Uses for empty plastic milk "bottles"?

doitmyself

tiptoes wrote: »

last year the kids and I used tow of the 6lte to make ball catcher to play with the elastic band ball that my son had collected. they cut around the line of the bottle and left some of the straight side of the bottle inplace.


doitmyself Hi, wont re-cycling be more useful, to everyone than what you may be able to make out of them? They are milk bottles, now used milk bottles, let them be recycled to be once again milk bottles..

to reuse is better than recyle as the plastic milk bottles unlike the glass equivalant many not end up being recycled as a milk bottle.

Hi tiptoes
Thx for the reply. I'm not an environmentalist in anything other than the economic decisions I make for myself may have a knock-on environmental benefit, and can I say I find some of the antics described here a tad ridiculous?
How do you re-use next week's milk bottles? I have a 6 (nearly empty) and a 4 pint in my fridge right now and it's only me here!

The suggestions here are Blue Peter at it's silliest aren't they? Does anyone here really believe they are 'saving' the planet with their childish activities?
Most of us stopped cutting up plastic pots when we were 6...

HappySad

mossstar wrote: »

If you like gardening, invest in a copy of 'The lazy kitchen gardener' by John Yeoman, where he shows you how to make all kinds of self-watering, space saving planters etc. out of them!

And how to use up lots of other stuff too!

x

Great.. will look for it at the library.

HappySad

I am keen to save money and the planet at the same time. If you are not interested in any way about saving the planet then just by simply reusing everything around the house you are basically saving lots of money and the planet would just be a bi product......I have never liked to throw away anything that can be used for something else. My family were brought up that way and we would reuse old clothes as dusters ... as many of us have done in the past similar things....Using junk to make children's activities is Saving a whole lot of money in going down the shops and wasting your time buying stuff when you can just use things around the house.

doitmyself

Hi HS (think you're talking to me there), yes I agree, I get every last drop of shampoo out of the bottle, stick the old soap to the new soap, the cloths I use to clean the glass etc. are old t-shirts, but when grown adults are indulging in childrens activities and cutting up plastic milk cartons to collect water to put in their washing machine then this 'green' nonsense' has all got just a bit too silly IMO. If that's what it takes to save the planet we're all in trouble!

16011996

i think its great to re use some for helpful things. i use some of mine to protect seedlings, but when they are grown they still get recyled in the end i also use two for warm water on bathroom windowsill during day in summer, used for evening wash before bed so i don't have hot water being used at night, as we all shower in a morning. so in a way its great and money saving for me, but still recycled in the end, just get a bit more use from them before they go iyswim

soba

My mum and dad are on a water meter, and they use water from their water butt to fill empty 2l milk bottles, and use the water to flush their toilet with. I think that's a pretty nifty use of materials. Doesn't make for the prettiest bathroom though....6 x2l milk bottles sitting on the cistern!!

HugoSP

I use them as dog toys.

I don't let the dog have them long enough to shred them too much but he likes grabbing them and running around and shaking them.

When they are a bit dog eared (sorry for the pun - sence of humours gone to the dogs - ouch!) I put them in the recyling and get him out another!

rosh12

doitmyself wrote: »

can I say I find some of the antics described here a tad ridiculous? ...
The suggestions here are Blue Peter at it's silliest aren't they? Does anyone here really believe they are 'saving' the planet with their childish activities?
Most of us stopped cutting up plastic pots when we were 6...

Ow!!!

Yes, making elephants (my suggestion- sorry) is a bit Blue Peter, but some people like doing arty stuff with kids! I know it's not to everyone's taste but the OP did say she had a toddler...

It's not just about saving the planet- it's about having fun too, and doing something different sometimes! I think reusing, recycling etc is all v. valid- and better than bunging stuff in the bin.

rosieben

We use them for slow-watering plants, for funnels, for scoops, for plant pots and emergency water carriers (have one in the back of my little old car right now!), cut straight pieces out from the middles and stuck them together with a little tape and made sock dividers for drawers (just like those very expensive ones you can buy!!) and all sorts of other ideas;

we cant recycle plastic milk bottles in our area yet so they go straight to landfill. I try never to throw anything away that I could re-use in some way but as I have an 8yo gd we use a lot of things for craftwork anyway, and even if they are thrown afterwards we have made a difference in that home made toys and games are so much more planet- and purse-friendly! :j

Ytaya

A lampshade!

I'm gearing up to get my own place in September and, in true moneysaving style, I'm taking advantage of the time until then to acquire the things I'll need at minimal cost to myself. I'm seriously thinking about making some 'free' lampshades!