Ethan Clarke
Plastic waste is a significant contributor to the rise of landfills, with Americans throwing away 28 billion bottles and jars in a single year. However, there are numerous ways to repurpose plastic containers and jars, reducing waste and saving money. For example, plastic jars can be washed and reused to store food, craft items, or small toys. They can also be decorated and used as gift boxes or piggy banks. Plastic bottles can be upcycled into planters, vases, pencil cases, or even used to create a simple DIY sprinkler for kids. Getting creative with plastic upcycling is a fun and sustainable way to give plastic items a second life.
What to do with extra plastic jars
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reuse for storage | Can be used to store small items such as craft items, hair clips, flower seeds, dry cereals, etc. |
| Reuse for food storage | Can be washed and reused to store food items such as soups, sauces, gravies, leftovers, etc. |
| Reuse for freezing | Can be used to freeze food items such as soups, sauces, gravies, leftovers, etc. |
| Reuse for gifting | Can be decorated/covered and used as gift boxes or piggy banks |
| Reuse for planting | Can be cut and painted to make planters, vases, hanging planters, or used to protect planted seeds and new shoots from birds and rodents |
| Reuse for kids' crafts | Can be used to make a plastic bottle jet pack, toy cars, sprinkler, pencil case, etc. |
| Reuse for home decor | Can be used to make decorative butterflies, chandeliers, spoon lamps, bouquet lamps, jewelry stands, etc. |
| Reuse for household items | Can be used as a funnel, glue bottle, twine dispenser, furniture sliders, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Use plastic jars for storing food
Plastic jars can be reused for storing food. You can wash and reuse large plastic jars with screw-on lids that mayonnaise, peanut butter, etc., come in. They can be used for freezing soups, sauces, gravies, and leftovers. You can also use them for storing bulk-bought liquids like syrup, molasses, sorghum, and honey.
If you have kids, you can clean up and peel the labels off the jars and use them to store small things, like hair clips. The kids can see what is inside, and the opening is big enough for them to reach into. You can also use plastic jars for storing dry goods like nuts, grains, flours, and spices.
While plastic containers are convenient, they are not the best option for storing food. When plastic heats up, it emits biphenols (beyond BPA) which are bad for your hormonal system. Glass, stainless steel, and silicone containers are better alternatives for storing food.
However, if you do use plastic containers for storing food, make sure to avoid putting them in the dishwasher, oven, or microwave, as they can leach harmful chemicals into your food when heated.
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Make a DIY sprinkler for kids
Making a DIY sprinkler is a fun project for the whole family and a great way to teach kids about tool skills. It's also an excellent opportunity to upcycle plastic jars and bottles lying around your house. Here's a step-by-step guide to making a simple DIY sprinkler for kids using plastic jars and some other common household items:
First, gather your materials. You'll need a plastic jar or bottle with a lid, a knife, duct tape, and a hose. You may also want to get some bath colouring tablets to make the water different colours.
Next, use the knife to poke holes in a line down the sides of the jar or bottle. Be sure an adult supervises this step. Once the holes are poked, connect the open end of the jar or bottle to the end of the hose with duct tape. Ensure it's wrapped tightly so that the water pressure doesn't cause leaks.
Now you're ready to test your sprinkler! Turn on the hose and wait for the pressure to build up. Before you know it, water will be spraying out like a real sprinkler! You can even add some bath colouring tablets to the jar or bottle before turning on the hose to make the water a fun colour.
Once your DIY sprinkler is working, you can incorporate it into a backyard obstacle course. Jump through the water, pop water balloons, wade through a kiddie pool, and hop over pool noodles for even more fun!
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Create a vase or planter
Plastic bottles and jars can be used to create a vase or planter for your home or office. Here are some ways to do this:
Vase
To create a vase, you can cut the bottom of a 2-litre bottle and decorate it with paint, wool, felt, or stick-on eyes. You can also cut off the top and bottom of a plastic bottle with a razor knife, trim any jagged edges, and screw the dispenser to a cabinet door or closet wall to create a vase.
Planter
You can create planters by filling the bottle with seeds and soil. Cut an empty gallon jug about two-thirds down the bottom to create an effective enclosure to protect planted seeds and new shoots from birds and rodents. You can also create hanging planters with any size bottle.
In addition to being environmentally friendly, these projects allow you to design your vase or planter according to your preferences and decorating needs.
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Use as a pencil case
Plastic jars can be reused in many ways, and one of the most useful ways is to use them as pencil cases. This is a great way to store your pencils, pens, and other stationery items, keeping them organised and in one place.
To make a pencil case from a plastic jar, you will need a clean, empty jar with a lid. Give the jar a good wash and ensure it is completely dry before using it. You can decorate the jar with paint, stickers, or other craft materials to make it more personalised and fun.
The size of the jar will depend on how many pencils and stationery items you want to store. Smaller jars are great for a few essential items, while larger jars can accommodate a more extensive collection. You can also use multiple jars to organise different types of stationery, such as coloured pencils, pens, markers, or crayons.
Once you have chosen your jar, simply fill it with your pencils and other stationery items. You can also add extra items like erasers, sharpeners, or small notebooks to have a complete stationery kit. This is a great way to stay organised at home, school, or the office, and it's an easy project to get kids excited about sustainability.
By reusing plastic jars as pencil cases, you are giving new life to these items and reducing waste. It's a simple and effective way to be more environmentally conscious in your everyday life.
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Make a jewellery stand
Making a jewellery stand from plastic jars is a great way to recycle and upcycle plastic. It is also a cheap alternative to store-bought jewellery containers.
To make a jewellery stand, you will need a few plastic bottles or jars. You can use any kind of soda bottle, as long as you have three different sizes to work with. For example, you could use two 2-litre bottles, one 1-litre bottle, and one 20-ounce bottle. You will also need a utility knife, scissors, a threaded rod, washers, and nuts.
The first step is to cut the bottoms off the bottles with the utility knife to make trays. You can trim them with scissors to make them neater and shallower, which will give them a more floral look. Drill holes the same size as your threaded rod in the centre of each tray. Cut as far down into the plastic as possible with the scissors, and then use a rotary tool to smooth any jagged edges.
You can decorate your jewellery stand by covering the borders and sides with stone lace and buttons. You can also stick beads on the lower side of the plastic bottle jar to give it a stand.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic jars can be used for a variety of purposes, such as storing craft items, flower seeds, hair clips, and other small items. They can also be decorated and used as gift boxes or piggy banks.
Plastic jars can be washed and reused to store soups, sauces, gravies, and leftovers. They can also be used to store dry mixes, such as cereal or oatmeal, and to separate egg yolks when cooking.
Yes, plastic jars can be used as planters or to store flower seeds. They can also be cut and used to protect planted seeds and new shoots from birds and rodents.
Plastic jars can be used to store and organize items such as craft supplies, school supplies, and office supplies. They can also be used as a pencil case or to store plastic bags.
