Six Projects to Make With Recycled Plastic Bottles and Jugs
Recycle empty plastic bottles and jugs into these fun and useful projects.
TEN-MINUTE BIRD FEEDER
Cut four holes 2″ from the bottom on each side of a half-gallon milk jug. Below each hole, make a small hole and poke dowels or sticks through the feeder. Ask an adult to drill a small hole in the cap.
Attach a string or metal coat hanger, fill with birdseed and hang it up.
SELF-WATERING PLANTER
Cut the top third off a 2-liter plastic bottle. Ask an adult to drill a small hole in the cap. Pass a string through the hole. Fill the bottom of the bottle about half way with water. Place the top upside-down in the bottom and put in your plant. The string will wick up the water into the soil.
BALL TOSS GAME
Cut the bottoms off two 1-gallon milk jugs. Make a ball from rolled-up plastic grocery bags and tape. Enjoy a game of catch.
QUICKER BERRY PICKER
Cut a hand-size hole opposite the handle on a 1-gallon milk jug. Slide the handle onto your belt. You’re ready to pick and hold more berries.
FLYING SAUCERS
Cut the bottom from a milk jug about 3″ high. Cut three or four 3″ circles from the upper part of the jug. Try to sail the disks into the milk-jug bottom.
GARDEN SCOOP OR BOAT BAILER
Cut a 1-gallon milk jug at an angle as shown. This is great for spreading compost or removing water from a boat.
PHOTOS OF COMPLETED PROJECT
Check out these photos of the completed project sent to us by Boys’ Life readers. If you have a photos of a BL Workshop project, please use the form below to send them to us.
My dinghy has a v-bottom. Bailer is just what I was looking for. Planter is great too. Though I have been making something similar out of a 5 gallon bucket.
Really usefull things can be done from bottle, I did even know that it it is possible.
how do you keep the bird feed from pouring out of the holes on the bird feeder?
Pack 451 bear den leader, I don’t think the author meant to completely fill the jug. Fill it to just below the holes you drilled so the birds can reach it.
awesome
The self watering planter is a good idea. My town burns at 45 deg Celsius during summer time in Eastern part of India. My cub-scouts will be happy to make such planters.
I use the handles from the milk jugs for neckerchief slides. Cut the handle off and then cut rings from the handle. Glue just about anything to it. They’re the perfect size for a neckerchief to go through!
Great idea! I’m going to do this with my Bear Den for pinewood derby Car neckerchiefs. Awesome idea, thanks for sharing!!
Those are really cool ideas, that is a fun project to try. Thank You for sharing this with us.