3.4million tonnes of waste every year ends up in landfills. But what is waste - Isit all rubbish, or just things we just want out of our homes and offices whichwe don't have a use for anymore?

Don't think trash, think treasure - think of what something has the potentialto be rather than just another item in your rubbish bin. Here at DonateNZ we'vecome up with a few ideas of things anyone could begin to save to donate whichwill cost nothing for you to lose.

TYPICAL "WASTE" ITEMS

• Greeting cards - Don't chuck these in the bin. Why not remove the message side and then these can be used by kids to make new cards or artworks. You could also use a nice one as a bookmark, or even recreate your own card with new photographs or drawings.

• Foil wrappers from sweets - Foil wrappers can be used for a huge variety of artworks such as collage and scrapbooking. Why not set a box aside for them in your cupboard! Imagine the smiles when they get a huge assortment to create dreams with.

• Business Cards - Be they old, obsolete or incorrectly printed, so long as they have a blank side teachers use these for flash cards as well as other things. Who would have thought something so useless to business could be so useful to another!

• Newspaper - Newspaper is constantly needed in classrooms for art projects as well as in classroom & homework projects. Before heaving it out on the kerb for recycling, why not list a weekly donation of newspapers and then if someone wants them they can pop round and get it? You might also use it for: as wrapping paper, to line the bottom of a birdcage or other pet sanctuary, to use in garden under mulch to reduce the onset of weeds.

• Magazines - Old magazines become useless to most of us once we've read to the end of them. They can have a new lease of life with our recipients, being cut out and used for Collages, Decoration, Research, Homework, Cards and much much more.
• Tin & Aluminium Cans - Tin cans discover a new lease of life in the classroom, being used for arts & crafts as well as being able to be made into a musical instruments!
• Tin Boxes - Tin boxes could become so many different things such as: Small emergency kits with Band-Aids and ointments, Storage for items such as coins, paperclips, thumb tacks, beads or even fishing supplies (hooks, lures, bobbers and other loose items). You can also learn on the following webpage how to decorate and make them into almost anything here.

• Towel Tubes - Tubes from inside Handy Towels, Ribbon & Paper roll inners can be used for a huge variety of projects, such as making puppets, dolls & other such sculptures. Isn't it amazing that such a small thing can create so much. *Note: Please do not donate toilet rolls due to Health & Safety Regulations.

• Styrofoam - Schools can use Styrofoam pieces from small to large to make sculptures, props and puzzles for all ages & sizes. Save another item from being needlessly wasted and let it be put to good use in it's new home. Styrofoam egg cartons can also be divided into smaller pieces and used to protect items while shipping or in storage. Sprouting seedlings before putting in garden is another good way to re use Styrofoam instead of throwing it away.

• Container Lid's - Lids from all size containers can be used by organisations to make ornaments, coasters and decorations.

• Cardboard - Always there when you don’t want them, never when you do, such is the way of boxes. Schools use these all the time for arts projects, school trips, storage and much more. Got a pile lying around? Why not list them with us. It shouldn't be something organisations should have to buy.

• Cardboard Tubes - A common waste item from material or curtain shops, these can be used by the children to create all sort of objects eg: swords, didgeridoo, musical instruments and sounds such as rain.

• Paper- all kinds - Schools utilise all varieties of paper for office, classroom, art and many other uses. Why not keep a box of the misprints by your desk, then list it on the site for donation! It's already one of our most popular items.

• Fabric Scraps - Patchwork, Puppets, Decorations, Sewing, Cards, Wearable Art - the possibilities of what can be made with these are endless. Giving them back to a school who needs them guarantees great fun for all recipients

• Film Cannisters - Already one of the most popular items on the site, organisations use these in the maths, carpentry and art departments and are always after more!

• Travel Brochures - Every day hundreds of these are trashed as the become out of date. Why not save them and donate them to organisations who'll use them in the art & topical classes.

• Stamps - As well as stamp collectors, many organisations make use of these by collecting used stamps in bulk from business and selling them. The proceeds are then allocated towards charitable causes. Why not start saving your old stamps at the office and donate them on the site to someone who can use them?
  

• Glass jars - Glass jars second use could consist in canning and storing sauces. They could also be filled with candies or cookies, or even coins if you feel like having an original piggy bank. Decorating them and giving as gifts is another easy way to recycle.

• Paper bags - Not only are paper bags environment friendly but they can be reused very easily. You could for example: cover textbooks, create kid's art projects like masks and costumes or decorate to make a kid's hand puppet

FURNITURE & APPLIANCES

• Shelves - These come in handy all around the school provided places for storage and keeping the classroom area tidy.

• Desks - Why not list your old desk? Classroom 9 might be short one, or might be able to utilise it to put a computer on or make a new workstation.

• Chairs - Old office chairs can be utilised not only for the school office, but within the classroom to add to a new workstation.

• Telephones - By donating your old telephones it can allow the school to place extra extensions, or can be utilised for classroom demonstrations or props

• Microwaves - Are greatly appreciated by staff who didn't have one in their staff room before! These can also be used within the school cafeteria.

• Iron - Little known to the general public, irons are used within the art department for special techniques, as well as the obvious usage within sewing & home economics.

• Computers & Parts - When you no longer have a need for it, pass it on to someone who does. Chances are you would buy a new one before using that old keyboard anyway!

OTHER THINGS

• Books - Give the gift of knowledge- once you've grown out of your book collection why not pass them on to your local school who will utilise them in the classrooms and libraries.

• DVD's/Videos - Classrooms around the country periodically use DVD's & Videos as teaching aids and entertainment at special events.

• CD's & Tapes - Music is utilised throughout the school, often in Drama, Stage Challenge, Music Class and some modules of P.E.

• Paint - House, acrylic, oil - art classes across the country are crying out for your neglected supplies to use to make their masterpieces.

• Shells - These are great for all art projects, especially around Craft or Pet Days!

• Paper plates - Got a bunch of these lying around which never get used? These can be used to make fantastic masks for any time of the year, if you won't - why not give them to someone who will?

• Avocado pits - These make a great science or hobby project for kids to grow. Don't have kids of your own - why not donate these through us to someone else can use them?

• Flower pots - Most of us have these lying around but don't realise there are people out there who can make things with them! Flower pots can be used for a huge variety of tasks in Art Class, Pet Day & Nature topic projects.

• Baskets - Baskets are a common item to hang around for years doing nothig. Why not donate them via DonateNZ - Classrooms will use them for Flower arranging, presentations or for fundraising.

• Clothes - The fourth "R" - Redesign. Playcentres can take your old clothing and revamp these to make exciting dress-up creations for the children.  

• T-shirts - T-shirts of all shapes and sizes can be donated via DonateNZ - they're great for kids to paint in or on, keeping kids good clothes paint free.

• Sheets - Commonly dumped in the bin, Sheets can actually be re-used at a wide variety of organisations, as painting covers or for various other purposes. Not to mention at school camps or boarding houses for under privileged youths.

• Honey Containers - Make seedling gardens with this often wasted, but useful resource.

• Blankets - From new to old condition, these have a variety of uses including school camps, picnics outdoors to use in animal shelters and rescue programmes.

• Baby rattles - Besides the obvious uses, these also make great toys for cats in animal rescue programmes.

• TV Cabinets & Baby tables - These make great cat beds and bunks for cat rescue programmes.

• Carpet remnants - If you need a small mat for your garage or basement, or even a pet mat for your doghouse, there’s nothing easier than using your carpet remnants. It can also be a good idea to put some where you store your pans in order to keep things quiet.

• Corks - Attach a cork to boat keys and they will float if they end up in the water. Using cork as fish hook holders is another great way to reuse it.

• Sheets & Tablecloths - What could you do with your old sheets and tablecloths? No less than cutting them to make placemats, aprons, laundry bags and even lint-free kitchen towels.

• Toothbrushes - You’d rather not throw your old toothbrush away, but why not reuse it instead to scrub bathroom or clothing stains.

• Wire clothes hangers - Do you like the idea of reusing your wire clothes hangers to make a children's mobile or wind chimes?

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