How to Recycle Bottle Caps
As more and more people and businesses look for ways to go green, bottle caps can pose a vexing problem. They are not easy to recycle, and many curbside programs ask that they be removed from bottles, to let bottles dry out and reduce the weight of the recyclables. Instead of tossing them into the trash, bottle caps can be recycled at home for use in many ways.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
Make a homemade mud scraper. Cut out a piece of plywood or use a leftover piece from another project in whatever size you desire. Nail bottle caps side by side with the flat, smooth side down. Cover the board and you have a great mud scraper to clean your boots and shoes off. Just hose it down to clean. You also can nail bottle caps to a hand-size block of wood, fluted side up. Hold it in the palm of your hand to scale fish.
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2
Flatten bottle caps with a hammer. Poke a hole near the top with an awl. Add a hook for earrings or a jump ring for a necklace. Glue them to scrapbook pages as decorations. Put holes in the top and bottom and string them together with fishing line for a one-of-a-kind belt. String them in patterns as wall art.
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3
Get 16 each of two kinds of bottle caps and use them as checkers. You can paint them red and black or whatever colors you like, though they look fine as they are.
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4
Use caps to hold tiny amounts of paints for small projects. You also can use them to mix tiny amounts of paint for touch-ups. Fill with ant, roach or rodent poison, but be sure to keep them away where children might find them. Use them to hold really tiny beads for jewelry making or for any other super small items.
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5
Cut tiny pictures to glue inside the caps, then cover them with glue and let them dry. Glue a small magnet to the flat side and use them as refrigerator magnets. Put holiday pictures in them and drill a tiny hold at the top and hang them as mini Christmas ornaments.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Throw an old plastic tablecloth down and let the kids paint and glue to their heats content. They will have a ball and you will keep them entertained for a good while for free.
Watch where you hammer the caps as they will tear up the surface under them.
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References
- Photo Credit Martin Poole/Photodisc/Getty Images
Comments
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edric49
Apr 07, 2008
Shape magazine says: From March 10th through May 10th, Aveda stores will be accepting any and all of your hard plastic caps (e.g. from bottles of water and soda, laundry detergent, facial cleansers, shampoo, etc.) and using them to make new tops for Avedas limited-edition retro Clove Shampoo bottles. Bring in 25 or more caps and youll receive a free sample from one of Avedas hair or body-care lines. You can also mail in your caps to: Aveda Re-Cap Program, ACA Waste Services 40 EADS Street in Babylon, NY 11704
