How to Recycle Old Plates

Find a new use for old dinnerware.

Whether you just bought a new set of dinnerware or you have an incomplete set, you may wonder what you can do with your old plates. Obviously, it would be a waste of money to throw them away, yet they are taking up space in your cabinets. What can you do with them all? Is there a way to recycle them? Yes. In fact, there are several great ways to recycle old plates. Read on to learn how to recycle old plates.

Instructions

1. Hang them as art. If you have a collection of dinnerware that is missing pieces, you can always recycle it into art. This is a great way to use old plates that have a unique design. For example, you could use vintage pieces to decorate your kitchen in a sixties or seventies theme. Old plates are even a great way to add a splash of color to a boring back splash.

2. Use them for picnics and camping. How many times have you went on a picnic, or gone camping, and broke a plate? Instead of trying to protect new pieces of dinnerware, why not use your old plates? This is a great way to recycle your old dinnerware and save money.

3. Send them home with friends at the holidays. Everyone’s done it. You make a plate of holiday leftovers to send home with your friends and they promise to bring the plate back after the holidays. Of course, you never see it again. Instead of sending pieces of a new set home with your friends, why not recycle your old pieces? In a few years, they’ll have a complete set.

4. Donate them. One of the best ways to recycle old plates is to donate them. If your old plates are in great shape, why not give them a new life? There are several people that would love coming across a good set of plates in a thrift store. If you’ve just gotten tired of your old set, this is a great way to recycle.

5. Make a mosaic. The only way to recycle pieces that are chipped is to use them to make a mosaic. This is such a fun way to recycle. It’s also a great way to recycle other items. For example, you could use your old plates to make a beautiful new surface for an old coffee table.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find hangers specifically designed for hanging plates on the wall.

• A mishmash of old plates is perfect for mosaics.