Tetrapak containers have been the bane of recyclers lives for quite some time. It’s only recently that we’re once again able to recycle them in the UK, and many supermarket car parks now play host to Tetrapak banks where you can deposit your used Tetrapak type containers. I’ve never given much thought to recycling projects including used Tetrapaks, but the resourceful people at esprit cabane have come up with this cool coin purse made of a used Tetrapak container or two, with full instructions so that you can make one too. Or make a few and give them to your friends.
If you have any other awesome ideas of what you can do with used Tetrapak containers, please leave them in the comments.
Tetrapak coin purse [esprit cabane]
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An old tractor tyre makes a fantastic sandpit for the younger set, and is a super easy recycling project. Old tractor tyres are easier to come by than you may think. I got hold of this one by putting a “Wanted” ad on Freecycle and a local smallholder was happy to part with it, I just had to pick it up. For this you need two strong people and a roof-rack on your car, or a trailer. The hardest part of this project is definitely getting the large tyre home, but once you’ve got that out of the way, it’s plain sailing.
Step-by-step instructions:
Step 1: Acquire an old tractor tyre. I recommend giving Freecycle a try, or if you know a farmer, ask him.
Step 2: Scrub the tyre well with a scrubbing brush and some soapy water.
Step 3: Dig out a section of lawn to fit the tyre into. Aim for getting about 1/2 of the width of the tyre into the ground.
Step 4: Once the tyre is in place, dig out the middle some more, go about a foot and a half down to make room for the sand.
Step 5: Fill with sand. You can buy sand specifically for sandpits from garden centres.
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Last summer I took my family on holiday to Wales and Cornwall and experienced the joys of the solar shower both at the Green Man Festival in the Brecon Beacons, and at Keveral Farm in the West Country. So I got thinking, why not switch to solar showers every time we go camping, or even for at home during the summer.
The shower that you can see on the left over here is the shower that we used at Keveral Farm. It’s a wooden structure with an old radiator painted black as a solar panel warming water for the shower. There’s a little bit of green shade cloth pinned to the wooden frame to protect one’s modesty, but other than that it’s very airy, and most exhilarating to use.
For something a little more temporary (and contemporary), check out this “plug and spray” Serpentine solar shower from Extremis.
Designed by Tom De Vrieze, the Serpentine can be used wherever you want. Plug your regular garden hose to the end of the stainless steel tube and your shower is ready for use. I’d say lying the hose out in the sun for a little while before hand would be sensible too. It’s a great way to water your lawn and shower at the same time, saving water and energy into the bargain.
If you’re more the McGyver type, then this DIY solar shower will be more up your street. It’s from Mother Earth News and full instructions can be found there.
A simpler and cheaper solution would be the £8.99 portable solar shower option that folds away to nothing and you can store in your backpack when on the move, or just away in the shed at home for the cold winter months. When the summer comes, just fill it up and hang it in a tree. Once it’s been in the sun for a few hours, you’ll have a gorgeous hot shower.
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