How can I reuse or recycle plastic water bottles?
Last Friday, before setting forth on an expedition that would involve standing in the sun and shouting for a long time, we decided to gather all the water bottles in the house and refill them to take along.
We’re not fans of bottled water and only buy bottles when we’re in a bind, so it was quite surprising to see how many we had accumulated around the house.
We only need so many for reusing as water bottles* for over the summer so what can we do with the rest?
* refilling old bottles, I should add, is strictly forbidden, according to notes on the labels of the bigger brands. So don’t do it! don’t! ;)
Best Suggestions
- Reduce: Install a water filter at your home and carry a refillable container with you so you don’t need to buy water wherever you go.
- Reuse: Use it instead of a water-displacement brick in your toilet cistern to reduce the excess water flow. Or cut the top bottom off and use it as a mini-greenhouse for your seedlings in the garden.
- Recycle: Most water bottles are PETE (Number 1 plastic) which is widely recyclable so you’ll probably be able to recycle it with your other plastics.
- See the comments below for more suggestions and ideas
If you grow any seedlings, flowers,fruit or veg, the bottles can be used as mini cloches by cutting off the bottom (which can be used as small pot saucers) and placing over the plant, in the ground and in the house and garden. It may be necessary to hold down using a piece of wire coathanger pushed into the soil through the neck of the bottle. PET 1 and 2 bottles are easy to recycle and go on to be re-used as anything from fleece clothing to roadside safety barriers. I don`t have the slightest hesitation about re-using them as water bottles, just rinse the cap well. I think it is a ploy by the mineral water producers to make us buy more. If you make any drinks e.g. elderflower fizz,ginger beer, wine etc. the bottles (water only) are excellent particularly as they will withstand high internal pressure.
I fill a couple up with water and leave them in the freezer – great for using on picnics and trips to the beach as an ice pack.
That is a good one because I guess they are acting as ice packs for the picnic en route. thank you
You can also use the middle- without neck and bottom- for watering your plants without causing erosion.
You can cut the tops of the bottles to use as funnels – I have a whole range of size in my shed for using around the garden.
http://toppertwo.tripod.com/container.htm
http://toppertwo.tripod.com/easy_watering.htm
You can build a Harmonica Microphone using a mineral water bottle and a plastic milk bottle. Obviously, you need some electrical components (£16 worth) and some soldering skills, but it’s the shape that’s the important thing:
http://www.planetharmonica.com/ph2/VE/TMI-micUK.htm
You could fill one or two of them and keep them in the car i case you overheat. We have learnt to do this from experience!
you can make a boat that you can lay on and tan while floating on water.
There is a way to make bird deterrents for gardens/allotments with them, involving cutting sections and bending them out like sails so they spin round. I’m not sure exactly how you would go about this though..
You can make a vase out of these bottles.
Check out this link; the last thumbnails display how this vase is done :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/reciclarte/sets/72057594113997025/
PLASTIC BOTTLES WITH THE NEXK REMOVED MAKE GOOD SWEED PROPOGATOR COVERS! Small flowerpots especially, but hey! it depends on the size of your bottle!
I keep an empty 2-litre bottle in the boot of my car, in case I run out of petrol. It’s only happened once, but the plastic bottle was very useful then!
I cut mine up, decorate them, and make bangles. :)
It’s a fun project for kids, too.
I reuse my water bottles by filling them up with iced tea, flavoured water, or just plain water for future hikes or hot days.
Note: be sure to clean each bottle and let dry thoroughly to avoid bacterial growth.
http://www.plasticsinfo.org/s_plasticsinfo/sec_level2_faq.asp?CID=705&DID=2839
Apart from filling water for the fridge, picnic use, I would cut the bottles into half and use it as small pots for cactus, stationery holder or just keep a few bottles of plain tap water in the car, in case someone needs to clean up or the car runs out of water.
make fish! This tutorial will show you how. http://josepino.com/other_projects/?craft_bottle_fish
I saw it done on TV and they used markers to color it and strung them up with fishing line for a cool summer window display, could make mobiles too.
Make a float, place a pot with hanging plants on it and arrange in your pond.
Fill a bottle up with sand and put it in your toilet tank to min. the amount of water your toilet uses. most of the older models use waay too much water.
You can cut them in half and use the bottoms as containers for crafting material. They’re a little ugly to be used for display, but with in drawers, they’re great for separating out crafting or building material (screws, nails…), pens, odds and ends…
We also use water bottles to water our plants instead of buying a watering can.
They’re great for marinades. If you have too much, you can transfer your leftovers into a smaller bottle (using the top of another water bottle as a funnel), label it and either freeze it or store it in the fridge.
Just keep in mind, if you’re reusing the bottles to store food or drink, you wash them out properly and let them dry out thoroughly after every use or you could end up getting very sick.
Happy recycling.
A friend of mine takes Poland Spring bottles (the cheapest, thinnest, most pliable plastic bottle you’ve ever seen) and he squeezes the bottom so it’s almost flat, then he crams it in between the Y-shaped space between the wheel and metal part of his bike. When the tire rubs against the bottle, it makes a sound like a motorcycle. Cool, but often annoying.
You can cover them by making a tube from old jeans, canvas, or other heavy duty fabric, and giving to your dog to play with. They love the sound the plastic bottle makes when they chew on it and will love playing catch and other games with you as well.
If you have one of the really cheap poland spring bottles, with the thin caps, use a sharp screw to twist a hole into the bottom of the cap }////> ] (this way so that the water squirts out properly) Then they can be used for watering plants, washing hands, squirt guns, etc., just don’t drink from them after you squeeze the hell out of them.
If you cut them horizontally, you’ve got a quick funnel.