Every day we purchase products and items that we need. Although our major concern is the product we buy, we also need to consider the packaging that comes with these products.
One of the most commonly used fasteners for holding bags is twist tie. It is also called garden twist wire, and it is used to fasten the end of holding bags. Twist ties come in various colors, sizes, prints, designs, and materials; there are metallic paper, plain paper, custom coatings, and plastic twist ties.
The strength of the twist ties also varies according to the purpose it will be used for. There are twist ties for holding bread bags, and there are twist ties to hold garden hoses in place.
Though twist ties are very important for packaging, are they sustainable? Can you recycle twist ties? Do twist ties have a negative impact on the environment? We will provide answers to these questions and many more in this blog post. So, take a seat, relax, and enjoy reading this blog post.
Can You Recycle Twist Ties?
Twist ties are in great use today; many products are being held and bound by twist ties. It would be very difficult for us to do away with them anytime soon. However, with the abundance of twist ties in production and use, there is an issue of disposal.
The best way to dispose of an item is to recycle it; this way, the item is turned into another product without any harmful process. So, the question environmentally conscious people ask is if we can recycle twist ties.
No, twist ties are not recyclable. They are composed of different materials, so recycling them will be impossible because they are in small quantities. A twist time is composed of one or more metal wires which are encased in a covering material.
The metal wires in a twist tie are usually galvanized or stainless steel and measure between 0.410 diameter and 0.0132 diameter. Now, the covering material of twist ties is made of either polyethylene, plastic, or paper (plain or metallic).
The covering material can be designed in various colors with or without printing. Twist ties can either have the same covering material on both sides or plastic on one side and paper on the other. If the two sides of the covering material are made of paper, they are usually bound together with plastic or an adhesive.
Looking at all the individual components that make up twist ties, you can see why recycling them is very difficult. Each component is so tiny that it cannot be recycled into a new product. So, all used twist ties sadly end up in landfills.
Are Metal Twist Ties Recyclable?
We mentioned earlier that twist ties could not be recycled; metal twist ties are not an exception. They are also unrecyclable. If there are efforts to recycle twist ties, metal twist ties would be the most difficult to recycle.
Mainly because there is little use of the tiny metal wires in the twist ties, you might think since it is metal, it can be melted to produce a new product. That would require a large number of metal twist ties, which is almost impossible.
Another reason metal twist ties are not recyclable is the different types of metal used during the production. Different metals are used to achieve that state where the twist ties can be twisted and untwisted, and separating them is physically impossible. So, like every other twist tie, metal twist ties also end up in landfills.
Are Twist Ties Biodegradable?
Many products that are termed to be environmentally friendly are biodegradable; bacteria and other microorganisms can break them down into smaller parts, with the products causing any harm to the environment. We know that twist ties are not recyclable but are they biodegradable?
Only paper twist ties are biodegradable. Although the metal wires in the twist ties are not biodegradable, the covering material is. Since it is made from paper, a sustainable material, it can be broken down by bacteria in the soil.
On the other hand, metal twist ties and plastic twist ties are not biodegradable; they are not produced from sustainable products, so they cannot be broken down by bacteria. Although, they do not harm the environment in any way.
10 Amazing Ways To Reuse Old Twist Ties
A great and exciting way of discarding old items is by upcycling them. This is the process of using the items to be discarded for a whole new purpose other than what it was originally produced for. Let us look at 10 interesting ways of reusing old twist ties.
1. Temporary Eyeglass Screw
If you have glass wearers, you will find this very useful. It is not uncommon for glass wearers to experience glass failure, such as the frame developing faults. Sometimes, getting it fixed as soon as possible might not be an option, and you would have to improvise.
If the screw holding your glass frame is lost and you may not have it fixed for a while, you can use twist ties to hold the frame in place instead of not using it.
To do this, you need to strip the covering or the twist tie until you get the wire inside. Next, put the wire into the part where the screw is supposed to go and twist it a couple of times. To avoid trailing ends, snip the wire short. This will hold your glass frame in place until you can fix it.
2. Tie Up Bags
This is clearly what twist ties are created for. If you have a bag of frozen items or other things you need to put in the freezer, you can use a twist tie to seal the bag tight. If you have products that will get stale when exposed to air, you can use twist ties to seal up the bag you put them in to keep them fresh.
You can also use twist ties to seal up bags of eatables for guests, such as cookies, bread, and other edibles. This will keep the edibles fresh until the person is ready to consume them.
So, it will not be a bad idea to keep all the twist ties you remove from the packaging of products you buy.
3. Bundle Up Cords
Regardless of what you do or the type of home you have, you will find this twist tie hack very useful. Have you ever wondered how to clean up and arrange the mess of wires lying around in your home? We bet you have never thought of using twist ties. This is one of the most useful things you can use a twist tie for.
Arrange the cords you want to tie up together and use the twist ties to hold them together. You can also use this hack for your phone cords, computer wires, and electronic wires in your workplace.
4. Training Vines
Although there are twist ties for gardening purposes, there is no harm in using twist ties from product packaging for gardening. You would be saving money by using old twist ties instead of purchasing new ones. If you have plants that need a support stake or trellis, you can use some twist ties to hold the plants to the support beams.
To do this, first, you must have installed the support beams, then gently tie the plants to the beams using the twist ties. Ensure you do not make the twist ties too tight, or the plants will not develop properly.
5. Stitch Markers and Holders For Knitters
One of the most expensive purchases is stitch holders and markers, and they are also easy to lose. Why spend a lot on an item you can easily lose when there is a free and easy alternative? You can use twist ties instead, and you can color-code them, using them on various needle sizes.
One advantage of twist ties over stitch markers is that they can be used for various knitting projects. Stitch markers cannot be used for all knitting projects; some are too small for them. You can also use the twist ties to hold the stitches you are not working on for the time being.
6. Keep Pens Together
If you have a child fond of losing his pen, you can use twist ties to keep all his writing tools together. Wrap the twist tie around the pencils and pen, so the child can easily pull out the writing tool needed for a particular time.
7. Organize Office Equipment
You can use twist ties to organize small items lying around on your office desk, including binder clips, paper clips, and rubber bands. Luckily, these items all have openings that a twist tie can fit into perfectly. So, instead of leaving your work area unorganized and untidy, use twist ties to tidy it up.
You can also use twist ties to bind loose papers. When you have a lot of papers to work with, leaving the papers unorganized can make you frustrated, especially when you have to find a piece of paper lying under a lot of papers. Punch a hole into the papers and fit the twist tie into the holes to bind it.
8. Organize Your Ornaments
Another perfect way to upcycle old twist ties is to use them to organize and secure your ornaments. You will find this useful, especially if you have a toddler, a clumsy partner, or even a curious pet.
With some twist ties, you tie up the ornaments together and keep them secure. With twist ties, your ornaments are secured from falling and protected from being tampered with by your child or pet.
9. Unjam And Clean Small Appliances
The possibility of a small appliance not working at its peak efficiency due to it being dirty or having something jammed inside is high. You do not have to worry about this problem anymore because you have an effective solution.
First, turn off the appliance before using the twist ties to clean it. You may have to jiggle the twist tie to remove large dirt, like a chunk of bread lying deep in the recess of the toaster.
10. Emergency Shoelace
As funny as this will sound, you can use twist ties as an emergency shoelace. You can string the twist tie between the eyelets of your shoes and use it as a shoelace until you get a shoelace. However, it would be best if you tucked the ends of the twist tie well, so you don’t poke your feet.
Conclusion
Who would have thought that we can use a small item like a twist tie for many things other than holding product packaging?
Although these little items are not recyclable, we can still use them because they do not pose a serious threat to the environment’s safety. We have taken the time to show you different upcycling ideas for old twist ties. Have a great time trying them out.
