How to Reuse Plastic

Before you fill your recycle bin with plastic, consider which items you can reuse.

Responsible consumption of plastic products requires three basic steps: reduce, reuse and recycle -- in that order. Reduce the amount of plastic that you consume by bringing your own shopping bags to the store and avoiding single-serving containers. By purchasing larger containers of foods that you might normally purchase in single serving sizes, such as yogurt, you will increase your options for reusing your plastic containers. Follow a few basic guidelines for reusing plastic instead of recycling and you may save yourself some cash in the process.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic grocery bags
• Plastic bottles or milk jugs
• Plastic food containers

Instructions

1. Use plastic grocery bags as garbage bags for small waste bins and stash a few in your car's glove box to use as trash bags. Carry them with you when you walk the dog to pick up poop, which will also help protect your local bodies of water from pollution. Store winter clothes or off-season shoes in plastic grocery bags to keep them dust free; the small size will allow you to store sweaters, long-sleeved shirts and jackets separately.

2. Wash, drain, dry and re-fill empty plastic bottles with filtered tap water. Mix sport drinks, drink mixes or juice from concentrate in larger plastic bottles or milk jugs. Take drinks in reused bottles to school functions, picnics, barbecues or parties. Contrary to what some people believe, this is perfectly safe as long as you clean the bottles well between uses.

3. Store anything from leftovers to nails in plastic food containers. They make perfect canisters for keeping insects out of pasta, flour, sugar and other dry goods, and can help organize small household items. Send dinner guests home with goodies in these sturdy "doggie bag" containers.

4. Poke a few small holes in the bottom of plastic food containers and use them as pots for starting plants from seeds or cuttings. Paint the containers or wrap them in fabric to give the plants as gifts.

Tips & Warnings

• Use plastic bottles and food containers as the basis for craft and science projects.

• Never heat leftovers in reused plastic food containers; instead, dump them into a microwaveable dish before reheating.

References

• Real Simple: 20 Ways to Reuse Old Plastic (and Paper) Bags
• Earth 911: 8 Ways & Whys to Reuse Plastic
• The Kitchn; Quick Tip; Five Ways to Re-Use Yogurt Containers
• Frugal Dad: Uses for Milk Jugs
• Snopes: Bottle Royale

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish