Ecologue

Wastehacks [wāst-haks] pl. noun – any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method that reduces waste in all walks of life.

This term, Campus Recycling and the Waste Watchers will share with you easy Wastehacks so you don’t waste time or materials.

WasteHacks for Repair

Repairing broken items has become something of a niche skill in today’s society. However, many broken items which we toss out are actually able to be fixed, provided they receive a little love and attention. Here’s a few ideas for commonly broken items that will save you money:

• While tears in jeans may be a fashion statement, fix unwanted tears with patches. Use old jeans for the material!
• Extend the life of your holey socks with just a little thread by darning.
• Bathroom sink clogged? Drains are usually a lot easier to fix than you might think. Try out these methods before resorting to a plumber or intense chemicals.
• Fixing a flat tire can be done in only a few minutes. For other bike repair, the Dixon Rec. Center is a great resource for students.
• Never get stuck on a zipper again.
• Lost your manual? Most manuals can be found online by searching for the item’s model number.
• Be prepared for repair by building your own DIY toolkit.
• Most importantly, don’t be afraid to take something apart. A little tinkering could go a long way.

There are many resources available to your disposal. A quick internet search and some tools can often save you a lot of money.

Have your own repair tricks? Comment below!

“Wastehacks” is a weekly blog series where we share quick waste reduction tips. Tune in every Monday this term for more.