There’s no doubt that plastic waste is a big problem all over the world. It’s estimated that 91 percent of plastic waste is not recycled. That means it goes straight into a landfill or even worse, into natural environments like rivers, forests, and oceans where it wreaks havoc on wildlife.
In 2010, the global production of plastic was 270 million tons — and the estimated amount of plastic waste was even higher, at 275 million tons. That’s because it’s easy to keep wasting plastic that’s been around for years. Of that, about eight million tons made their way into the ocean.
It’s a huge amount of waste, with plastic causing enormous health problems for marine and birdlife as well as other animals. So, it’s no wonder there’s a worldwide push to find other ways of packaging supplies. In 2018, a social media fight erupted over laws surrounding the use of disposable plastic straws.
It may still be many years before we start to consistently see alternatives to disposable plastic packaging, especially with items like bottles. But in the meantime, here are 45 ways that you can reuse plastic bottles and help protect the planet that’s our home.
Don’t bother buying or building a bird feeder made of wood that’ll eventually rot or break from exposure. These plastic feeders work just as well and will last for many years to come. And believe us, your bird pals will be just as happy to get their snacks from a plastic feeder!
Plastic bottles are a perfect way to store small items like children’s toys. What’s more, is that their clear exterior makes it super easy to find what you’re looking for. All you need to put these together is some clean bottles and a utility knife.
Do you want to teach your kids how to budget their money — or even have a quick and safe place to store loose change? Make this super cute piggy bank in no time and start saving.
If you’re an avid gardener, don’t bother spending lots of money picking out store bought planters. You can make amazing planters that’ll help your garden thrive — while also being kind to Mother Earth.
There are tons of ways to make easy and sustainable nightlights out of plastic bottles. These adorable ones use colored tape and a tea light. This nightlight looks like it walked straight out of a children’s book.
Did you know that you can make gorgeous jewelry out of plastic bottles? It’s not as hard as it looks. You can play with different colored plastics or use paint or dye to get the effect you want. You can find clasps and other jewelry-making materials at any craft store.
Bookstores and libraries use book organizers to keep their shelves neat and tidy. You don’t have to purchase anything to get the same result! Well, except a large plastic bottle, of course.
Most women will tell you that it’s hard to find the perfect purse. We think this adorable one made from an old soda bottle gets pretty darn close. It’s easy to add straps or any other kind of decoration that you want.
Do you want to make your next dinner party look amazing? Grab some regular candles and plastic bottles and then set them up as stylish candle holders. Your guests won’t even know they’re made from plastic.
If you have an abundance of plastic bottles on hand and you love to garden, there’s good news — you can kill two birds with one stone by building this amazing, sustainable gardening shed. This shed can also function as a very effective greenhouse since it captures heat and moisture.
If you’re looking for an easy way to water your garden, all you need to do is rig up one of these simple DIY sprinklers. You can probably even guess how to make one just by looking at the photo. All it takes is a regular plastic bottle and a knife.
If you want to make your yard’s birds the envy of the neighborhood, you can. Give them one of these stylish birdhouses made to last long-term. This’ll be sure to keep them warm and dry no matter what the weather.
Do you want an easy way to store art supplies or other writing materials? Plastic bottles are an excellent to organize colored pencils and crayons as well. They’re sturdy and made to stay upright, which makes them an ideal solution.
This DIY broom might take a bit of work, but you won’t have to replace it any time soon. Those bristles are made from strips of plastic cut from old soda bottles. The result – a broom that’s super sturdy — not to mention pretty artistic.
Organizing kitchen items like pasta, rice, or beans can take up a lot of space in your kitchen cupboards. Keep them organized and easy to find by storing them in plastic bottles. Just make sure the bottles are thoroughly washed and dried before use.
Do you want to make a cute yet simple jewelry holder that lets you see all your accessories? You can make it happen in just a short amount time, having plenty of space for all your jewelry — and maybe even storing jewelry you’ve made out of other plastic waste.
Organizing systems can be pretty expensive. So, if you’re looking for an easy way to keep small items tidy, look no further! It’s extremely easy to make this mounted organization system from recycled plastic bottles.
Can’t find your dustpan? Just cut up a larger plastic bottle, like the kind used for laundry detergent. Keep the hand on for easy gripping and then grab your broom.
Cosmetics can be difficult to organize. There are a lot of tiny pieces and little tools that can easily go missing. Plastic bottles are a great way to keep makeup or other toiletries organized neatly so they’re always easy to find
It’s super easy to make this multipurpose carrying case. It’s perfect for makeup or crayons and markers for kids. All you need is an extra-large plastic bottle, a knife, and a zipper.
Are you tired of having your shoes in a jumble on the closet floor? You can use this easy DIY organization method to keep them together. Plus, they’ll be easy to find at a glance.
Do you want to make a super cute keychain that’ll last a long time? You can make one that’s totally unique by using a plastic bottle. The process is incredibly easy and it’s simple to customize any way you want.
Got an herb garden coming along? You can make your own planters out of regular plastic bottles. Since they’re great holders of heat and moisture, they provide an ideal environment in which plants thrive.
Plastic bottles are popular for gardening and for good reason — they’re versatile, durable, and waterproof. This hack uses multiple bottles stacked on top of one another to create oversized planters. This is ideal if you don’t have much room for a big garden.
Remember when we mentioned how plastic bottles trap heat and water? That’s exactly the environment that’s needed for greenhouse plants to thrive. You can even make a miniature version by using a single bottle.
Plastic bottles go beyond functional tasks in the garden. If you’ve dreamed of having your very own waterfall, you can literally build one out of a couple of old water bottles.
Self-watering planters take a lot of the work out of gardening because, as the name implies, you don’t have to water your plants! These planters suspend plants above a water source, allowing them to draw moisture into their roots.
If you’re a baker, you know how annoying separating eggs can be. This task can take a long time and it’s a messy process. In fact, some recipes can be ruined if just the slightest bit of yolk gets in. Thankfully, you can make a super simple and effective egg separator with a plastic bottle.
If you need a watering can, there’s no need to buy one in a store. All you need to do is grab a clean plastic bottle and puncture a few holes in it. If you want to make it a bit fancier than that, feel free!
Cat toys are a bit expensive, but here’s a secret: your cat will play with just about anything you give it. Cats will love this straightforward rattling toy that’s lightweight and easy to bat around.
Do you plan to bring the kiddos to the beach but you need some sand toys? A leading source of plastic waste is children’s plastic toys. Instead of buying new plastic, use some of the items you have at home to upcycle them into beach toys.
Do you need a way to keep your kids occupied on a rainy day? Set up this simple DIY bowling pin game. They’ll love knocking the pins over and yes, make a bit of a mess (but one that’s easy to clean up!).
Plastic bottles aren’t just versatile items — you can use them to build all kinds of things. This plastic bottle bin is made up of old water and soda bottles for a super sturdy structure.
You can even use old plastic bottles to improve your home decor. These DIY vases are super easy to make and even easier to customize. Use your creativity to make your vase totally unique.
Do you need somewhere to keep all your plastic grocery bags? Mount a large plastic bottle upside-down on your wall, cut an opening in the top, and then remove the cap. Now you can store all your bags and access them easily.
If you’re looking for an easy way to light up an attic or shed, you can make a solar bulb out of a plastic bottle and some water. That’s really all you need — and natural light does everything else for you.
People have made beautiful mosaics and wall art using bottle caps. You might think that art made from trash looks well, trashy, but you’ll be surprised at how beautiful it can be.
If you like making your own lip balm, you might not know exactly how to store it. You can easily fashion a regular bottle cap into a simple holder that can be carried in your pocket.
You might not have a lot of use for this in your home (unless you often read magazines) but it’s a great, eye-catching look for a doctors’ office or waiting room.
When looking at a plastic bottle, you might not think it’s made of particularly pliable material. But when cut into smaller pieces, it’s actually a flexible, versatile material that can easily be made into durable baskets like this one.
Do you want a way to feed your cat or dog without having to fill up the bowl every day? Automatic feeders are expensive, but there’s good news — you can make a slightly lower-tech version with two plastic bottles.
This is unbelievably cool, no pun intended. You can actually make an electricity-free air conditioner with a sheet of wood and plastic bottle heads. These pull in cool air from passing winds and have the capacity to lower the temperature in your home as much as a central air unit.
You might think it’s unbelievable, but you can actually use plastic bottles to make things like furniture. One example is this gorgeous DIY ottoman, which isn’t as hard to make as you might think.
There’s no doubt that plastic waste is a big problem all over the world. It’s estimated that 91 percent of plastic waste is not recycled. That means it goes straight into a landfill or even worse, into natural environments like rivers, forests, and oceans where it wreaks havoc on wildlife.
In 2010, the global production of plastic was 270 million tons — and the estimated amount of plastic waste was even higher, at 275 million tons. That’s because it’s easy to keep wasting plastic that’s been around for years. Of that, about eight million tons made their way into the ocean.
It’s a huge amount of waste, with plastic causing enormous health problems for marine and birdlife as well as other animals. So, it’s no wonder there’s a worldwide push to find other ways of packaging supplies. In 2018, a social media fight erupted over laws surrounding the use of disposable plastic straws.
It may still be many years before we start to consistently see alternatives to disposable plastic packaging, especially with items like bottles. But in the meantime, here are 45 ways that you can reuse plastic bottles and help protect the planet that’s our home.
