Last year, 9 billion single-use K-Cups were used, which equates to nearly 25 million each and every day. That’s enough K-Cups that if they were placed end-to-end, they could circle the globe 10.5 times. That’s a lot of plastic!
While they may be extremely convenient, they’re not recyclable or biodegradable. So, nearly all of them ended up in landfills. Keurig’s parent company, Green Coffee, has pledged to make the K-Cups recyclable by 2020, but that’s still a long ways off. Until then, 9 billion or more K-Cups are winding up in our landfills annually where they’ll sit unchanged for hundreds of years.
There are now multi-use pods that can reduce the waste. Unfortunately, most people still use the single-use cups. While we suggest switching to a multi-use pod if you’re currently using disposable K-Cups, if you do have some on hand, there are plenty of fun ways for repurposing them instead of trashing them.
Here are 25 inventive ways for repurposing your single-use K-Cups so they don’t end up in landfills.
Celebrate the Seasons and Holidays
These Halloween Lights are spooky creative via Hometalk. Why not add these to your Halloween festivities!?
What holiday comes right after Halloween? That’s right, Thanksgiving. Gobble up this idea for Pilgrim Hat Treat Holder via Igobogo. If pilgrim hats are your cup of joe, check out these Turkey Crafts via Crafty Morning.
Everything is cooler when its miniature, right. This Apple Basket Decoration idea via Make It Easy Crafts turns coffee cup into craft time in a jiffy.
We’ve all heard Let It Go about 2,000 times by now. If you’re not ready to let your K-Cup go (to the landfill), check out this Frozen Inspired Olaf Craft via This Mama Loves.
Speaking of frozen, what White Christmas isn’t complete without Christmas bells, snowflakes and snowmen? Check out these ideas…
- Christmas Bells via Strictly Homemade
- Snowflake Frame Ornament via Make It Easy Crafts
- Snowman Decoration via Goods Home Design
Count down with this Advent Calendar via Teach Mama.
With a few strategic snips, K-Cups can be transformed into flowers. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this Patriotic Flower Wreath via Make It Easy Crafts.
Around the Home and Garden
Have lots of little nick-knacks around the house. Why not organize them what a Miscellaneous Supply Holder, inspired by Sew Many Ways.
Expand your penchant for creative sewing with this Toadstool Pincushion idea via Entirely Smitten.
These Seed Starters via Fresh Eggs Daily may just take your micro-gardening to another level. Looking to take your micro-gardening to another level – literally? Check our this idea for Hanging Planters via Off the Beaten Path. We never knew there was another use for dental floss!
This Pendant Light via Cut Out and Keep idea repurposes a paper shade light and jazzes it up. What a bright idea!
Small super small treasures with this Trinket Box via Entirely Smitten.
This interesting Popsicle Molds idea via Experiment Mom recreates the concept of food and drink storage. We think this idea just might stick! Speaking of food, have you ever considered preserving herbs with a K-Cup? Happy Hooligans shows us how with this Preserve Herbs idea.
All About the Kids
Anyone with kids knows coffee is an invaluable tool. Merge the two – with a dash of education and sensory learning – with these Sound Memory Game via Entirely Smitten
Kids love stamps – need we say more. Check out this idea for Homemade Stampers via Entirely Smitten.
Children love to watch things fly in the air – especially if they made it happen themselves. This idea for Mini Marshmallow Shooters via Come Together Kids just might do the trick. And while its not specifically for K-Cups, it could be easily adapted.
Why spend big money on a fancy wind gauge when this Wind Gauge idea via Practips will do?
Most kids love bugs and love to watch bugs. No bugs were harmed in the making of this Bug Observatory idea via Entirely Smitten.
In a pinch for flowers, why not create them? This Flower Craft idea via Examiner will get you on your way. Speaking of flowers, this Daffodil Craft idea via Hometalk is beautifully creative as well.
There are plenty more inventive ways for repurposing single-use K-Cups if you find some in your possession and you don’t want them sitting in landfills for hundreds of years.
What other ides for repurposing K-Cups to you have?
Feature image courtesy of Entirely Smitten – Trinket Box.