Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ah, so I'm glad you stopped by this thread. I'd like to make as big of a list as possible here, with a bunch of items that can be reused as something useful if they cannot be recycled! (or if you're too cool to recycle).
Ok, so let's start off with:

Gallon jugs/Half-Gallon Jugs
Milk jugs are by far one of the most space consuming plastic items at the dump these days. And what's even worse is that they do not degrade in the garbage...at least that's what scientists say. This poses a huge problem to the environment of course, and so we must do our best to reuse and recycle these evil items. Here are some ideas for creating a useful item out of a previously useless jug!
1. Turn those empty milk or water jugs into watering cans! You can decorate them with permanent markers to make them more attractive. Punch holes with a screwdriver into the part of the jug on the opposite side of the handle and voila! Fill the container from the top with water and close it with the jug lid.
2. You can also reuse jugs by turning them into bird feeders. Use your imagination with creating any style of bird feeder..as long as it contains the seeds well and has holes where the birds can pick at easily then you've done a successful job.
3. Growing seeds in a milk jug isn't a bad idea at all. Cut out the bottom about 4 inches up and punch holes underneath for drainage. Add soil and sow your seeds.
4. Cutting out triangular shapes from the jug's side and labeling them with Sharpie can create long lasting plant markers.
5. Cutting out the bottoms of these containers could also make great watering bowls for dogs or water holes for froggies.
6. Jugs can be used as floaties when teaching kids how to swim. All you need to do is keep the cap on. If you fill the jugs with sand or water you can make a weight which can serve as a doorstop and to keep tarps from flying off the grill/car/whatever.
7. Cut off the bottoms of the jugs, poke holes in the underside, and use the "tray" as a potted plant saucer.
8. But off the top of a milk container, fill 2-3 inches with sand, and place a votive candle to light at night. These can be placed outside to make lighted walkways.
9. The tops of milk containers make great funnels, just cut away the bottoms.
10. A gallon milk jug can also be turned into a dustpan. Set the jug, handle side up, on a table and cut the top off at an angle, leaving the bottom as a flat dustpan.
11. For weather proof Jack-O-Lanterns, paint faces on milk jugs and stick a flashlight inside (do not use candles!).
12. A dryer linter holder. Place a jug with a hole cut out of the side in the laundry room. Each time you empty your lint trap, place the dryer lint into your plastic jug.
13. How about beach or snow toys? Cut a jug in half. One side is a scoop, and the other side is a bucket or sand mold. It can work for snow, too.
14. If you're still in knitting, this is a good one. Cut off the top of a jug to the point where a skein or ball of yarn can fit through. Place the yarn inside. Pull the end of the yarn through the handle. When you’re working with the yarn, it won’t get tangled. If you have a cat, this holder is kitty-proof.
15. A Halloween candy container is nice too. Just cut off the top and fill the bottom with candy to leave outside, or even to hold when kids come knocking at your door.
16. Grey water is water that has already been used, such as the water after you've washed dishes or run a load of laundry or bathing. Cut off the top of a container and scoop your grey water from the sink or bathtub into the container. Later you can use that water to hydrate your plants.
17. If you happen to open a bag of ant kill and the bag rips, you can always
pour the contents into a plastic jug for storage.

Sources: a couple of months of idea collecting.

Glass Jars
Glass jars have been around for many centuries, way before plastics were even invented. They are a clean way to store foods as they do not release any toxic chemicals when melted down (unless something synthetic was added to them!). Although a little more brittle than plastics, glass jars are just as usable as any other kind of jar. They hold jellies, pickles, pasta sauce, mushrooms...a lot of different things. So, if you do not plan on recycling these things, why not put them to work?
1. Cups! Yes, jars can be used once washed out. Remove the paper labeling and tada! Not a bad idea, eh?
2. When making your own sauce concoctions, instead of going out and buying special containers for it you can always, always, always just pour it into a old glass jar.
3. Great for storing spices!!
4. Tiny nick-nacks such as buttons, marbles, coins, and jewelry pieces will find a happy home within the depths of a glass jar.
5. Make a unique candle holder! Just line the bottom of the jar with aluminum foil or sand and place the candle inside.
6. I use a small glass jar to hold my pencils and pens in! They can also hold bottles of paint and paint brushes. If you're even more ambitious you can pour the paint directly into the glass jar and then recycle the plastic bottle : D
7. You can store your leftover food in them. This is a really encouraged idea since there are no toxins from glass will leech into your leftover foods, like plastic containers do (YUCK!)
8. Glass jars as great for on-the-go ice cream containers! Just fill with the desired amount and stick in the fridge. Grab on your way to work for a great and sweet start of the day!
9. Instant vases or starting seeds or plant clippings/sprouts are great ideas too!
10. If you like to be creative, paint the jars and arrange them in a garden to make then look like stained glass works!

Sources: Collecting ideas over the months.

Heehee, that's not all of it! I'll be adding more soon!

Styrofoam Cups/Plates/Containers
Ahhh...the pesky little styrofoam containers. I'm pretty sure you know what I'm talking about. The second next on the list to "non-recyclable" or "will not accept for recycling", these kind of items are hard to get rid of. Plus, they can cause health issues for both humans (for info on this...CLICK! ) and the planet. I've researched on tons of websites and found that you cannot burn away styrofoam because it's not made of organic materials..it will only melt. Besides! Burning styrofoam releases a whole list of harmful, cancer causing gases that you don't want to be near.
So, how do we reuse such items to our advantage? There really isn't a way. I'm going to list off a couple of websites for ways to reuse styrofoam cup, plates, packaging, and containers. Also, I'm going to list a bunch of websites that tell you why scientists advise NOT to reuse such items.

1. Dangers of Reusing Styrofoam Cups
2. How Do I Reuse It?
3. How May I Reuse This?
4. A PDF Containing Everything...Is Reusing Food Containers Safe?

Well, you certainly want to avoid using styrofoam as drainage when it comes to veggie plants. Definitely, the chemicals in the plastic could effect that. But if you're trying to start a nice annual plant or just a potted plant in general it is nice to fill HALF of the pot with styrofoam (on the bottom, of course) and the rest with dirt. I learned from a master gardener that styrofoam makes great drainage and it makes the pot ten times lighter for when you're lugging it around. I wouldn't mix the styrofoam into the soil, that would be a little precarious. But yes, you should avoid styrofoam with any plant bearing fruit that you may eat and stick with just the pretty flowers, bushes, shrubs, ect.