Recycling Fun with Rubbish and Pallets!

You know we love to make play resources from recycled pallets and this one has been on my list for quite some time. Well if I'm honest, not my list, Daddy's list!

He has again made my vision become a reality and says it was one of the easiest of my ‘bright ideas' to build. When I posted a picture of our finished pallet sink a few weeks ago on my facebook page it proved very popular so I promised to share with everyone how we made it.

DIY pallet sink

I think it turned out beautifully and I had just the right spot in the sandpit ready to go!

Building a pallet kitchen sink from recycled materials - Find out how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

I'm often asked where we get the items we use in our recycle and upcycle projects so I thought I would take you on a little journey through one of our favourite places to visit on a weekend.

I know that probably sounds awful to most of you reading but I just love looking through other peoples trash and finding something I can turn into treasure for very little cost and i personally think it is an important learning journey for children to be involved in to.

We live in such a throw away society at the moment I like to show my girls that you don't always need to go and buy something new. We wander around our local revolve store and talk about what things might have been used for and why people might have brought them to the dump (tip, trash). It's not hard to spend an hour there!

Our twins Ruby and Tara love to explore and investigate and tell me how we could use things if we take them home…they are ever hopeful and never see trash, just treasures to be rescued!

The revolve centre is located in a big shed at our local dump. It is an initiative of our local council and houses an eclectic collection of used goods that people have disposed of but that have been rescued from the rubbish pile and offered for sale at usually very reasonable (dare I say cheap!) prices.

It's not pretty but serves such an important role in the sustainability practices of our community…and is a magical place for early childhood educators like me!!

There are indoor and outdoor areas and with a bit of creativity and imagination you can find a use for most items there. Some weeks there is a lot to choose from, other weeks not so much but that is the fun of the hunt!

On this particular visit we found this little beauty and my dreams were finally realised…yes I know I really need to get out more but stay with me, it gets more exciting!

We dragged out a few pallets from the stash under the house (doesn't everyone have a stash of pallets under their house?) and began to lay out the pieces.

Doesn't look like much here does it?

Let's break construction down to a few easy steps…

Step 1

His patient self took a few boards off another pallet and measured them against the sink length. You'll need two long pieces of pallet timber to form the length and two shorter pieces to form the width.

Step 2

Lay your pieces out to form a frame as shown below, check measurements again

Step 3

The frame should fit the sink easily, test by laying it inside your makeshift frame before screwing your frame together to form a secure tray.

Step 4

Now you will need 4 short pallet lengths and 1 long length to make a frame with legs like the one shown below. Notice that the front boards of this pallet have now been taken off to use.

Screw together at the legs, the back of the pallet will form your kitchen sink cupboard/splashback.

Step 5

Screw the frame to the standing pallet and you are ready for the final few steps already! His patient self also added a pallet length to the top to form a small shelf and neaten the look a little.

Step 6

Now secure the sink frame you made earlier to the stand and cross your fingers that the sink still fits!

Drop the sink into the frame and you are ready to ‘dress' your sink. We use a bucket under our sink holes if we are playing with water so we can recycle it onto the garden.

Even if you don't fill the sinks with water though there are so many ways to use this new resource.

Have to say my girls do love to wash their dishes in the sandpit though and who am I to stop this beautiful role play…certainly saves the sudsy mess normally following these same helpers in my own kitchen!

Yes, I do love it when a plan comes together and yet again we have managed to turn someone else's trash into a little treasure for our backyard playspace.

Does your council have a recycle centre where you live?

A Little About Me

Jodie Clarke is an early childhood professional supporting educators who want and need to stay passionate about the work they do! She has 30 years hands-on experience in the early childhood and human services sectors across many different roles.

Jodie is mum to 3 in Australia and has already helped thousands of educators with their work through her popular blog posts, activity ideas, online training and e-books.

Comments

Sarah C says

25/10/2014 at 1:21 pm

I LOVE your kitchen sandpit, it looks like so much fun can be had. It is funny how much kids love cooking in the sandpit.

Tim M says

06/11/2014 at 3:04 am

I’m speechless! This is such and amazing project! If I’d had something like this as a kid I would have lost it. Kudos to you and hubby 🙂

Amanda says

01/04/2015 at 5:00 am

Thanks so much for the idea! I think I still have a kitchen sink in the barn from when my m.i.l. redid the kitchen 15 years ago. Now I just need her to bring home some pallets from work. Again, thank you!

- mummymusingsmayhem says
  
  02/04/2015 at 11:59 pm
  
  How wonderful Amanda! Hope you get those pallets, be sure to send a pic if you get it done, would love to see 🙂
  
Iris says

12/01/2016 at 8:56 pm

The pictures appear to be missing from this post and I was very interested in the instructions… thanks! 🙂

- mummymusingsmayhem says
  
  14/01/2016 at 11:59 pm
  
  My apologies the pictures are indeed missing – very frustrating I know!! My server has been having some issues but I am hoping to have everything sorted and my pics back here very soon. Sorry for the inconvenience!
  
Jaime says

20/03/2017 at 4:35 am

I made this by myself yesterday, yay Mom power!, and my kids love it! Thank you so much for the instructions and making it look so easy! It was! :):)

- The Empowered Educator says
  
  21/03/2017 at 2:36 pm
  
  That’s great to hear Jaime, well done!!Thanks for letting me know, I love to hear that people have taken some inspiration and run with it!!