5 Reuses for: Chopsticks

Only recently have we realized the negative impact that chopstick waste has on the environment. China alone trashes 63 billion pairs of chopsticks every year. Thanks to organizations like Greenpeace China, many restaurants have switched over to reusable chopsticks, or ones only made out of sustainable materials (i.e. bamboo). But most Asian restaurants in the US still use disposable chopsticks that will inevitably go to waste.

Luckily, there are many ways we can reuse our chopsticks (after washing and disinfecting them of course). So next time you order takeout Sushi, keep these reuses in mind:

1. Pick Up Sticks
   This is perfect for a Green Family-Game Night. All it takes is anywhere from 10-40 sticks. Plus, there's no min/max number of players. It's the simplest game that never gets boring—no matter how old you are! Here's how to play:
   
   • Everyone sits in a circle.
   • One person scatters the sticks onto a small area of the floor. The sticks should all lie on top/under each other in a disarrayed fashion (the messier the better).
   • Each person takes a turn at removing one stick from the pile, while trying not to move any of the other sticks.
   • If the player moves more than one stick, it's the next person's turn. But if he/she removes the stick without moving any others, they pick a second stick, and so on...
   • When all the sticks are gone, everyone counts their sticks. The person with the most sticks wins!


2. Hair Sticks
   If you have long hair, reuse a pair of chopsticks to keep your hair out of your face. Simply roll your hair up into a bun or French Twist, and zigzag the chopsticks in and out of your hair until it firmly holds the bun up.
   
   It's healthier than using an elastic hair band or clip, which are both more likely to tear your hair and cause breakage. Plus, it works really well on drier, thicker and more textured hair.
   
   You can pretty up the hair sticks by painting/dying them with different colors. I stain mine with tea bags (the wood soaks it up real well). I also love designing them funky beads or jewels-it always gets me compliments from strangers on the street.


3. Gardening Stakes
   Most serious gardeners swear by using chopsticks as stakes. Take my mother for example. To this day, she has never eaten with chopsticks. But she regularly and charms the manager of her local sushi joint into giving a few pairs of chopsticks for her plants.
   
   So if your plant is looking a little floppy, stick a chopstick right next to it into the dirt, and tie the plant onto the stick. If you're plant is on the taller side, you can tape a few sticks on top of one another until your "Chopstick Tower" is tall enough.


4. Knitting Needles
   Reusing chopsticks as knitting needles is perfect for beginners. Unlike the conventional, pointy knitting needle, a chopstick won't make you bleed if you poke yourself by mistake. And because of its rough texture, your yarn is less likely to slip off than it would with a plastic/metal needle. For this reason, it's perfect for soft yarn.
   
   Since most chopsticks come tapered, you won't have to worry about getting splinters. And even if they're not tapered, you can either run them over with sandpaper, or cover them with nail polish to make them extra smooth.
   
   You can use chopsticks as needles even if you're an expert knitter. It'll definitely save you money. However, you may want to sharpen the ends a bit with a pencil sharpener so that you can knit faster. Just make sure it's not too sharp.


5. Arts & Crafts
   I saved the best reuse for last. There are an infinite number of ways to incorporate used chopsticks into an arts & crafts project. Here are just a few:
   
   • Paint the chopsticks and glue them onto a wooden picture frame-just to give it some texture.
   • Cut them into different sizes and build a miniature log cabin (the same way you did in kindergarten with popsicle sticks).
   • Make a cross by gluing/tying together two sticks. Then take a piece of yarn and weave it in and out of each stick. You'll have a cute "star" design in no time. You can also add different sized sticks and colored yarn for more intricate designs, like a dreamcatcher.
   • Line a bunch of sticks together and glue them onto a piece of cardboard to make a placemat.
   • If you've saved up to 7,382 used chopsticks, you can be like Shuhei Ogawara and use them to build a life-size canoe.

Related Posts:
Bring Your Own Chopsticks
Olympics!: Vegetarian Kung Pao

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