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Although it's not always easy to avoid buying plastic, there are plenty of ways that you can reduce the need to throw it away, by re-purposing it into useful and cost-effective objects. Plastic bottles, for instance, can be recycled into many items, and by unleashing your creativity you can get the kids involved in exciting projects that reduce plastic bottle waste. Here are some brilliant ideas to follow.
Green wall
If you're looking for a space-saving way to nurture plants that's also environmentally friendly, using old plastic bottles strung up against a wall offers the perfect solution. Make slits in the top side of each bottle and fill with plants. Then hang them up horizontally with string attached to the bottle top.
Feeding birds
Plastic bottles make cost-effective bird feeders. Simply hang the bottle upside down from a tree branch and create two small holes at the side of the bottle so birds can get at the seed. Add two smaller holes underneath and thread a twig through them for the birds to perch on when feeding. During spring, fill plastic bottles with suitable nesting material that birds can take, such as moss or straw.
Mini greenhouse
If you're feeling adventurous and have managed to collect lots of plastic bottles, why not stack them to create your own greenhouse? As well as being a fun project that the whole family can get involved with, it's much cheaper than buying the real thing. Plastic bottles offer great insulation, giving seeds the vital warmth they need to germinate. Careful construction is key to ensure your greenhouse doesn't come toppling down in the first gust of wind. Thread the bottles through canes or sticks to build up the frame and connect all interlocking bottles.
Piggy bank
By upcycling plastic bottles into new objects, think of the money you could save, and where best to store these saved coins than a piggy bank made from a plastic bottle? Kids will love getting involved with this, as it's simple and they'll enjoy getting creative by painting the bottle or decorating it in any style they wish. Turn the bottle onto its side and glue legs to the bottom to make it look more animal-like. Stick on cloth ears and add a snout to the lid of the bottle to represent a pig's nose. Alternatively, if you're a dab hand at knitting, make your piggy bank a coat to cover its body.
If you take recycling plastic seriously and you really want to do your bit to save our planet, ensure you purchase recycled products as much as possible. Solent Plastics offers a wide variety of recycling storage solutions and bins that are colour-coded for your convenience. The company also upholds responsible environmental ethics such as buying in bulk, providing recycled/recyclable products and reusing or reselling boxes.
For more information about our best practice storage solutions, please give us a call.