For example, I saved a bunch of these small cardboard sheets that were separating the rows of cans in a box of cat food.
Add some glue and you have a little tent for your cat.
old cables. because YOU NEVER KNOW
And save every cable tie ever, just in case
They go into a nice heap right next to the rat nest.
Oh my god I got rid of like 5 cables like four fucking years ago and now EVERY SINGLE TIME we’re missing a cable in the house it’s “ah you threw all those cables out!”
Those examples are not garbage, they are clean materials that can be repurposed. It is the second step in Reduce > Reuse > Recycle!
For years I’ve desoldered components from electronics that are destined for recycling/trash. I haven’t needed them more than a few times but it’s redeeming when I need a specific thing I’ve never needed before and can pick one out of my component box rather than buying a pack of 100 and never use 99 of them.
Tiny momentary SPST switches are definitely the most common thing I use from the bin but I’ve also reused some LEDs, capacitors, and resistors.
As someone who just finished a small electronic project where I couldn’t find the perfect switches to save my life, I’ve sworn to save every switch I run across from now on
I have a desoldering project in the works with some old boards because the buttons on then are amazing
I used to do that too when I was still in school. Now I have a box of old capacitors and transistors with the wires broken off.
I keep the reddit app saved on my phone just in case
How often do you click on it just to see what happens?
That’s a cool cat tent
Thanks
My “weirdest” would be used face masks. The little metal bit for the bridge of your nose works for tidying up cords like a twist tie. The ear loops work good for zipper pulls and tying up items that need held together. The mask itself works great for checking my car’s oil, dusting the car dash, cleaning up a minor spill, etc. Is it gross I do this? Perhaps. Has it served me well? Definitely.
Eh, leave them in the sun for an hour or so before storage and it’s fine.
Oh, neat idea! RIP to all my masks!
Unless it’s literal trash I’m saving it. I’m quite DIY minded person so I often also use those things for my projects.
This is a hoarders thread but it’s ok cause me too lol
Old consumer electronics. Good to practice reflashing on old phones or tablets, if you brick one, it was trash anyway. Sometimes you can pull useful components off old computer boards.
Trinket goblin reporting! I save tons of different little things and stuff for a while, then one day, for no apparent reason I get overwhelmed and throw away everything( or donate or whatever) Cereal boxes are great to paint gouache so I cut them up and use them as needed. Embroidery floss and yarn scraps are great stuffers for small amigurumi. Electrical wire can be used sometimes for kumihimo. Empty glass jars are my doom, I collect them all.
I keep an entire truck in my back yard, because ya know, one day….
Metal scrap. I toss it in the old refinery and voila! Iron ingots
That’s cool. I used to have a homemade furnace that I used to melt aluminum. But the crucible sprung a leak and the metal reached the blower and I just kinda lost interest before I could get a replacement.
Sounds hot
If I keep it, it’s not a garbage.
Plus, reusing something is the second step in Reduce > Reuse > Recycle.
Adam Savage has entered the chat
