From Trash to Treasure

The Earth is warming…FAST! We are already seeing this in effect. Polar ice caps melting, more intense storms, high sea levels, and it is just getting worse. Pollution not only causes climate change, it can also affect our health. For example, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Lung cancer accounts for approximately 30% of overall deaths from cancer in the US; and though smoking is the main cause, air pollution also contributes. We must act now!

Most plastics are made from oil, and as they break down, they can release greenhouse gases and toxins into the environment. It is best to reduce our use of plastics by using reusable containers, but this isn’t always possible. Plus, many areas like ours do not have recycling or only allow recycling of certain kinds of plastic. So, my class partner, Ansley, and I decided to create easy DIY plastic bottle projects to get students at our school involved in saving our planet by reusing old plastic containers. These are fun, adorable, and useful, and they help our environment by keeping plastic out of landfills and out of our oceans.

Here, I show you how you can create your own DIY plastic bottle projects.

Planter
We used an old vinegar container, but you can use any plastic bottle you like. Cut the the bottle according to how tall you would like your planter to be. You can decorate it with sharpie markers (like we did), or even glue on felt, paper, or anything fun you can find around your house. When you’re done, fill it with soil and plant your seeds. We planted basil! Yum!

Organizer
We used a large container, because we wanted to put it in our classroom for supplies. You may use whatever size container you can find or need. Cut the top off with scissors, big enough so you can put your things inside and easily grab them when you need them. Just like with the planter, have fun and decorate it! We used some foil and washi tape (decorative tape) for ours.

Bird Feeder
This is made from a regular water or soda bottle. First, make an upside down “U” cut on each side (do not cut the bottom). This creates a flap where the birds can rest and eat. Then, paint the bottle any color you like. After it dries, you can then draw eyes and add a beak. Add bird feed to the bottom of the bottle and you have a birdy bird feeder!

I hope you enjoyed learning about ways you can help keep plastic out of our environment. Feel free to try and come up with your own ideas to reuse and recycle plastic bottles!