Given fears of a recession and worries about overflowing landfills, there's new incentive to find second lives for many household items. "We can't afford to keep living disposable lives," says Lori Baird, a co-author of Don't Throw It Out: Recycle and Reuse to Make Things Last , a compendium from Yankee magazine.

"It makes sense for all of us to be more careful about how we spend money." The next time you're contemplating giving something the old heave-ho, here are eight tips to give it new use.

1. OLD SHOWER CURTAIN, NEW GRILL COVER

Got a stained or tired shower curtain? Ms. Baird suggests using it as a waterproof cover for outdoor furniture or a grill.

2. OLD PAPERWORK, NEW DOG BED

Shredded paperwork, bath mats and old towels can be donated to local animal shelters. The paper and bath mats make beds for dogs and cats, and towels are needed to wash animals.

3. OLD BINDER, NEW CD CASE

Three-ring binders from your children's old school days can house CDs or DVDs that have lost their cases. Store them in album refill pages for 5-by-7-inch photos.

4. OLD SOCKS, NEW ORNAMENT SAVER

Save old and mateless socks to store delicate Christmas ornaments. You also can use socks to stuff the insides of shoes so they don't lose their shape in storage.

5. OLD PANTYHOSE, NEW BROOM

Revitalize an old broom by covering the bristles with ruined pantyhose. Cut a piece from the leg and stretch it over the broom's bristles. The nylon's static will attract and hold lint and small dust particles as you sweep.

6. OLD BOOK, NEW SAFE

Make a safe out of an old hardcover textbook or outdated encyclopedia. Don't Throw It Out suggests opening the book to a spot at least one inch from the back. Prop the book open with a paperweight. Use a pencil and a straightedge to mark a rectangle in the middle of the page. Cut out the rectangle with a craft knife; score the edges heavily, and you'll be able to cut through several pages at a time. Repeat until you're about to cut into the back cover.

7. OLD PILLOWCASE, NEW TOY

Fashion a toy for the family dog from a discarded pillowcase. Roll it lengthwise and make three knots – one in the middle and one at each end.

8. OLD SOAP, NEW MOTH REPELLENT

Dry leftover slivers from bath soap bars and place them in a large zip-top plastic bag. Use a hammer to smash the bars into small pieces, and then close the bag. Poke several small holes in the bag with a pin and then toss the bag into storage bins with clothes. The soap will repel moths and other insects and keep clothes smelling fresh.

The Associated Press