A Few Cool Ways To Reuse Plastic Bottles!
In an ideal world, plastic bottles wouldn’t exist at all. However, we know that is not realistic simply based on what is available to the average consumer. So, when you end up with a plastic bottle, why not give it a second life before recycling it?
Here are a few ways we think are cool (because caring about the planet is cool!) to reuse plastic bottles when we end up with them:
Propagate some plants - It seems like everyone is into plants these days! Why not reuse a plastic bottle to propagate a few of your favorite plants for your friends (or to expand your own plant collection, we don’t judge). Plant swapping with friends and neighbors instead of buying new plants can also lower the environmental impact of your plant hobby.
Make a bird feeder - A quick and easy craft that can provide lots of entertainment. All you have to do is drill (or poke) a few holes around the perimeter, stick some chopsticks in the lower holes, so the birds have something to sit on, and fill with birdseed! Hang it up in a tree nearby and enjoy some relaxing birdwatching.
Store dry bulk goods - If you’re lucky enough to have a local grocery store with bulk bins, you can transfer your rice, beans, nuts, etc into some upcycled plastic bottles when you get home! Or ditch single-use ziplock bags and use it to hold homemade trail mix on your next hiking trip. Easy to just grab and go!
Store water for emergencies - It never hurts to be prepared, especially as we enter hurricane season here in the US. You don’t need to buy bottled water to have water for emergencies! You can clean any bottle and refill it with water. Store in a dark, cool place. Label with the date you filled the bottle and cycle out every 3-6 months (don’t just dump it down the drain, use it for watering plants or your garden). Emergency water is not only for drinking, it is important to have on hand for bathing, flushing the toilet.
Eco Brick - Ever heard of eco-bricking? It is a super cool way anyone can help keep plastics out of the ocean. Before you start, make sure you check out the instructions to ensure you’re doing it correctly. Essentially, an eco brick is an innovative way to reuse plastic as a building material for furniture, insulation, playgrounds, and more.
Turn into a hanging herb planter - This is one you can really get creative with. You can cut it in half and hang it or take it horizontally and cut a section out for the herbs (or if you have pets, wheat grass grows great in a bottle!). Seriously, just google “herb planter plastic bottle” to get some inspiration there are some super cool ideas out there. It can definitely be a conversation piece!
Did we miss anything? How else do you reuse a plastic bottle?
