Dog Beds Made From Recycled Materials

Wooden and Plastic Crates

• Create a dog bed by recycling wooden or plastic crates; match the size of the create with your dog accordingly. Cut the front out of either option with a hack saw or chainsaw, and sand any rough corners and edges with sandpaper. Duct tape can also be used to cover sharp or rough areas. Place bedding materials within the crate, such as old comforters, blankets, towels and throw pillows before setting the bed in a designated area.

Fabric Options

• Make large pillow beds for your pooch by recycling assorted fabrics, such as old large trench coats, denim jeans, long skirts and jackets, old wool blankets and thick comforters, and old drapes and curtains. Thick material is best to avoid easy tears and rips from dog claws. Measure and sew the material to create a bed that is appropriate to the size of your dog. Fill the pillow bed with other recycled materials, such as the contents from a broken bean bag chair, old pillow or comforter stuffing and old craft filler material. Old sleeping bags are another fabric option; simply sew the bag into a square or rectangular dog bed as it already contains cushioning materials.

Commercial Options

• Commercial options for dog beds made from recycled materials include dog pillows and mats made with recycled plastic soda bottles. Soft plastic water and soda bottles work as the bed filler material, and the cloth covering is generally made of recycled or organic fabric. Such beds keep plastic bottles out of landfills, where they will take decades to fully decompose.

Foam Options

• Rather than throwing out foam mattress toppers, use them as dog bedding. Cut and stack the mattress toppers to create a bed that fits your dog's size, and either sew them together as is or cover them with durable material, such as old towels. Cover the foam stacks with large plastic bags before covering them with fabric as a way of further protecting the foam and therefore making your recycled dog bed last longer.