Eco-Friendly Ways to Reuse Egg Cartons

Did you ever feel guilty throwing away your used egg cartons? Most egg cartons have the recycle symbol on the packaging but because the packages are so large and take up so much space, I always feel guilty discarding them. I've compiled some unique eco-friendly ideas for re-using egg cartons. Here are some ways to "go green".

The most obvious way to reduce egg carton waste is to buy your eggs from a local farm. Farm owners usually appreciate it if customers bring their own egg cartons or you can give your used cartons to the farm to give to other customers. Besides reducing waste, you're gaining the health benefits of eating fresh eggs and supporting a local business.

Egg carton uses which involve nature are bountiful. You can start seedlings by cutting off the lid of the box, filling each cup with potting soil, and planting your seeds. Once the seedlings sprout, cut apart each cup from the tray and plant it (you can plant the cup too). A bird feeder can be crafted by cutting off the lid and stringing a thread through the holes in each corner of the tray. Then fill each cup half way with birdseed and hang it in your tree.

If your kids have a worm farm, your can feed paper egg carton pieces to the worms. Tear up the cartons and mix in with the soil in the worm farm. If the soil is too moist, add some dry pieces of carton. If the soil is too dry, moisten them with water first.

There are many ways to use your recycled egg cartons around the house. Foam cartons can double as ice cube trays (don't try with paper cartons). The top of the egg carton can be used to make a large piece of ice to use in a punch bowl.

Junk drawers will become organized using the bottom tray part as tiny compartments which line the bottom of your drawer or use the entire carton as a jewelry box. To make the jewelry box more decorative, paint it or wrap it with decorative paper first. At Christmastime, egg cartons make a great holder for those small 4-watt light bulbs and small ornaments.