How can I reuse or recycle plastic milk bottles?
A few weeks ago, on the coconut shells post, I found a very cool way to reuse plastic milk bottles to make covered bird feeders for small birds (UPDATE – the link I had has stopped working, the next best one uses big milk jugs but the same principle applies to smaller bottles too, from a 2pint/1ltr upward).
But as we’ve only got one tree in the garden (and that’s not really a tree, it’s an overgrown bush which is very cat-accessible), I’d love to find out other ways to reuse them rather than just slinging them in the recycling bin.
Any ideas?
Best Suggestions
- Reduce: Use a milk delivery company if available in your area – their glass bottles are sterilised and reused again and again.
- Reuse: There are lots of reuses around the home and garden: whole, they’re easy-pour storage for flour/other dry goods, as watering cans – or filled with water, exercise weights. Cut up, they can be used as scoops for dry pet food (or pet poop!), planters, slug traps and bird feeders.
- Recycle: Most plastic milk bottles are made from HDPE – plastic number 2 – which is widely recyclable.
- See the comments below for more suggestions and ideas
2 litres – I cut off as high as possible on the flat sides. I can then stack one inside another. Push in as far as you want. Camping – for each day – bottom one has my supper. next one has tea, next has lunch. next has breakfast cooking(eggs, bacon, sausages etc) top one has breakfast cereal. Top one acts as a lid and I put tins or similar in these. These all go in my cool box and I’m ready for anything.
1 litre – do the same but use to store knives, forks, spoons etc and put the top on upside down so it seals.
So light, and as I use each one it slides down into the next so takes up less space.
Also makes a handy container for a penny stove and its fuel, matches etc.
u suk