Great advice to help you to live more sustainably.
PILLOWS are an essential part of getting a good night’s sleep, but as essential as they are, when it comes to the end of their lifespan, it’s tricky to recycle them.
You can’t put pillows in your household recycling bins. No-one wants to buy an old pillow.
And charity shops and textile recycling bins don’t want your used pillows, either.
What is a responsible recycler to do? It may feel like the only option is to send your old pillow to landfill.
But don’t chuck it in the bin just yet. While pillows are harder to recycle than most other household items, there are still lots of ways you can recycle and upcycle them.
When it comes to sustainability, the single most eco-friendly option is always to repurpose and re-use.
Some creative ways to give your old pillows a new lease of life include using the filling to make draught excluders, or to top up other cushions or pillows around your home.
Alternatively, if you have a cat or a small dog, your old pillow would make a great pet bed – no DIY required!
If you are into gardening, you could buy a waterproof pillow protector to pop over your pillow, then use it to cushion your knees whilst weeding. No more sore knees!
If you’d rather pass them on to good causes, then dog and cat rescue charities sometimes take old pillows to use as animal bedding.
Do call ahead to see if they can take your pillows before making the journey.
If none of the above options offer the right solution, you can downcycle them into craft supplies for the future.
Who knows when stuffing might come in handy?
Meanwhile, the fabric casing could be useful for making clothing repairs.
Alternatively, crafters may well be able to make use of the pillow filling in craft projects.
Try laundering your old pillows before listing them free of charge on places like Facebook Marketplace to see if any local crafters will take them.
REPURPOSE YOUR PILLOWS
Wendy Graham shares her top tips to help you avoid sending your old bedding to landfill.
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