Creative Button Recycling

We have everywhere buttons that we don't need and, once they become uncontrolled waste, can pollute, as they contain materials like polyester, nylon, acrylic, which don't decompose easily. Or metals that risk dispersing into the environment, or synthetic resin, another type of plastic, hard and resistant. And instead, buttons that are no longer needed lend themselves very well to creative recycling, and can be used to make many household items more original and personalized: from curtains and cushions to vases and clocks. They can also be used as rings and necklaces.

Index of topics

Curtains

(Image source: Madebyisa.canalblog.com)

To make a beautiful curtain, you'll need plenty of buttons, both colorful and of various shapes. To begin, calculate the dimensions of the curtain, trying to leave at least 5 cm extra: these will be used to tie each thread to the rod that holds the curtain. Get some fishing line and cut it to the desired length. Tie a knot at the base to keep the first button from coming out, then thread all the other buttons, inserting the thread into two of the holes in each button so they don't come out. Continue this process for all the remaining threads until you have only about 5 centimeters of thread left. Now all you have to do is tie the button threads to the rod, and your homemade curtain is ready.

pillows

Here is a very easy to make idea to decorate the living room or the children's bedroom With imagination and originality. Simply take a cushion and sew all the buttons you have on one side. For a more refined and elegant effect, try mother-of-pearl buttons.

Vases

Plant pots can also be personalized with lots of colored buttons.

Rings

(Image source: Specchioedintorni.it)

And here's a delicious idea for those who love to stand out by personalising their look.

Necessary

Metal bases for the rings (you can find them online or in hobby shops)
A tube of hot glue
Lots of colored buttons

Method

After choosing the buttons you want to use, attach them to the metal base of the ring using hot glue.

Necklaces

(Image source: Paciugabregaeimbelina.blogspot.it)

Again, the process is very simple: just get a ribbon in your favorite color, sew the buttons on, and you're done.

Games for children

And that's not all: here are many creative ideas that we found on Like Children To have fun with your little ones creating and decorating with colored buttons:

To begin, transform the colored buttons into bouquets to decorate the children's room.

And how about having fun with the little ones making a beautiful button painting?

Do you have an old frame at home that you no longer like? Fill it with lots of colorful buttons and see what an effect it will have.

And again: use the buttons to create lots of necklaces or lots of DIY bracelets colorful, they are perfect for both mother and her baby.

Likewise, reuse the buttons to create this original headband.

Watches

A beautiful design object to put in the kitchen is theclock made with the creative button recyclingThe process is much simpler than you might imagine.

Purchase the original clock base, including hands and charging batteries.
Then glue the buttons in place of the numbers, choosing different colors for each number.
Check that the hands are working properly

Where buttons are thrown away

In general, there's one thing to note: buttons shouldn't be thrown away like any other waste, unless they're completely unusable. On the contrary, they can always be useful. If they really need to be thrown away, it all depends on the material they're made of.

Small plastic or metal buttons: they go in the unsorted waste because they are too small to be separated for recycling.
Wooden or natural material buttons: back in the unsorted waste, unless they are compostable (but this is rare).
Very large plastic or metal buttons: Check whether they can be recycled at the collection center (ecocenter), otherwise throw them in the unsorted waste.

How to recycle unwanted buttons