5 Reuses for Oatmeal Canisters

You know you've become a boring adult when you start eating oatmeal everyday for breakfast. You?ve given up the sugar-coated cereal hocked by ascot-wearing Bengal tigers and draculas named Chocula. You're probably at a point where you are worried about calories, cardiovascular disease and other such things. Hey, at least you still believe that a vampire can hurt you. That's something like being a child, right?

I buy oatmeal in those big round canisters that say "PLAIN" on the front in large, boring letters. Usually, I just throw the cardboard containers in the recycling bin and forget about them. But I realized that there was probably an opportunity for reuse. Here's what I've uncovered.

1. CD Storage

Let?s say you've got a ton of blank compact disks in stacks around your house. You can put them in the oatmeal canister. And if you want to get rid of those CDs by donating them to charity of selling them in bulk, you can send them in the oatmeal canister instead of purchasing a shipping box.

2. Seed Storage

You can put your seeds in them. If you collect seeds from your garden, oatmeal boxes are a dry, cool place in which to store them for next year.

3. Make A Nature Can

The blog Plum Pudding has a good suggestion. They recommend this:

1. Rip paper off oats box.

2. Measure your box. If you're using a full-size box, you can use these measurements: 9" high by 16" around.

3. Cut and glue your fabric to the box. (I'm not a good one to ask about best glue. I used some combination of glue stick, Fabri-Tac, Tacky Glue, and super double-stick tape).

4. Cut out designs for decorating your box and glue them.

5.Locate spots on opposite sides of your box, about an inch or two down from the top, and cut a small X for inserting your strap ends.

6. Measure and cut your strap according to the size of your child. (I used a seam from an old pair of jeans for one of these and short pieces of scrap fabric knotted together for the other).

7. Push the ends of your strap through the Xs and knot inside the box.

Give the can to your child to take with them on nature walks. The child can put his rocks, leaves and pine cones in the can. Check out Plum Pudding for pictures.

4. Car Trash Can

I didn't think of this myself. Diamondee from Thrifty Fun thought of it. But what a great idea. Just toss the old can in the car and put all those receipts and candy wrappers in the oatmeal box. Dump it out (into proper recycling bins) when full.

5. Save them For Gifts

It?s a little early to be talking Christmas, Hanukkah, Birthdays. Save those oatmeal canisters and put gifts in them. You can decorate the outside to match the occasion.

Got a tip or a post idea for us to write about on Planet Green? Email pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.