10 Great Ways To Reuse Takeout Containers
We love reusing things! It’s so important to get the most use out of everything we have so we can create less waste. Last year I shared 26 ways we can reuse glass jars and today it’s all about takeout containers.
Before you toss your takeout containers directly into the recycle bin, try giving them a second chance at life! A lot of these suggestions can be used for other plastic containers as well, so I hope you’re inspired to reuse everything from takeout containers to margarine tubs.
Inspiration for Reusing Takeout Containers
This post was inspired by Boomer Eco Crusader‘s post about How to Enjoy Takeout Without Destroying the Planet. I love Michelle’s ideas on reducing waste from takeout and it got me thinking on what to do if I do end up with plastic takeout containers at home.
Here are 10 different ways you can reuse your takeout containers at home:
1. Food Storage
Whether it’s freezing leftovers for the future or keeping leftovers in the fridge, takeout containers are perfect for food storage–obviously!
2. Sending Leftovers Home with Visitors
Takeout containers are perfect for sending leftovers home with visitors. No need to worry about getting the container back or having precious Tupperware go missing, these containers are perfect for packing up food for guests.
3. Baking Gift Packages
Who doesn’t love getting homemade treats?! Takeout containers can be the perfect way to gift your baking to loved ones and neighbours. No need for them to worry about returning the container to you!
4. Organize Your Craft Supplies
Sort and store various craft items in your takeout containers. I love little sauce containers for small items like brads or beads.
5. Soap and Sponge Caddy for your Kitchen Sink
Sometimes containers are the perfect size! I use one of my containers from a long ago sushi order to hold my dish soap and other items by my kitchen sink. It keeps things tidy and keeps my counter dry.
6. Create Activity Packs for Road Trips
Crayons, notebooks, small toys, puzzles. Keep your kids entertained on road trips by creating to-go activity packs for them to explore.
7. Store Homemade Playdough
When I was a nanny, homemade playdough was a hit! Takeout containers are a perfect way to store this fun activity. They are not only an airtight storage to keep the playdough fresh, but are also larger and can store playdough creations.
Try making your own playdough with this recipe: Homemade Playdough Recipe
8. Mix and Keep Paint Colours
As a DIY-er and furniture refinisher, I often mix paint colours for my creations. It can be hard to find containers to do this in as I don’t want to destroy my good reusable ones, so takeout containers are a great option. (I also use margarine tubs for this too if you’re needing more options.)
9. Store Fasteners and Hardware
If I’m taking apart furniture or other items for DIY projects, I can end up with various pieces of hardware–screws, nails, washers, etc. Takeout containers can be great for storing items that you get without an original package.
10. Stationary Organizer
Sort your pens, felts, highlighters, crayons out into separate containers for easy access and organization. In general, takeout containers are great to reuse for various types of storage an organization.
What would you add to the list?
Do you reuse takeout containers or other containers around your home? What ways do you get creative reusing them?
Hopefully these single use plastics will soon be phased out with items that can be fully composted or that have a circular lifespan, but until then we can always give things a longer lease on life by reusing them.
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18 Comments
JamieAdStories
Great to see take away containers being reused.
A Sustainably Simple Life
Thanks Jamie! 🙂
Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader)
Thanks for linking to my post. I reuse all of my containers. My mother-in-law was complaining about the new cardboard packaging from Swiss Chalet. She said “at least you could reuse the old plastic containers.” True, but the problem is most people don’t and they go straight to landfill.
A Sustainably Simple Life
I have similar thoughts to your MIL’s sometimes, but totally agree with you. Just because I reuse the containers doesn’t mean most others will. We’re really lucky locally to have green waste bins that a lot of the soft cardboard-like takeout containers can go into, so they can completely avoid the landfill and even recycle facilities.
Anika
Great ideas! I don’t always like to reuse them for food so love that there are some other storage solutions here 🙂
A Sustainably Simple Life
Thanks Anika! I agree not all containers are meant to be reused for food 🙂
Fransic verso
This is amazing. I think everyone love homemade treats. We use these when we want to gift them as well. Thank you for sharing!
A Sustainably Simple Life
Thank you! And yes! You can’t go wrong with homemade treats 😉
Molly Transatlantic Notes
I really like the variety of ideas you guys have shared here; it just goes to show that there are multiple ways we can reuse items we commonly just throw away after one use. Thanks for this — great post!
A Sustainably Simple Life
Thank you Molly! 🙂
Jaya Avendel
Takeout containers are indeed wonderful organizers for things like office supplies, papers, countertop accessories, and craft supplies! Love your ideas for using them to give baked goods or leftovers home with people, as I am often reluctant to let people I might not see again for a while make off with a container I want back soon.
Thanks for sharing!
A Sustainably Simple Life
Thank you Jaya! 🙂
readandreviewit1
Ooh fab ideas here! I love reusing takeout containers for food storage, but I would never have thought of using them for activity packs – that’s such a lovely idea, and something I’m sure children would love too! Thanks for sharing 🙂
A Sustainably Simple Life
Thank you! 🙂
crystalsandcurls
These are fab ideas! I use plastic takeout containers for quite a lot in the garden – they make great seedling starters or propagation jars x
A Sustainably Simple Life
That’s a great idea, Mia! Thanks! 🙂
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