From Jeans to Summer Shorts: Recycling Denim

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Image courtesy of foto76 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ever have a pair of jeans that you can't bear to part with even when the seams start to split and the color starts to fade? What about the pair that got sent to the back of your closet when you grew taller and they seemed shorter? When it comes to cleaning out old jeans, many times we tend to place them in the trash pile without thinking twice about what we could do with them in terms of recycling. The great thing about jeans, however, is that even if they can no longer serve their original purpose, they can easily be turned into a brand new pair of shorts for the summer! The following is a set of instructions for how you can turn your old jeans into new denim shorts:

Materials:

• Jeans
• Scissors
• Safety pins or a sharpie
• Ruler

Steps: 

1. Put on your old pair of jeans and determine a length that you feel would be appropriate for your shorts.
2. Once the length is determined, use a safety pin to hold your place or mark up your jeans with a sharpie. Make sure to consider whether or not you want to be able to cuff your new shorts, since you would need to leave extra room when determining length.
3. Next, lay your jeans flat and cut off each leg one at a time. To help you keep a straight line, take a ruler and a sharpie and trace the path in which you will cut before beginning. Tip: Cut the legs on a slight angle so they allow for a little flare.
4. If desired, fray the edges a bit; this can be done simply by putting your jeans in the wash!

That's it! Pretty simple, right?  For more tips on how to turn jeans into shorts, click here.

At Boro Wide Recycling, we work to keep our planet safe by providing comprehensive recycling services to commercial and residential customers. Join us in our efforts! Contact us to learn how we can help you in your recycling efforts, and don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest news in recycling efforts and eco-friendly tips.