Since designing my own upcycling logo a few days ago. (See previous post.) I have been thinking about how to look at my garbage in a new way. My logo has two arrows heading in a new direction from the traditional recycling loop and it has caused me to think that there might be at least two alternate second lives for some of my trash. My challenge for myself is to ask are there two other uses for this item in my hand that I am about to throw away? I am exempting a few items like used kleenex and paper towels but I at least want to contemplate the item that I am throwing away before I actually toss it.
My first successful item is coffee grounds. Right now I am storing them in a mixing bowl under my kitchen sink but I am anxious to finish off the milk in my fridge so I can re-purpose the gallon jug as a new coffee ground receptacle. My two new uses for coffee grounds are:
1) Fertilizer for my garden and house plants.
2) Coffee / Chocolate Body Scrub. Yes seriously. Here is the link Coffee Body Scrub.
I haven't used the coffee grounds for fertilizer yet but I did try the body scrub. While I don't think it made me look ten years younger or anything I do have to say it felt pretty good and left my skin feeling soft and firm. It is messy and my bath tub was a little slippery afterwards but I will definitely do it again.
Here are a few links for additional uses for used coffee grounds.
Cocoajava - Fun things to do with your coffee grounds.
Joey Green's - Wacky Uses for Maxwell House Coffee
If you are a coffee drinker and you are interested in the whole recycling / upcycling movement you should be able to find at least one way to reuse your old coffee grounds.
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