How to turn an empty glass food jar into something you’ll actually use

Recently, my family and I have made a more concerted effort to recycle and reuse household items. We’re keeping soda top tabs to donate, collecting aluminum cans to recycle, and even putting old magazines to good use.  “There are many items in our households that can be recycled, including appliances, cars, lead acid batteries, copper, brass, stainless steel, electronics, cardboard, and glass,” says Birmingham-based Patrick Nappi, General Manager of SA Recycling. 

One item in particular bothered me each time I tossed it in the trash: glass jelly jars, pickle jars, caper jars, and more grocery glass food jars come into our homes regularly with groceries. I knew there had to be a better way than just throwing them in the trash, where they would most likely end up in a landfill. I wanted to reuse these jars, but I didn’t have a use in mind. “Glass can be infinitely recycled without losing quality!” shares Franziska Trautmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Glass Half Full in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Turns out I found just the right way to reuse these readily available glass jars.

Don’t Toss Them

First, I began keeping the jars after using their contents and avoided putting them in the trash. I vowed to discover a way to reuse them. Nappi explains that if you reuse household items first, you reduce the need to manufacture them from raw materials. “It is better for the environment to recycle glass, metal, and cardboard as opposed to mining for new raw materials, and it conserves natural resources, saves energy, reduces pollution and greenhouse gases,” he says. I knew it was important to recycle, but I knew I needed a purpose for these jars. The last thing I needed was a cluttered cabinet shelf full of unused glass jars. 

There is value in reusing or repurposing glass and other household materials, so I knew I wanted to find a purpose for the glassware. “Recycling or reusing in general cuts down on landfill waste and boosts our economy since it costs much more to mine for the raw materials,” says Nappi. On a smaller scale within a household budget, if you use an item you have, you don’t have to purchase it. This method is more cost-effective in the long run. In short, reusing is one of the best ways to save money and recycle. 

So this had me thinking about the countless glass pickle, jelly, and caper jars my family and I use. Trautmann explains that glass can be recycled without loss of quality, which is precisely why it should never end up in a landfill when it can be reused, recycled, or repurposed.  “I love to use bottles as flower vases or propagation bottles for plants,” shares Trautmann. With the many shapes and sizes of all the jars that come into our home with just groceries, I knew I had just the right item for a whimsical tablescape of flower arrangements in glass jars when hosting book club, or a small flower arrangement as a gift for the hostess. 

Clean It

Although it takes a bit of work to clean the jar initially, it’s worth the effort and can even save you a trip to the store if you need a vase. Begin by cleaning the inside of the jar and removing the label. While many food jars have removable labels, the sticky labels can sometimes be a challenge to coax off. Add a bit of dish soap to a warm-water sink bath, let the jar soak, then scrub it. Chances are the label will scrub right off with a decent sponge. Repeat the process a few times if needed until it’s clean. Then allow it to air dry. Store them under your kitchen sink, on a shelf in your pantry, or place them in your cup cabinet to use for a glass of water 

Reuse It

After the jar is clean, reuse it. One of my favorite ways to repurpose glass jars is to add a small arrangement of flowers. While it might seem easier to have vases on hand for arrangements, chances are you don’t want to give away all your flower and bud vases. That makes a reused glass jar a practical alternative. 

A glass jar with a small arrangement of flowers is a gift that can be given again and again. So the next time you empty the pasta sauce jar or use the last of the honey, consider keeping the jar rather than tossing it in the trash. Add a small flower arrangement and give it away. Chances are, the recipient will love the gesture and might be inspired to keep their own jars and do the same.

Read the original article on Southern Living