How to Reuse Paper Rolls

Got lots of paper paper towels or toilet paper rolls hanging around? The great thing about these is that they are naturally recyclable.  However, there are a few other ways you can use them more efficiently instead of just taking them down to the recycling plant.

#1 – Seedling pots – rather than buying expensive pots for your seedlings use your old paper rolls. Cut paper towel ones into four pieces and toilet ones into two, then fold the bottom part to hold the soil. Add the soil and plant your seeds. Once your seedlings are ready to go into the ground simply plant the whole paper roll and it will biodegrade. This means you also won’t disturb the delicate roots of your new plants.

#2 – Crafts! – Kids love making arts and crafts and paper rolls are ideal for this. Always have a few saved for quick and fun projects such as:

Maracas: Fold the bottom of the toilet paper roll over and staple a few times. Fill with dry beans and then tape on a round cardboard top. Decorate and you have homemade maracas.

Puppets: Glue a popsicle stickle to the bottom of the toilet paper roll (this will be your handle) then decorate the roll with funny faces. Add some hair by sticking feathers or your own paper made design to the inner top of the roll. For extra fun add a few googly eyes.

Cars: Cut a paper towel roll in fours and you have four wheels. Now make a square car by gluing on four toilet rolls to the wheels. Decorate and you’re set to start racing!

Paper chains: Cut the rolls into small sections and decorate in a variety of colors. Then tie your mini-rolls together with raffia string for a lovely homemade and recyclable paper chain.

#3 – Wildlife pots – If you’d like to attract wildlife into your garden paper rolls are a great biodegradable option. Fill with nuts and seeds and place amongst a pile of leaves to bring hedgehogs and lots of bugs and insects into the garden.

You can also insert a string from the top of it and hang it hidden in a tree. Fill it with bird seeds to attract the birds.

Get creative with your old paper rolls and you’ll soon find many ways of using them!