Recycled Crafts for Earth Day With Kids

By Lisa Anderson · September 27, 2026

Turn Trash Into Treasure

Earth Day is the perfect time to teach kids about sustainability through hands-on crafting. These projects use items from your recycling bin.

Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars: Tape two rolls together, add a string, and explore the backyard.
Egg Carton Flowers: Cut, paint, and stack egg cups into colorful blooms.
Cardboard Tube Animals: Owls, bunnies, and caterpillars from paper towel rolls.
Plastic Bottle Planters: Cut the bottom half, add soil and seeds.
Newspaper Gift Wrap: Let kids stamp or paint newspaper for unique wrapping.
CD Mosaics: Break old CDs (carefully) and glue pieces onto picture frames.
Wine Cork Stamps: Carve shapes into corks for homemade stamp pads.
T-Shirt Yarn: Cut old tees into strips for weaving and braiding projects.
Jar Lanterns: Paint glass jars and add a tea light for outdoor evenings.
Magazine Collage: Cut colorful pages into shapes for abstract art.