29 Creative Ways To Give Kitchen Trash A Second Life

Meal planning and smart shopping can reduce food waste—kitchen hacks for extending the lifespan of fresh food help, too. But what about the peels, stems, and wrappings we throw away without a second thought? Well, those can be upcycled, too!

01. Coffee Grounds

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Once a week, mix grounds in your conditioner for smoother, shinier hair.
Sprinkle damp grounds in your fireplace to reduce flyaway dust while cleaning.
A bowl full of grounds in the fridge will eliminate nasty odors.
Mix grounds with coconut oil for an effective facial exfoliator.

02. Celery And Lettuce Stumps

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Both of these delicious foods can be regrown from their stumps. Just add water!

03. Sprouted Potatoes

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White and sweet potatoes with sprouted eyes can be planted in soil (or water!) to regrow new veggies.

04. Egg Cartons

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These oddly shaped containers have many uses: they can keep ornaments safe, store golf balls, start herb seeds, and serve as disposable paint pots for little ones.

05. Citrus Peels

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Add fresh peels to smoothies for extra fiber and nutrients.
Insects hate citrus. Chop and place around the house and garden as a deterrent.
Put them down the garbage disposal to deodorize the drain.
Put peels in a bag of brown sugar and store them in the fridge to keep them soft.
Dry, grind up, and mix with salt or pepper for DIY lemon seasoning.

06. Milk Or Juice Carton

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These wax-covered cartons are hard to recycle, so why not make a little birdhouse?
Cut the bottom half off and use as a planter.
Transform it into a piggy bank.
Reseal with tape and use as building blocks.

07. Onion And Garlic Skins

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Did you know onion and garlic skins hold more nutrients than the flesh? Get the most from these aromatics by using them to make homemade soup stock.

08. Watermelon Rinds

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Watermelon rinds can be made into delicious preserves as well as pickles.
Rubbing watermelon rinds on your skin can also help clear up acne.

09. Celery Leaves

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Eat them just like you would celery! Add the tops to soups, stews, or smoothies, or use them as an edible garnish.

10. Banana Peels

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Wrap banana peels around tomato plant stalks for fertilizer.
Sprinkle chopped-up peels throughout the garden as a pest deterrent.
Rub them on your skin to relieve the itch of rashes, psoriasis, and insect bites.
Add them to the roasting pan to keep boneless meats from drying out.
Rub the pithy side on shoes and silver to polish naturally!

11. Broccoli Stalks And Leaves

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Eat them! Raw, chopped stalks make a great addition to fresh salads, while the leaves can be cooked and eaten like cabbage.

12. Scallion (Green Onion) Stubs

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Kitchen hacks: These can quickly be regrown in a jar of water. Snip just the tops for an endless supply!

13. Butter Wrappers

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The little butter clinging to the wrapper greases your baking pans! Just fold and keep in the fridge until needed.

14. Wine Corks

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Use them as tiny succulent planters.
Glue many together for a DIY corkboard. Or bathmat.
With a bit of shaping, you can also combine it into coasters.
Add a hook and ring on the end for a neat, upcycled keychain.

15. Kale Stems

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Pickle them.
Add to smoothies or juice for added nutrients and fiber.
Dry them, grind them up, and combine them with salt for a unique seasoning.

16. Apple Peels

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Dried apple peels can be used to make a delicious autumn tea.
The acidity in apple peels can remove stains from aluminum pots and pans.
Place fresh apple peels over your eyes for 5-10 min. to reduce dark circles.

17. Almond Pulp

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If you’ve been making almond milk, you may have wondered what to do with all the leftover pulp. Spread out in a thin layer and allow to dry. Then grind into almond flour for gluten-free baking! Additional ideas are at the link below.

18. Pineapple Tops

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It’s true! With patience, you can regrow a pineapple from the crown, which is typically discarded even if you don’t live in the tropics.

19. Fruit And Veggie Pulp

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The produce of fresh, homemade juice contains lots of pulp. Please don’t throw it away!
Mix it into smoothies for added nutrients.
Use it to make delicious breads.
Spread and bake into Raw Juicer Pulp Crackers.
Mix it into batter for savory dinner pancakes.

20. Coffee Filters

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Use damp coffee filters to shine your shoes.
Cut and use as emergency muffin tin liners.
Rinsed and dried coffee filters can be used as dust wipes.
Dry and use as DIY facial oil blotters.

21. Egg Shells

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Crumble and mix with gardening soil for added calcium.
Add to the bottom of potted plants that need extra drainage.
Grind and add to pet food as a calcium supplement.
Add finely eggshell powder to your coffee filter to make cheap coffee less bitter.

22. Meat Bones

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Kitchen hacks: Steep in a crockpot overnight for delicious homemade broth full of healing nutrients.

23. Pickle Juice

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When the last pickle is eaten, refill the jar with fresh-cut veggies and wait a few days. Instant pickles!

24. Mesh Fruit Sacks

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Kitchen hacks: With a few tweaks, these mesh sacks become DIY pot scrubbers.

25. Paper Towel Rolls

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These rolls have a plethora of uses around the house. The cord organizer happens to be my favorite!

26. Parmesan Cheese Container

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Wash and dry these containers, then fill them with any seasoning or product (like Borax or baking soda) that must be sprinkled.

27. Onion Or Potato Sacks

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Use it as a unique gift wrapping, a sack for kids’ toys (like blocks), or a DIY laundry bag.

28. Apple Cores

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These and other fruit cores/rinds can make delicious fruit scrap vinegar. The recipe is in the link.

29. Carrot Tops

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Add to soup or stew.
Blend the greens into homemade pesto.
And yes, you can even regrow them from the stumps!

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