Approximately
100 million plastic bottles are used and discarded every day, with 80% of them
simply becoming non-biodegradable litter. While it is convenient to consume
drinks straight out of plastic bottles, the trash that is accumulated in the
process takes a huge toll on the health of our environment. Plastic water
bottles have a significant carbon footprint, with the amount of water going
into making a bottle being up to three times what’s inside the bottle. Also,
bottles used to package water take over 1,000 years to bio-degrade and, if
incinerated, produce toxic fumes.
Since
reuse is a step up from recycling, repurposing plastic bottles we already have
is an excellent habit to get into if we want to do our share to help save the
environment. You will be surprised at how many opportunities for reuse there
really are – once you start looking for them.
So
when you’re done with that plastic drink bottle, don’t just throw it away, use
it to make something awesome. Check out these 20 low cost, creative and functional
craft projects that will transform the humble plastic bottle into everything
from useful storage to great home decor.
1.
DIY No-Sew Zipper Cases
Turn your old plastic bottles
into useful and sturdy no-sew zipper cases that will help you organize your
life, for almost no cost at all. You can use them to store all sorts of art and
craft supplies. This is also an awesome back-to-school craft idea for kids. To
make one, cut the plastic bottle, glue a zipper to it, customise the
decorations and you’re done. You can learn how to make these creative zipper
cases from plastic bottles here.
2. Soda Bottle Sprinkler
If you want to keep your
outdoor plants happy but don’t have a sprinkler to water them, all you need to
do is poke holes in a 2 litre plastic soft drink bottle, insert the hose into
the bottle and wrap some tape to fix the hose to the opening of the bottle.
Turn on the tap and the homemade sprinkler is ready to go. Learn how to make a
DIY sprinkler to water your garden here.
3. DIY Recycled Bird Feeders
If you live in an area that
has many birds, a strategically placed DIY recycled bird feeder will allow you
to view the pretty feathered creatures up close and personal. Taking just a
little time and very little money, you can make one out of materials you might
have otherwise thrown away – a plastic bottle and a couple of wooden
spoons. Here’s how
you can make one in less than an hour.
4. Bottle Cap Mosaic
If you want a gorgeous and
eco-friendly piece of mosaic art for your walls, start gathering plastic bottle
caps. If you don’t have enough, collect from friends and neighbours. You don’t
need to bottle up your artistic talent – open it up with this bottle cap
mosaic, an environmentally-friendly craft project you will love doing. Here’s
how to make one.
5. Piggy Bottle Bank
Not only does this simple
project recycle a plastic bottle and make an adorable piggy bank, it also
encourages kids to starting saving and recycling from a young age. Just cut the
bottle appropriately and then have fun creating these super cute designs that
will look great on your shelves too. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be a
pig; be creative and make all sorts of little animals! Get the instructions to
make one here.
6. DIY Kitchen Storage Containers
Old plastic bottles can make
excellent storage containers. Take back your kitchen space with this really
cool and very affordable kitchen storage solution. Making repurposed containers
out of your old bottles is fun and super easy, plus you could save yourself
some money by crafting something you need instead of having to go out and buy
it. A little time, a pair of scissors and the instructions here are all
you need!
7. DIY Drip Irrigator
Drip irrigation delivers
moisture directly to plant roots without oversaturating the soil, which helps
the plants root deeper and grow healthier since they don’t experience moisture
stress. Grab some 2 litre plastic bottles, punch two holes into the caps, and
hang or plant the bottles next to the plants. Fill them with water and let the
plants get the slow watering they prefer. Get the tutorial here.
8. DIY Magazine Rack
Love your favourite magazines
but hate the clutter they create? Cut up old plastic bottles to make these
functional newspaper and magazine organizers. All you need are scissors, paint,
tape and a way to mount them, and your house will be greener and more organized. Here’s how you
can make a magazine rack with individual compartments.
9. Vertical Hanging Garden
Vertical gardens are a great
solution to many challenges within urban spaces and recycling plastic bottles
is a great way to make one for yourself. Any number of bottles can be strung
together and hung against a wall, a fence or a railing to create a garden.
Remember to choose plastic bottles that are fairly thick and durable, such as
soft drink bottles, rather than thin water bottles, which may tear under the
weight of soil, plants and water. Here are
some interesting ideas for a plastic bottle vertical garden.
10. DIY Plastic Bottle Porch/Party Décor
Create a gaggle of cute
characters to perk up your outdoor décor by recycling old soft drink bottles.
They are easy to make, great to look at, can store a variety of things and can
help teach kids about the importance of recycling too. You can also use them to
up the fun factor at your house party! Here’s how you
can make these.
11. Pretty Plastic Bottle Flowers
Pull a few water bottles out
of the recycling bin and create these easy yet stunning flowers. You can
string together the flower-like bottoms of plastic bottles to create pretty
curtains or make a gorgeous spring wreath for your door. Here are
a few ideas for recycling plastic bottles into flower décor.
12. DIY Zero Electricity Cooler
Grey
Dhaka teamed up with volunteers from Grameen Intel Social Business in
Bangladesh to create the Eco-Cooler – the world’s first-ever zero electricity
air cooler, which utilizes a perforated board and empty plastic bottles to
create an instant and highly effective DIY air conditioning system.
To make an Eco-Cooler, cut a
piece of board to the size of a window on your house. Then drill holes in the
board big enough to push a plastic neck through. Gather some old plastic
bottles and cut the bottoms off, then slide the neck of each bottle through the
holes and secure them with the cap till the board is full. Hang the board on
the window and watch the temperature inside drop. Here are
the instructions to make one.
13. DIY Plastic Bottle Pet Feeder
If you have pets, then this is
the perfect plastic upcycling project for you. This is an easy way to turn
plastic bottles into a disposable device for feeding your furry friends. Just
choose your bottles to suit your pets, preferably thick and strong ones. Learn
how to make this DIY plastic bottle pet feeder here.
14. DIY Greenhouse
Here’s a great practical
project for the whole family – turn used plastic bottles into a greenhouse, and
then enjoy the chance to grow your own food once you’ve finished. A great way
to turn trash into something really useful, this project is time consuming and
takes a bit of effort, but you get an eco-friendly structure at a fraction of
the economic or energy costs of a traditional glasshouse. Learn how to make
one here.
15. DIY Mobile Charger Basket
Instead of tossing away those
old bottles of lotion or shampoo, make yourself a phone holder for charging.
Created from an upcycled bottle, this convenient caddy makes it easy to charge
your phone at any outlet without leaving a trail of wire across the floor.
Remember to give it your personal touch with some customised décor. Here are
the steps to make one.
16. DIY Jewellery Stand
Photo
Source
Here is a beautiful project to
make a jewellery stand from plastic bottles, which looks great and can hold and
hang tons of small jewellery for a clear vanity. And it doesn’t even take long
to make. Cut the bottoms of plastic bottles, fix a metallic rod through them
and see your craft turn into a beautiful jewellery organizer. Here are
the instructions.
17. DIY Snack Bowls
Transform leftover plastic
bottles into unbreakable snack or candy bowls for a
party. Cut the bottom of the plastic bottle, use a hot iron to
flatten and smooth out the cuts, and voila! A pretty bowl is ready for
you. You can get fancier by add extra decoration to your bowls. Learn how to do
it here.
18. Quirky Recycled Owl Vases
If you have some empty plastic
bottles then it is time to turn them into these quirky owl vases. Use them as
planters, flower vases, pencil holders, toothbrush holders, or anything else
that you can think of. Here are the
steps to make a cute little DIY owl decorations.
19. DIY Eco-friendly Ottomans
Instead of throwing out old
plastic bottles make a custom ottoman for your home from recycled bottles. It’s
simple and easy to do, and you won’t have to spend a fortune either on this
project, which repurposes throwaway bottles into basic furniture. Here’s how
you can do this amazing DIY project.
20. DIY Bird House Tree Decor
Try turning a plastic bottle
into a cute decorative bird house! You can use any colour scheme you want and
these little bird houses take very little time to create. Paint them or cover
them with tiny craft flowers and hang them wherever your little bird friends
may visit. Here’s how
to make one for your garden or balcony.
