or Mother's Day Out programs might want these canisters to use this way.
**Katy M
Recommending YA books beyond the bestsellers at
http://BooksYALove.blogspot.com
Follow me on Twitter @BooksYALove
Katy M had all of my ideas. Did you ever write to Nunn and ask them to please start selling in bulk so that you can reuse your Nunn canisters?
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you can drill a hole in the Nunn top so that you can attach it to your key ring, you could always use it to hold a shopping list and the coupons you could use.
MaryB
marynate.blogspot.com
@Katie--no kids myself, but I might check with the children's librarian and see if she can come up with anything.
ReplyDelete@Katy--you're amazing! Thanks for the awesome suggestions
@Mary--I emailed them and I'll let you guys know what comes of it.
They responded in less than an hour! I love these guys! Here are the suggestions from nuun:
ReplyDeleteThanks for your note. As you can probably imagine, we've amassed quite a collection as well! :-)
Many people reuse them in different ways, such as:
Pill holder
Jewelry holder for a larger bag
Waterproof TP holder for hiking (yes, it's true!)
Organizers for hobby parts (fly fishing, beading, etc)
We have looked into bulk packaging and continue to, however it's a bit of a challenge to maintain the integrity and quality of the tabs when they can move around. That said, we know how important it is to our consumers so we continue to look for ways to be even more environmentally friendly.
Thanks again,
Wendy
I love Katie M.'s ideas! I have been using Nuun for a couple of years and how funny - but I have an old oatmeal container that I use to hold all the empty nuun bottles in hope that I will find something very useful for them. I'm a box/container hoarder! My mom used cereal boxes cut in half to organize things when I was little and I love the recycle idea! Looks like I've got some projects to do for Christmas this year!
ReplyDeleteKathee R.
I love Katie M.'s ideas! I have been using Nuun for a couple of years and how funny - but I have an old oatmeal container that I use to hold all the empty nuun bottles in hope that I will find something very useful for them. I'm a box/container hoarder! My mom used cereal boxes cut in half to organize things when I was little and I love the recycle idea! Looks like I've got some projects to do for Christmas this year!
ReplyDeleteKathee R.