Repurposing Plastic Bottles

By / Food / May 12th, 2014 / 2

If there’s anything I have a lot of, it’s empty plastic bottles. Usually, I recycle them, but perhaps there is a better use for them in my home… like on of these interesting ideas.

Water Bottles

Centerpiece – secure six, label-less water bottles with an elastic. Wrap the group with a thick ribbon or several ribbons. Fill each bottle with water and add a beautiful bouquet for a lovely centerpiece.

Seedling planters – slice the bottle in half and put the top mouth-side down into the bottom. Fill the top with soil. The water will drain through the soil, ensuring the seedlings don’t drown.

Big Pop Bottles

Planter – remove the bottom with a straight or jagged cut. Reattach the cap. Decorate to your heart’s desire. Glue a CD to the cap to act as the base. Fill with dirt and wait for your plants to grow.

Hanging vase – like the standing planter, cut off the bottom. Punch two holes in wide, open end and thread string or a chain through it. Reattach the cap, fill with water and hang. Float blossoms or grow water plants.

Snack bowls – use the bottom half of the bottle. Melt the plastic rim with a clothing iron so it is smooth. Decorate it or leave it as is, it’s up to you; and use them as unique snack bowls at your next party.

Laundry Detergent Bottles

Fairy houses – cut a big hole in the side with a little hole above it for your door and window. Decorate with moss, stones or other natural elements, then put it in the garden for your own fairy village.

Shelves – keep the bottom of the jug but remove all of one side. Paint them all one colour or different colours and mount them on the wall for fun-shaped shelves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A freelance writer and editor, Lisa Hoekstra loves learning and trying new things. She can be found with her nose in a book or multiple tabs open on her browser as she researches the latest and greatest in the world of food, style and everything in between.

2 responses to “Repurposing Plastic Bottles”

  1. MarilynBarter says:

    Lisa,

    I have an Amaryllis plant that grows very long large leaves. Anyone who owns one knows that the fully grown leaves get too heavy & break. So I made a “sleeve” from two clear 2Litre soda bottles for my plant. I removed the labels, bottoms & tops & stacked them to give the leaves support. The sleeve is loose enough that new leaves & blooms grow undisturbed. My Amaryllis had 3 beautiful red flowers this winter and presently six large healthy leaves!

  2. MarilynBarter says:

    Lisa,

    I use the green 2L plastic bottles as “green houses” for spring seedlings. I just remove the labels & caps. I cut the bottoms off & place them over the seedling planted in a container or in the ground. With the cap off, too much moisture does not build up but they are protected from wind & cold.

North America’s Longest Running Food & Wine Magazine

Get Quench-ed!!!

Champion storytellers & proudly independent for over 50 years. Free Weekly newsletter & full digital access