Comments on: How can I reuse or recycle plastic water bottles?

By: louisa

louisa — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:02:04 +0000

That’s very cool – my only worry would be that those bottles might not last very well in strong sunlight.

By: Ann Marie

Ann Marie — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:49:47 +0000

I just searched. I found this~ Hope it helps: http://ana-white.com/2011/04/plastic-bottle-green-house-build-guide

By: Ann Marie

Ann Marie — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:17:15 +0000

Heather, do you have any pics up online or a link to a blueprint. I am very interested in trying this!

By: heather ackman

heather ackman — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:32:51 +0000

I actually have a couple green houses. I usually melt other plastic together to form a hard plastic sheeting, but if you have ever seen houses that have windows made from old glass bottles, It’s the same concept. Accept you don’t use mortar in between. It actually turns out pretty cool. And especially considering the plastic sheeting you buy from the hardware store is expensive, and always breaks under the weather. This way you can increase strength without sacrificing your wallet. The good plastic is EXTREMELY expensive.

By: Tracey

Tracey — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:05:11 +0000

Anyway cut the top off a fabric conditioner bottle the ones that has a wavy design is my favourably one to work with as it looks good as picture shows

Some of the bottles are semi clear and orchids love this as they need light to there roots

The cut off pot can also be used for>

*paint brushes wet or dry

*kitchen utensils

*used teabags

*A vase

*hanging plant (just make holes with a heated up screw driver and tie with string)

*A scoop for chicken feed or dog food The possibility with a empty bottle are endless but this is how I use them I Do not have to buy a pot for my plot or cutting Happy recycling if you want to see my blog of this go to http://mywingsandthings.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/recycling-plastic-bottles/

By: Recycling plastic bottles « mywingsandthings

Recycling plastic bottles « mywingsandthings — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:01:53 +0000

[...] Today I was reading a blog about recycling plastic bottles which inspired me to write this here is a linkfor my inspiration if you want to go there http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20060615/how-can-i-reuse-or-recycle-water-bottles [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:20:57 +0000

Pics please

By: rjnstn

rjnstn — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:00:46 +0000

That is actually very cool! You cannot tell it started life as a soda bottle.

By: Abbie

Abbie — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 19:23:35 +0000

my local preschool uses drinks bottles to make sensory toys for the children.
they do is fill a bottle with water and put in
glitter, or small plastic animals, or pen lids, or small sea shells, so when they are shaken they look really nice. the seashell one makes a nice tink tink noise!
I put metalic paint and water in one and it shimmers when shaken

By: Mary Anne Enriquez

Mary Anne Enriquez — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:25:06 +0000

That is REALLY interesting Alison! I stand corrected…I went to our facility web page and found out its ok to leave the caps on!!! though I have read repeatedly on other sites NOT to do so. Go figure.

http://www.groot.com/waste-management-chicago/what-to-recycle

Sorry for the confusion! Recycling CAN be confusing. but I learned something today.

My sincere apologies to the group and Efried. I would say to inquire of each person’s individual community to keep up with the continual changes…and all the how to’s of recycling.

On the other hand…I have been saving all plastic caps …hope to design something creative one day. Maybe a coat or other “art garment.”

By: alison bailey smith

alison bailey smith — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 21:28:59 +0000

Actually Mary Anne with the sorting system we have we have been told to screw the plastic lids back on so the machine recognises it as a bottle. We have a mixed bin with paper, plastic bottles, glass (bottles and jars)

By: Mary Anne Enriquez

Mary Anne Enriquez — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:05:14 +0000

Efried: Plastic bottle caps are NOT recycled at all. Never screw the cap back on!!! Its a completely different chemical composition then the bottle itself, and most likely will negate any recycling of the bottle itself! BOTH will wind up in the landfull…NOT recycled.

Always remove metal and plastic tops from any kind of bottle…glass included…so its easier to separate and sort out at a recycling facility….which most now are using machines to sort…not humans. So a machine will get confused if the cap is on the bottle and toss it into a landfill dump pile.

By: Efried

Efried — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 17:24:41 +0000

if disposed the volume should be minimised before-open the screw cap step on the bottle and close the screw cap-this saved a lot of transport energy.

By: Great reusing and recycling ideas from October

Great reusing and recycling ideas from October — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:02:21 +0000

[...] idea in a couple of places recently but Paul in Austin, TX was the one to mention it here – use the necks and lids from plastic bottles to make random plastic bags air tight and resealable – great for reusing cereal box liners and bread [...]

By: Bertie

Bertie — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:46:20 +0000

Except you’re only supposed to use approved containers to fill at petrol stations.

By: paul in austin, tx.

paul in austin, tx. — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:01:03 +0000

cut off the “funnel” top of any plastic bottle, feed the open side of any plastic bag thru from the bottom side, fold the open end over the threaded neck, screw on top. you have a sealed container…no more twist ties.

By: Mary Anne Enriquez

Mary Anne Enriquez — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:02:21 +0000

There arethousands of ideas for creatively reusing plastic bottles. I created a artist’s group on flickr:

“PET Bottle and other Plastics Recycled Creativity”
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1447554@N22/

Please come and join…flickr is free!

By: recycler

recycler — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:38:27 +0000

this year I let the kids in my class room decorate them w/ paint,stickers
,ect. ant strung them together to make a curtain for my class room
you could also
you could fill them w/ salt water and use them as ice packs…
or fill them w/ water and put them in water tank of your toilet so it uses less water (bonus)…
or re fill them..

By: Iain

Iain — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:36:40 +0000

Hi, someone has built one at an allotment in Nottingham but I have little idea how. I have lots of 1 pint bottles as the council stopped recycling and am searching for instructions…

By: analice

analice — Mon, 24 May 2010 10:39:17 +0000

some ideas:

bracelets: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=81971&id=113904561982196

earings: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=81971&id=113904561982196#!/photo.php?pid=81974&id=113904561982196

flowers: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=81971&id=113904561982196#!/photo.php?pid=96094&id=113904561982196

curtains: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=101736&id=113904561982196#!/photo.php?pid=83797&id=113904561982196

By: Kathie Butcher

Kathie Butcher — Sat, 08 May 2010 16:15:52 +0000

I am collecting plastic drinks bottles to make a greenhouse. I saw this on a welsh tv programme and thought it a brilliant idea, although I am still working out how exactly I can do it, especially the roof. I cut the bottoms off the bottles (hot knife) and thread them onto a long cane. Its still in the experimental stage as yet!!

By: Ash

Ash — Sat, 01 May 2010 10:27:25 +0000

LOFT INSULATION…. 2 litre bottleS – i squash them flat place the lid back on to stop the air getting back in. The start saving them up in large clear plastic bags (from deliveries) when nearly full of squashed bottles tie the top off and dot around all over the loft for amazing extra insulation!

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:26:22 +0000

It's good that everyone, well almost, is recycling plastic bottles these days. We also need to be more inventive with recycling, such as recycling milk jugs and rice sacks.

By: HuntingWabbits

HuntingWabbits — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:04:55 +0000

If you cut them horizontally, you’ve got a quick funnel.

By: HuntingWabbits

HuntingWabbits — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:08:58 +0000

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.

By: How can I reuse or recycle plastic screw-top bottle caps? « Take Your Top off!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:52:00 +0000

[...] we have a lot of plastic water bottles, and they are easy enough to recycle/reuse… but what about the screw-on bottle [...]

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:54:00 +0000

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.

By: Shorty

Shorty — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:39:57 +0000

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.

By: annon

annon — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:11:23 +0000

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.

By: Olia

Olia — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:27:46 +0000

Make a float, place a pot with hanging plants on it and arrange in your pond.