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Reuse is the action or practice of using an item, whether for its original purpose (conventional reuse) or to fulfil a different function (creative reuse or repurposing). It should be distinguished from recycling, which is the breaking down of used items to make raw materials for the manufacture of new products. Reuse – by taking, but not reprocessing, previously used items – helps save time, money, energy and resources. In broader economic terms, it can make quality products available to people and organizations with limited means, while generating jobs and business activity that contribute to the economy.

An interior bathroom wall that incorporates repurposed clear glass bottles into a bottle wall

Historically, financial motivation was one of the main drivers of reuse. In the developing world this driver can lead to very high levels of reuse, however rising wages and consequent consumer demand for the convenience of disposable products has made the reuse of low value items such as packaging uneconomic in richer countries, leading to the demise of many reuse programs. Current environmental awareness is gradually changing attitudes and regulations, such as the new packaging regulations, are gradually beginning to reverse the situation.

One example of conventional reuse is the doorstep delivery of milk in glass bottles; other examples include the retreading of tires and the use of returnable/reusable plastic boxes, shipping containers, instead of single-use corrugated fiberboard boxes.

Advantages and disadvantages

Ants, being social insects, have been able to reuse rail tracks abandoned by humans for their own transportation. (Kadina, South Australia)

Reuse has certain potential advantages:

• Energy and raw materials savings as replacing many single use products with one reusable one reduces the number that need to be manufactured.
• Reduced disposal needs and costs.
• Refurbishment can bring sophisticated, sustainable, well paid jobs to underdeveloped economies.
• Cost savings for business and consumers as a reusable product is often cheaper than the many single use products it replaces.
• Some older items were better handcrafted and appreciate in value.