4 Ways to Reuse
an Egg Carton

This month the editors of This Old House have found 10 unique ways to reuse egg cartons.

A household waste bin staple, keep cartons from piling up with these tips. Since the average 2x6 inch egg carton is already composed of molded recycled paper, reusing them makes your efforts twice as green.

Here are four favorites:

1. Start seedlings.

Cut off the lid, fill each cup with potting soil, and plant some seeds. Once the seedlings sprout, cut each cup from the tray and plant it-cup and all.

2. Fire the grill.

Melt candle scraps in a double boiler, then fill each cup halfway with sawdust. Carefully ladle the wax over the sawdust, and let it cool. Each cup can now serve as a fire starter - just light the edge.

3. Cushion ornaments.

The cartons are ideal for separating small, fragile Christmas ornaments for storage.

4. Ship cheaply.

Being stiff but lightweight makes egg cartons excellent replacements for Styrofoam packing peanuts.

The July/August issue of This Old House will be on newsstands September 1st.

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