The average American discards roughly 82 pounds of clothing and textiles each year — and most of it lands in a landfill. According to the EPA, more than 17 million tons of textiles were generated as municipal solid waste in 2018, a figure the U.S. Government Accountability Office confirmed was more than 50% higher than in 2000 due largely to the rise of fast fashion. And the recycling rate for clothing and footwear? Just 13%.

Denim is one of the most salvageable things in that waste stream. Because authentic jeans are made mostly from cotton, a natural, biodegradable fiber, they can be recycled into building insulation, pet bed inserts, and thermal packaging, or given a second life through resale and creative reuse.

Here are five ways to put your worn-out jeans to work, and have some fun doing it.

1. Your unwanted denim can be turned into insulation.

Cotton Incorporated’s Blue Jeans Go Green program has been recycling denim into insulation since 2006. Since then, the program has collected more than 5 million pieces of denim and diverted over 2,290 tons of textile waste from landfills. That recycled fiber gets processed into UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation by Bonded Logic — used in homes, thermal packaging, and pet bedding — with some insulation donated each year to building projects in communities in need.

The program accepts any denim item (jeans, jackets, skirts, shirts) that’s at least 90% cotton, in any condition. Drop off locations include Anthropologie, which has committed to diverting 10 tons through the program, and a rotating list of retail partners you can find on the Blue Jeans Go Green recycle page.

You can also mail denim directly to the program at Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ Program c/o Phoenix Fibers – CIMI, 400 East Ray Road, Chandler, AZ 85225 (a free prepaid label program ended in August 2025, so you’ll need to cover shipping).

Madewell’s denim trade-up program is one of the most practical ways to close the loop on old jeans, regardless of the brand. Drop any pair of jeans of any cut, color, or condition at a Madewell store and receive $20 off a full-priced pair of Madewell jeans. The program is year-round with no limit on how many pairs you bring in.

The program has collected more than 2.3 million preloved pieces. Gently worn jeans are resold through Madewell Forever, the brand’s resale platform with ThredUp; jeans beyond repair are recycled into housing insulation and sustainable packaging via the Blue Jeans Go Green partnership.

You can also mail in denim with a free Clean Out Kit or shipping label if you don’t have a Madewell nearby.

2. Turn your denim into a pair of shorts.

This is probably the easiest way to repurpose a pair of jeans. Even if you don’t sew, you can make long jeans into shorts. Get a pair of sharp scissors, figure out where you want to cut, and then enjoy your new shorts. Remember the old saying, “measure twice, and cut once.” If you’re a sewer (or good with a glue gun), check out this tutorial by Craft & Creativity for some adorable additions to cutoffs.

3. Upcycle your denim into a reusable bag.

One of my favorite ways to upcycle denim is by making reusable bags. You can use the bags as an adorable way to package a gift, as a purse, and as a reusable grocery carrier, just to name a few. I also found this creative phone charging bag. This is another project that could be done simply with a glue gun or, if you don’t have one, some craft glue.

4. Upcycle your denim into some sweet friendship bracelets.

One of my girls’ favorite projects is to upcycle material, including denim, into friendship bracelets. They are able to use their creativity and make each bracelet a special work of art. First, gather supplies like fun buttons, embroidery floss, and any other embellishments you may have on hand. Then cut the denim into strips.

Next is where the fun really begins. Let your kids use their imaginations to dream up some adorable ways to decorate their friendship bracelets. They could even begin by sketching out their ideas so you know how to help them make their vision a reality.

Your kiddos can wear their bracelets proudly and give them as gifts.

Need more ideas on how to upcycle your worn denim? Visit this helpful Pinterest board.

5. Make a craft supply holder with your unwanted jeans and some cans from the recycling bin.

This is a great idea for anyone who wants to organize their craft supplies in one spot. You could make it a kid-friendly craft supply holder by including washable markers, colored pencils, safety scissors and glue sticks. Add a handle and this could be a great way to bring craft supplies on the road with you. I found this example at 8Trends.com.

Denim scraps also work well as ties for garden plants, drawer liners, coasters (backed with felt), small coin pouches, and journal covers. Because denim frays attractively rather than looking ragged, even imperfect cuts tend to look intentional. There’s also a growing community of textile artists on Pinterest’s denim upcycle boards with ideas organized by skill level and material quantity.

Your old jeans are too valuable to throw away. If they’re still wearable, donate them to a local thrift store or trade them in at Madewell. If they’re worn out, recycle them through Blue Jeans Go Green — or cut them into something new. Use Earth911’s Recycling Search to find textile recycling drop-off spots near you.

Editor’s Note: Originally published by Wendy Gabriel on February 6, 2017, this article was updated in April 2026. Feature image courtesy of Shutterstock.com.

The post 5 Fun Ways To Recycle Your Jeans appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/inspire/5-ways-to-recycle-jeans/

Earth911 inspirations. Print them, post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day.

Today’s quote is from primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall: “The greatest danger to our future is apathy.”

This poster was originally published on May 17, 2019.

The post Earth911 Inspiration: The Greatest Danger to Our Future Is Apathy appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/living-well-being/earth911-inspiration-danger-to-our-future-is-apathy/

Last Updated on April 21, 2026

Did you know the average couple spends $800 a month on groceries (USDA)? That’s approximately $200 a week on food!

And it’s only going to get worse. According to the USDA, in 2026, prices for all food are predicted to increase 3.6 percent.

But there’s hope – my husband and I eat a low waste, nutrient-dense, plant-forward diet that comes to $300 a month. And yes, there are a few major hacks that make a difference *ahem – dry beans.*

But the truth is, it all starts with a solid grocery budgeting plan. If you want to lower your grocery bill too, here are all my tips, including grocery budgeting, where to shop, what to make yourself, and more!

grocery budgeting

Creating a budget for groceries is the first step to understanding where all your money is going. Ask yourself, how much are you willing to spend on food each week? How much can you feasibly put aside?

This will vary depending on how many mouths you have to feed, how often you cook from home, and what you like to make. It helps knowing your specific eating habits too. For example, I know I’m going to want Mexican-inspired dishes at least once a week, so I prepare for that.

I find sticking to cash helps me budget better. Instead of simply putting everything on a card, I’m making sure I don’t go over budget by having a physical limit.

Before you leave the house, remind yourself how much you’re going to spend at the grocery store. If you plan on going to multiple spots (ex: farmers market, bulk bins, grocery store, etc.), designate how much you feel comfortable spending in those areas.

For example, if you like to visit the farmers market year-round, you’ll probably notice there’s more of a selection in the summer/fall months, so your budget for that may go up. Because who doesn’t want in-season strawberries? So setting aside $50 for the market during peak seasons, and $20 for the rest of the year, may help.

I also recommend always counting how much you have left after each store visit. Did you spend more or less than your budget accounted for? Will you put any leftover money towards next week’s grocery haul?

Example grocery budget for family of 2 for $100 per week:

• $30 for protein (tofu, black beans, eggs, etc.)
• $25 for produce (bananas, apples, carrots, celery, onion, potatoes, etc.)
• $20 for grains (Rice, pasta, oatmeal, etc.)
• $15 for dairy (Gallon of plant-based milk, coconut yogurt, etc.)
• $10 for pantry/snacks (crackers, popcorn, seasonings, etc.)

*This is just an example to give you a visual on how much you may want to spend on different categories. But every family’s needs are different and will vary!

Pro tip: If you eat meat, try to buy them in bulk packs, and get inexpensive cuts, like ground meat, or bone-in chicken. Buying bone-in, skin-on means you’re not paying someone to do the trimming, making it more economical. Also, shredded cheese tends to be pricer than blocked for the same reason – you’re paying someone to do the work for you!

where to shop

Knowing where to shop is half the battle: We buy our spices at a local market and they’re so much cheaper there. We also buy a lot of our foods in bulk from Costco where you can buy a giant bag of rice or flour.

It’s so much cheaper to buy dry beans than canned. I’ll make a giant batch of beans, pop them in the freezer, and pull them out any time I want. Same level of convenience, but with less than half the cost.

Hitting up local farmers markets for in-season produce can save a buck too.

It takes more water and resources to grow a tomato in the winter (think greenhouse expenses) than it does during the summer when they’re prolific. When there’s an abundance, farmers tend to sell at lower rates to entice us to buy!

Shopping at bulk bins can reduce cost too, because you can get only what you need. For example, instead of buying a huge pack of quinoa for a recipe you’re making, you can grab a cup’s worth. Or whatever the recipe entails!

make it yourself

We make a lot of kitchen staples too, like bread. We love supporting local bakeries but buying half a loaf of sourdough bread, sometimes twice a week, would cost $7. Which is $14 a week on bread, $700 a year.

Our appliances like our breadmaker, crockpot, and instantpot all came from our Buy Nothing group. We use them constantly which massively lowers our grocery bill.

My breadmaker makes delicious loaves of bread in just a few hours. I just add everything into it, adjust the settings, and let it handle things from there. Here’s my go-to recipe:

• 2 tsp of bread machine yeast
• 3 TBSP of olive oil
• 2 TBSP of Sugar
• 1 cup + 2TBSP of water
• 3 Cups of flour
• tsp of salt

I also make a lot of other kitchen staples like broth, vinegar, vanilla which leads to tons of savings. You can make your own condiments and nut butters too if you have the time.

I also love versatile produce/pantry items! For example, in fall I always get a pumpkin for decor, which I end up cooking to make homemade pumpkin puree. It can be used in so many different recipes like pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. And I also get roasted pumpkin seeds out of it!

Year round, some pantry staples are ridiculously easy to make, like powdered sugar (literally just blend granulated sugar in a blender) and brown sugar (mix white sugar with molasses).

If you’re in a pinch, you can also make your own oat flour. Just blend oats in a food processor until the particles are a fine powder. You can store it in an air-tight container for 3 months and use it in all kinds of recipes.

RELATED: 20 Things To Make At Home Instead of Buying

use coupons and sales

Look for discounts wherever you can find them. You may be able to download your local grocery store’s mobile app for exclusive deals.

At the very least, it can be easier to see the price difference between brands. You can plan meals around what’s on sale, like that half-priced can of tomato sauce.

My grocery store often runs sales on basic things like $2 for 5lbs of potatoes, carrots, and onions at the end of the month. I always stock up when they’re on sale.

There are also some grocery stores that sell discounts on ‘imperfect’ produce. AKA, produce that’s still perfectly good but doesn’t meet grocery store beauty standards (maybe it has a blemish or a wacky shape).

These ‘blemished’ produce items may come wrapped in plastic, but keeping food out of landfills kind of cancels out the packaging waste.

Also, be sure to check out resources like Too Good To Go – their app is the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food. You can help rescue food near you, all at half price or less.

choose low-cost staples

Meat is one of the more expensive items. Alternatively plant based sources of protein are less expensive, provide more fiber, are one of the most consumed foods in the blue zones, and they happen to be the best bang for your buck.

Choosing low-cost staples like beans, rice and frozen produce will help you stretch your bills. These items are also incredibly versatile as they can be used in so many dishes, from burritos to soups to stir fries.

Here’s a list of low cost staples you should consider stocking your pantry with:

• Grains + pasta (brown rice, oats, quinoa, popcorn kernels, whole wheat pasta, etc.)
• Beans (black, pinto, garbanzo, cannellini beans, etc.)
• Legumes (red, green or brown)
• Oil (coconut, olive, avocado oil, etc.)
• Nuts and seeds (peanuts, sunflower seeds, etc.)
• Canned goods (peeled tomatoes, cut vegetables, etc.)
• Baking staples (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, maple syrup, coco powder, etc.)
• Spices + seasonings (onion + garlic powder, paprika, etc.)

Pro tip: For snacks, you can cut down on a lot of money if you make your own, using what’s in your pantry. For example, making homemade chocolate muffins from your baking stash or using popcorn kernels instead of bagged popcorn. Melted butter and salt goes a long way!

What do you think of these grocery budgeting hacks? Let me know in the comments!

The post How I Cut My Grocery Bill to $300 a Month appeared first on Going Zero Waste.

How I Cut My Grocery Bill to $300 a Month