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Tetra Pak ideas

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:43 pm
by AuntFlo
If you cut the top off high they can be used for:
soaking paintbrushes in turps
storing carrots and courgetes in the fridge (honestly, it works, try it!)
storing veg peelings for making stock

I have a tiny job writing a blog for the Natural Nursery - I don't want to spam you with it here but you might like the ideas I came up with for Tetra Paks:


If you cut the top off half way up they are good for:
planting things in
as a pencil and pen holder
putting ends of soap in

Cut lengthwise about 2.5cm high,
fill with cotton wool to make a cress garden
use as a boat


Cut the top off and open out the flaps at the bottom and then you can use it as:
a sandwich holder - pop it in and fold over the edges - a rubber band would help keep it together!
to store cheese in the fridge - put the cheese in, fold over and store on the folded side to keep shut

Re: Tetra Pak ideas

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:05 pm
by the.fee.fairy
There's a thing on bicycology about making a wallet out of one.

Re: Tetra Pak ideas

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:45 pm
by Cligereen
They also make fairly good firelighters due to the waxy coating. Probably more eco friendly than using commercial firelighters.

Re: Tetra Pak ideas

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:04 am
by Dave
I cut them down the middle length ways and use them as drip trays for plant pots. Either that or as pea collars by cutting them down the middle the other way and cutting the tops off.

Re: Tetra Pak ideas

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:38 pm
by shell
when i had a range that heated the water and radiators i packed 1 or 2 solid with turf dust and closed the range down low,the water was hot the next day and the range still running ready to stoke up again as the cartons burned slowly,

Re: Tetra Pak ideas

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:42 pm
by Fizzy Izzy
Wow! Some really good ideas - thank you people!

I feel a bit bad that I was just recycling mine now. It's always better to reuse rather than recycle if possible...

Re: Tetra Pak ideas

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:24 pm
by Annpan
There is a lot of talk about burning them... does this not add lts of weird chemicals to your precious wood ash, or dangerously release them up your chimney?

I'd rather burn them than stick them in landfill but not if it will contaminate my wood ash.

Re: Tetra Pak ideas

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:01 am
by Dave
This might shed some light on the 'burning' issue - http://www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org/for ... b1ab979000

It seems they do contain plastic and aluminum so I wouldn't really advise burning them. I know the tip in Sixfields in Northampton takes them does anyone else know of any tips that will take Tetra Paks? Otherwise they can be sent to

Recycling - Tetra Pak
c/o Perrys recycling
Showground Road
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 6AJ

or this is how tetra pak themselves deal with the problem http://www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk/

Re: Tetra Pak ideas

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:05 am
by invisiblepiper
Our council now recycles them - which is great - but they are also perfect for setting plaster of paris in to take to sculpture classes. :wink: