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By Anna B.

HCLS is thrilled to now offer paper bags as a more eco-friendly option for Contactless Pickup. If you’ve stopped by to see us a few times, you probably have quite a collection piling up! Here are ten ways to reuse your Contactless Pickup paper bag:

1. Gift Bag

Decorate your bag and use it to surprise a friend or neighbor with a fun treat! Or save them for the holidays for easy gift wrapping.

2. Cat House

Decorate your bag to look like a house and see if your pet will nap inside.

3. Ripen Fruit

If you want your fruit to ripen up a bit faster, try placing it inside your paper bag and folding over the top.

4. Package Filler

Use your paper bag as an eco-friendly way to fill space when sending a package. Cut the bag apart and crumple the pieces so they act as a cushion.

5. Weed Blocker

Paper bags work great for blocking pesky weeds. Cut a hole in a piece of paper bag and arrange around seedlings in your garden.

6. Make a Luminary

Cut shapes out of your bag and place battery-operated candles inside for a lantern effect.

7. Book Cover

Use your bag to cover textbooks or cookbooks to keep them looking nice.

8. Recycling Receptacle

Use your bag to collect paper recycling for easy transport to the recycling bin.

9. Crab Paper

Cut open your bag and use it to line your table when picking steamed crabs at home.

10. Craft Station

Use your bag to protect your table or floor from paint and glue while you make something creative! Consider sharing your new creation with HCLS’s Created While Isolated.

There are so many ways to upcycle your bag to get the most out of it. We’d love to see how you are reusing yours!

Anna has worked at the Glenwood Branch as a Customer Service Specialist for 6 years. She loves crafting, yoga, and baking.