Do You Recycle Your Toilet Paper Rolls?

on April 2, 2009 at 6:00 AM

Woodpecker toilet paper roll craft via DLTK

Can you recycle toilet paper rolls? The moms over in the Green Organic Natural Simple Living group are discussing this right now. Some do, some don't, and some hadn't even thought about recycling them.

And, in case you're wondering, the answer is YES YES YES. You can recycle your toilet paper rolls with your other cardboard. You can also compost them. They can also be reused, as shown in the woodpecker craft above. Amazing huh?

Check out DLTK for lots more toilet paper roll crafts.

+++ What about you? What secret recyclables can you share with us?

About the author Sheri Reed

is a writer and the Entertainment, News & Sports editor for The Stir. She loves a good film, watches lots of good TV and follows Ryan Gosling's every move because she has to -- for work.

Filed Under: crafts, going green, green guide

Comments (10)

roachiesmom

on Apr 2, 2009 at 6:16 AM

Um, duh. But I recycle everything. If not conventionally in the blue bin for weekly pick up, then by making stuff into other stuff. I am an OCD recycler.

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jennmarie77

on Apr 2, 2009 at 10:07 AM

Oh good to know. I'll start throwing mine in the compost pile.

cafemama

on Apr 2, 2009 at 10:12 AM

I read somewhere that you can recycle Kleenex boxes despite them having the plastic flaps on top, so I've recently started adding them to my paper recycleables.

katydid1955

on Apr 2, 2009 at 7:58 PM

Make (just to look at) napkin rings from them. I cut to the appropriate size, paint some glue onto them and cover in cloth scraps of my choice. Nice to decorate your table with for certain holidays and events. Glue on bits of greenery, flowers, jewels, ribbons, etc. Use you imagination and have fun. :) Also you can let the kids decorate them, paint white, then decorate as you would your napkin rings, and glue each link together. Made my girls feel so special. I still do this with the grandchildren. Make a night of it, fix some hot chocolot and everyone join in. Free Fun. Your children won't remember what you bought for them, the things they will always remember, is the things you personally did with them. :) Another use is, if you garden, cut collars from them (links) and put them around your new baby plants, placeing a bit of the collar into the soil. Makes those cutworms so mad. LOL

Lynette

on Apr 2, 2009 at 10:39 PM

ANYTHING kept in your bathroom is contaminated just by being there. (Even your toothbrushes.) Every time you flush the toilet the spray causes microscopic germs to fly up into the air and be redistributed onto anything in the vicinity of the bathroom. You could be risking people getting E. Coli, influenza or staph among the many germs that can be spread easily. Please use an empty paper towel roll or gift wrap roll for crafts. If you insist on using toilet paper rolls than put them in the oven at 200 degrees for about 5 minutes before crafting(watch them closely)

Azanne

on Apr 6, 2009 at 6:55 PM

i use the rolls in toliete paper and paper napkins to make crocheted candles

twin_mommy

on Apr 6, 2009 at 8:25 PM

Thanks lynette for sharing. A way to decrease the spread of bacteria, is to close the lid before flushing

scrappnmomma

on Oct 27, 2009 at 4:42 AM

I use them to stuff socks in, or anything that will fit and wrap paper around them..bday or Christmas.and I'm not worried about getting some germs off the empty toilet paper rolls.i reused them since i was a kid..and I'm now a old gal.. hell we eat a peck a dirty (at least) before we die!! I feel, many times we go way over the top..don't use this, don't eat that, don't drink this, don't...don't.....don't... Not saying we don't need to be careful..But it's life, we need to live it, enjoy and yes even at times get dirty..I grew up poor, I'm the oldest of 7 siblings..we had to make it from day to day,lack of food, lights,and many things we take for granted in our everyday lives.there were times we had to go to bed (mattress on the floor) without baths/showers..because we didn't have running water.many told us we end up sick & die because we didn't live life, like many did.. well I'm still here & kicking and so are my siblings.( except 1 brother)... SO USE THE TOILET PAPER ROLLS,AND HAVE FUN DOING SO!! There so much worse to worry about,then getting Germs off of Empty Toilet Paper Rolls!!