Junk for Your Trunk: 10 Exciting Chairs Help Reduce Waste

1. The Retire in the Tire Chair

Unfortunately, a lot of old tires end up in rivers, lakes, back yards, landfills, etc., pollution the environment. Tires are hard to recycle because of the material they are made of but fortunately designer Carl Menary has found a relaxing way of reusing old tires. Carl has turned old tires into chairs by folding the tires and then using bolts on the side to keep the tire folded. It is such simple idea many of us are probably kicking ourselves wondering why we didn't

think of this idea first.

2. The Perfect For Moms and Babies Chair

With two kids and one on the way when I saw this chair I thought "Wow! That's sweet!" is it pretty? No not really, but could it help my newborn and I sleep? Yes! In my eyes this reused and redesigned chair is ideal for moms and their babies. If you're wondering what it is it is a chair turned into a rocking chair and attached to a crib. In other words, when you rock your baby rocks with you and hopefully the two of you can fall fast asleep.

3. The Settle an Argument with Gloves Chair

Does anyone in your family love watching the sport boxing? Anyone box? Anyone argue? Chances are someone in your family does at least one of these 3 things so why not sit them down in the Argument Chair. This chair is made of made "of real leather Everlast boxing gloves on nickel plated hardened steel". Doesn't it look comfy?

4. The Finally There is a Way to Reuse and Old Mattress Chair

Though I have to say these chairs do not appear to be comfortable at all, I love the idea. Right now I have 3-used mattress in my garage. Giving or receiving a used mattress away is not sanitary and throwing it away is not eco-friendly. Mattress cannot be easily cleaned like clothes or recycled. Fortunately designer Frank Willems thought of a way to make used mattress in to chairs.

5. The They Save Your Lives First Then Cushion Your... Chair

Seatbelts save lives, but eventually they become worn. Instead of adding them to the landfill designer Nuttapong Charoenkitivarakorn uses them to create a chair, the Seatbelt Lounge Chair. To make this unique chair cotton-nylon seat belts are wrapped around the chair's plywood frame.

6. The Create Your Own Landfill and Sit On It Chair

Ever wonder what to do with your clothes much to used to even give away? Or that unrecycable junk you hate to throw away? The answer find a way to get your hands on a Truly Yours [True-re-use] designed by Inna Alesina. "It comes as a "skin" similar to the inflatables" but instead of being filled with air it is filled with hard to recycle items or sorts of junk junk. It can even be filled with overused clothing that isn't even worthy of donating, such as underwear. Once the skin is stuffed with junk it can be used as a chair.

7. The AOL Needs To Stop Sending those CDs Out Chair

AOL sends out to much junk mail, so much so that in 2003 someone collected enough CD from AOL to make what is now known as the AOL CD Throne Chair. It took 4000 CDs to make the chair, weighs at least 150 pounds and it lights up. To make your own follow the instructions on the website.

8. The Tired of Traveling Suitcase Chair

Chances are you still have an old suitcase lying around your house. To out of style to use or to worn to use they can still be put to good use. How? Sit on them. From MaybeDesign out of Turkey old suitcase parts have been recycled into colorful chairs and ottomans.

9. The Carpet Scrap Samples DIY Chair

Finalist in the 2008 Ample Sample competition, the Carpet Sqr'd Chair requires sixty carpet tiles to be made and a few other materials. The Ample Sample competition challenges designer to create new uses for carpet scraps and samples as a way of helping reduce carpet waste in landfill. For DIY instructions for the Carpet Sqr'd Chair click here.

10. The 100 Chairs in 100 Days Wonder

This spot goes not to a particular chair, but to the Italian furniture designer Martino Gamper. Choosing a particular favorite chair from his many was difficult and I opted instead to have you take a look at his chairs and all his other recycled furniture designs. It is fascinating looking at his work-chairs, tables and all. Take a look first at his 100 Chairs in 100 Days project.

May this eco-list inspire you to continue rethinking, recycling and reusing.