old cables. because YOU NEVER KNOW

I keep the reddit app saved on my phone just in case

Those examples are not garbage, they are clean materials that can be repurposed. It is the second step in Reduce > Reuse > Recycle!

For years I’ve desoldered components from electronics that are designed for recycling/trash. I haven’t needed them more than a few times but it’s redeeming when I need a specific thing I’ve never needed before and can pick one out of my component box rather than buying a pack of 100 and never use 99 of them.

Tiny momentary SPST switches are definitely the most common thing I use from the bin but I’ve also reused some LEDs, capacitors, and resistors.

That’s a cool cat tent

Fucking everything, to the point it’s a problem. I replaced my windscreen wipers the other day, when I broke them to fit them in the trash can, I kept the thin metal strip that is inside and acts like a spring. I don’t know if it’s spring steel, but it sure is spring-y and you never know when they may come in handy.

I’ve got a box of boxes, all different sizes, cause you never know!, as well a bag of ziplock bags, there’s got to be like 400 of them.

Margarine containers become a way to gift food or let guests take leftovers without needing to get your containers back

Depends on what you mean by garbage. Something that would decompose or otherwise cause a problem is a hell no. Cardboard is one of those exceptions simply because it’s easy to store it in a way that prevents problems occuring, and it’s trivial to recycle the older pieces as you obtain newer. Mind you, I just keep unfolded boxes in a bin, tightly packed.

When we get something in the mail, the new box goes in, the oldest goes out.

Means we have cardboard for projects, as well as boxes for shipping/Christmas/whatever, but we don’t end up with critters making use of it. If critters did infest the bin, it’s easy enough to dump and burn, then clean the bin.

I tend to keep jars and bins of hardware in the shed. Very useful for sure. And I keep a bin of useless computer parts for art projects. You’d be amazed how often kids and young adults get assigned “found materials” projects if you aren’t known for being the go-to guy in your family for help with such things. While those supplies are space limited, the bin of computer/electronics parts are tucked away along with a box of “cool looking shit”, and I keep basic art supplies around anyway.

Having a good sized shed and a big attic help lol

I dislike waste on principle, and I have enough space to keep a reasonable amount of stuff “in case”, so there I am. I also have a corner of the attic that has durable medical gear I picked up over my years in home health. It’s dwindling now, what with relatives getting older and my own disability, but as the items get used and no longer needed, they come back until they can’t be reasonably passed on again. But some of those that reach end of life have gone into the “cool shit” box lol.

I have some boxes saved specifically to make some trackers for VR… But I thought we had a hot glue gun in the apartment and I was wrong so it’s just waiting in a corner until I can actually glue them the way I need. lol

Any type of container that closes if it’s in good enough shape (bottles, jars, cardboard boxes, bags). Also small open containers like yogurt or instant soup cups are probably the most useful for holding small items/snacks. When they become too many, you pick the best of each and throw away the rest. I also tend to keep foam packaging even though I’ve never found an actual use for it.

My “weirdest” would be used face masks. The little metal bit for the bridge of your nose works for tidying up cords like a twist tie. The ear loops work good for zipper pulls and tying up items that need held together. The mask itself works great for checking my car’s oil, dusting the car dash, cleaning up a minor spill, etc. Is it gross I do this? Perhaps. Has it served me well? Definitely.

I keep an entire truck in my back yard, because ya know, one day….

Trinket goblin reporting! I save tons of different little things and stuff for a while, then one day, for no apparent reason I get overwhelmed and throw away everything( or donate or whatever) Cereal boxes are great to paint gouache so I cut them up and use them as needed. Embroidery floss and yarn scraps are great stuffers for small amigurumi. Electrical wire can be used sometimes for kumihimo. Empty glass jars are my doom, I collect them all.

Grocery bags are useful as small bags to separate things, trash bags for small cans or cleaning up a cluttered space, or as temporary barriers she small jobs.

Large cardboard boxes are great for under the car during oil changes.

Lunch meat containers are intended as reusable containers; I use them for lunches.

Fast food cups get reused-as cups.

Cardboard rolls for crafts.

After thoroughly washing, wiping, washing, and wiping again, I will reuse 5 gallon cat litter containers for dog food.

Wood. So much wood, in so many forms and shapes. The garage is filled with wood. Also bits of drywall panels, duckting material, paint and so on.